Canada Invests $340 Million in Indigenous-led Conservation and Stewardship

August 12, 2021

Indigenous Leadership Initiative

Ottawa: August 12, 2021 The Government of Canada has announced $340 million in new funding over five years to support Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship. This investment includes more than $173 million for Guardians programs and the First Nations National Guardians Network. It also includes over $166 million for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). The funding is part of Budget 2021’s historic $2.3 billion commitment to nature conservation.

Valérie Courtois, Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, made the following statement:

“This is the largest federal investment in Indigenous-led stewardship to date, and we welcome the Government of Canada’s commitment to partnering with Indigenous Nations on conservation and stewardship.”

“The biggest, most ambitious plans for sustaining lands and communities are coming from Indigenous Nations. This investment is a tangible demonstration that Canada has placed Indigenous-led conservation at the heart of its strategy to protect nature and achieve biodiversity goals.”

“Now is the time for bold action. This week, the UN Secretary General called the latest IPCC report on climate change a ‘code red for humanity.’ Indigenous Nations are rising to the challenge. Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas store enormous amounts of carbon, especially in the Boreal Forest, which holds up to 36 years’ worth of annual global carbon emissions. And Indigenous Guardians research and respond to climate impacts. These Indigenous-led solutions can help Canada be a global leader in addressing climate change at the scale required for people and the planet.”

“Guardians work on behalf of their Nations, but the jobs they do—responding to wildfires, restoring caribou and salmon, monitoring sustainable development—benefit the whole country. It’s the same with Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. They honour our cultural responsibility to the land, and they fight climate change for everyone’s children. Indigenous-led conservation delivers a return on investment for all of us.”

“In a summer dominated by reports of deadly climate impacts from flooding to fires to extreme heat, and now an alarming UN Report on imminent and irreversible climate warming, it’s clear we must find new ways to work together to sustain all people.”

“Instead of government programs delivered to Indigenous communities, this investment can support Nation-to-Nation relationships. That’s why we welcome the inclusion of the National First Nations Guardians Network in the funding. And we look forward to shaping a collaborative approach rooted in respect and Nationhood. It’s the best way to acknowledge history while also building a better shared future.”

“The ILI and our partners will continue to work to secure permanent funding for Indigenous-led conservation so that every Indigenous Nation that desires a Guardians program is supported. We will do the same for every Indigenous Nation that wants to establish an IPCA, and we look forward to provinces and territories becoming the partners they need to be to expand the benefits of Indigenous-led conservation for all people.”

“By partnering with Indigenous Nations, Canada is poised to become a leader on the global stage. Indigenous Peoples manage 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity, and our expertise is essential for sustaining animals and plants into the future. Support for Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship will ensure Canada meets international targets. And together, we can forge a new model of conservation that embodies a respectful relationship between people and the land.” 

Chief Marilyn Slett, Chief Councillor of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council and President of Coastal First Nations - Great Bear Initiative, made the following statement:

“Not only do Guardians programs contribute to conservation and stewardship, they also form the basis of a new approach to economic development—one that places Indigenous values front and centre. This investment in Guardians programs and Indigenous-led conservation will strengthen our Nations and help create a more sustainable future for all people.”

“When Guardians are on the ground and on the water, they represent their Nations and reflect their Nations’ laws, traditions, and knowledge. Working together through Coastal First Nations, our eight Nations ensure that Guardians cover the lands and waters from Northern Vancouver Island to Alaska, including Haida Gwaii. That’s why this investment in Guardians is an important step in strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships and partnering together on conservation.”

Media Contact:

Sean Durkan: sean.sda.inc@rogers.com (613-851-2151)

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The Indigenous Leadership Initiative is a network dedicated to supporting Indigenous Nations in honouring the cultural responsibility to lands and fostering Indigenous Nationhood. It works with dozens of First Nations to support their stewardship.