From the pristine waters of the North French River in Ontario to the tree-lined shores of the Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories, Indigenous Nations are working to conserve the land.

Some are caring for the country’s iconic places, like Gwaii Haanas and the Torngat Mountains. And some are creating protected areas that will provide clean water, fresh air and abundant animals for generations to come.

Now, as Canada embarks on one of the biggest conservation initiatives in its history, Indigenous efforts to protect the land are taking on even greater significance.

Canada has committed to protect at least 17 per cent of lands by 2020 in accordance with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The country has protected about 11 per cent so far. Indigenous-led conservation can help Canada accelerate toward its goal — and advance reconciliation at the same time.

Honouring Indigenous values and aspirations for the land is a vital element of Reconciliation, yet Crown governments haven’t always recognized the protections Indigenous Nations put in place. Now, as part of its new conservation commitment, Canada can work with Indigenous Nations to respect and expand Indigenous protected and conserved areas. This will strengthen our partnerships and protect more fresh waters and vibrant landscapes for everyone.

This conservation project has broad support. A resounding 87 per cent of Canadians favour protecting at least 17 per cent of lands, according to a recent survey conducted by Earnscliffe Strategy Group for the Schad Foundation and the Boreal Songbird Initiative.

And this month, 116 Members of Parliament and the Senate called on Finance Minister Bill Morneau to increase federal investment for new parks and protected areas in order to safeguard the environment and strengthen rural economies.

Many Indigenous people support conservation as well, since caring for the land is an important part of respecting our cultural responsibilities. Several Indigenous Nations have embraced land use planning as a tool to determine which areas we want to protect and where exploration and development can occur. It helps us assert our right to sit at the table and hold the pen when lines are drawn on the map.

With these plans as our guide, we have helped establish national parks, UNESCO biosphere reserves, world heritage sites and tribal parks. Much of this work has been done in partnership with Crown governments.

On the eastern shore of Great Slave Lake, for instance, the Lutsel K’e Dene First Nations wanted to conserve large areas of their territory. They negotiated with Crown governments to develop a new kind of park — one co-created by First Nations and Canada together.

Called Thaidene Nene, the proposed park will encompass 3.5 million acres. The Lutsel K’e Dene will co-manage the protected area with the help of Nihat’Ni Dene program — Indigenous Guardians who monitor wildlife, watersheds and cultural sites by drawing on Indigenous and Western science.

Meanwhile, the Innu are partnering with federal and provincial governments to co-manage the Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve in Labrador and implement a suite of other conservation measures in Quebec. And the Sahtúgot’ine Dene successfully worked to designate the Great Bear Lake Watershed as Canada’s largest Biosphere Reserve.

More Nations are ready to conserve lands, and the Canadian public favour these efforts. Three out of four Canadians support Indigenous communities creating and managing Indigenous protected and conserved Areas, according to the survey conducted by Earnscliffe Strategy Group.

To move forward, Indigenous Nations need support. All Crown governments will need to recognize Indigenous protected areas and help to fund their long-term management and stewardship. More investment will help Indigenous Nations complete land use plans, establish Indigenous protected and conserved areas and expand Indigenous Guardians programs to manage these areas and work with companies on monitoring projects in development zones.

This support will move us closer toward Reconciliation on the land. It will help the government put important policies into practice, from the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Peoples to the Department of Justice’s new principles on Nation-to-Nation relationships.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

It will help Indigenous Nations express our right to determine the future of our lands and our future as Peoples. And it will help ensure the land sustains all Canadians far into the future.

Valerie Courtois is the executive director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, an organization dedicated to strengthening Indigenous Nationhood and honouring the cultural responsibility to the land.Steven Nitah is lead negotiator for Lutsel K’e Dene First Nations on the proposed Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve and a member of the Indigenous Circle of Experts advising on Canada’s conservation goals.