Book

Dan Mercredi’s Witnessing Change: A Memoir of Resilience, Environmental Justice, and Indigenous Wisdom

November 10, 2025

By: Matt Emma

Fort Chipewyan, Alberta — A small, serene hamlet tucked between boreal forests and the waters of Lake Athabasca might seem like an unlikely epicenter for a climate movement. But for Dan Mercredi, it’s emerging as a significant site for one of the compelling environmental awakenings of our time.

In his deeply personal book, Witnessing Change, Mercredi invites readers on an emotional journey, discussing pressing issues related to the nature and narrating his transformation from a nature-loving boy growing up in Fort Chipewyan to a dedicated advocate for environmental justice and Indigenous-led sustainability. Part memoir, part wake-up call, Witnessing Change is a raw and thought-provoking reflection on what it means to watch your homeland change, and decide to do something about it.

At first glance, Witnessing Change reads like a love letter to a place. Readers are transported to a childhood filled with quiet lakeside mornings, moose tracks in the snow, the scent of spruce, and the wisdom of elders. Mercredi paints a vivid picture of growing up connected to nature not as a resource, but as a relative.

But that sense of harmony doesn’t last.

As Mercredi comes of age, so too does a new reality: changing seasons, dwindling wildlife, polluted waters, and industrial expansion. Climate change, once an abstract headline, becomes personal—visible in the vanishing caribou, the strange weather, the rising cancer rates in his community. The Fort Chipewyan he knew begins to shift before his eyes.

And Dan? He refuses to stay silent.

Honestly, climate headlines are everywhere. Melting ice caps, record wildfires, rising sea levels. So, what makes Witnessing Change different? This book offers something these reports can’t—bringing in a human face to the crisis. Providing a personal narrative that makes the data feel tangible and relevant. And, perhaps most importantly, a potential blueprint for resistance, resilience, and action.

Dan Mercredi’s voice is not that of a distant expert. He’s someone who’s lived through the crisis. His story resonates because it’s grounded. Grounded in land. Grounded in community. Grounded in truth.

What sets this book apart is its balance. It doesn’t just sound like the alarm. It shares potential pathways forward. Through community organizing, traditional knowledge, renewable energy projects, and youth engagement, Mercredi shows how even the smallest communities can rise up—and lead.

“I Didn’t Just Watch the Land Change—It Changed Me”

One of the powerful arcs in Witnessing Change is Mercredi’s evolution from observer to activist. And it’s not a smooth or perfect journey. It’s real.

He begins by noticing. Noticing the earlier springs. Noticing fewer fish. Noticing the thickening haze in the sky.

Then comes grief. Then anger. And then—purpose.

Mercredi joins hands with local residents, elders, scientists, and educators to fight back. They organize, they protest, and they meet with government officials. They demand stricter regulations on oil sands development. They call out the pollution poisoning their water and lungs. And slowly, they’re heard.

It’s a portrait of what grassroots leadership can look like. It’s a potential roadmap for anyone asking: “What can I do?”

This isn’t just a book about environmentalism. It’s about Indigenous leadership—and what the rest of the world can learn from it.

In chapter after chapter, Mercredi demonstrates how traditional land stewardship, passed down through generations, offers solutions that Western policy often overlooks. Things like:

Living in balance with the seasons
Honoring the animal you hunt
Seeing land not as property, but as kin
Teaching children through story and lived experience

These aren’t just quaint traditions; they’re strategies for long-term survival. And they appear to be effective.

Mercredi doesn’t pit modern science against traditional wisdom. Instead, he argues for collaboration. His book bridges the gap between modern researchers and the elders, between policy and practical application. And the result is powerful: environmental solutions that are practical, cultural, and potentially deeply sustainable.

One of the boldest parts of Mercredi’s vision lies in renewable energy. He doesn’t just advocate for solar panels and wind turbines because it’s trendy—he does it because the alternative appears to be affecting his community negatively.

He documents efforts to transition Fort Chipewyan toward solar and wind energy, outlining the benefits not just for the planet, but for economic independence and health. He sees clean energy as a possible path back to sovereignty.

“Every solar panel we install is a step away from the industries that are making us sick,” he writes. “It’s not just about the environment—it’s about dignity.”

It’s this kind of clarity that makes Witnessing Change such a refreshing read. There’s no greenwashing. No fluff. Just a straight-talking man calling it like it is—and inviting you to join him.

“I remember the first time I saw a fish with lesions. My father said nothing, but his silence screamed. That was the moment I knew—our water, our lifeblood, was under attack.”

Published by United Book Publishing, Witnessing Change is now available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores.

Buy the book here: Witnessing Change eBook: Mercredi, Dan

Learn more about the author: Mercredi Dan | Facebook

Whether you’re a climate activist, a policymaker, a student, or just someone trying to make sense of the world we’re leaving behind, this book could belong on your shelf.

About the Author

Dan Mercredi is a lifelong resident of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, and a proud member of the Indigenous community. Raised in the heart of nature, Dan’s deep connection to the land shaped his identity and life’s mission. Over the years, he has become a respected environmental advocate, blending traditional knowledge with modern sustainability practices. His grassroots activism, community leadership, and unwavering dedication to renewable energy and land protection have inspired many. Witnessing Change is his first book, a heartfelt memoir and urgent call to action that reflects both his personal journey and his vision for a better, greener future.

Dan Mercredi’s Witnessing Change doesn’t just ask you to read, it asks you to remember, rethink, and respond. It reminds us that climate change isn’t happening in some distant future; it’s here. It’s personal. And it’s urgent.

But more than anything, this book reminds us that change is possible. That even the quietest places, like Fort Chipewyan, can become centers of hope, innovation, and resistance.

So, here’s your invitation. Witness the change. And be part of it.