Indigenous peoples will henceforth have a fundamental role in the conservation of nature. Most protected areas in Canada are now proposed by Aboriginal groups, who wish to look after them themselves.
Posted at 1:51 p.m.
There are approximately 80 protected areas in Canada overseen by the people who originally owned the land. Some are designated solely by the local First Nation and others are part of the national park system. But others — many more — are to come.
The recent federal budget provides funding for at least 27 more Indigenous protected and conserved areas. Ottawa has just signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Nunatsiavut, Labrador, to assess the feasibility of establishing a new protected area along the northern coast of Labrador.
This is the only way for Canada to fulfill its international promise to protect 30% of its land territory, said Sandra Schwartz of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
It is realistic to achieve these protection goals for Canada. Many of these places are on Indigenous lands.
Sandra Schwartz, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
Indigenous people have a historical cultural attachment to the land and a political will to have a land base, said Val Courtois of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative. The assertion of land rights in Canada has always been about this relationship to place. It’s just a new way of describing this responsibility. »
Indigenous protected and conserved areas have been established through federal, provincial and other group structures and vary widely in their operation and activities. Some do not meet international standards for conservation areas and will not count toward Canada’s 30% target.
Yet they all involve some level of Indigenous co-management, including land use planning and custodians — those local First Nations people who manage the land and are trained to do so.
Crucial element of reconciliation
Tanya Ball began her career as a social worker for Kaska Dene First Nation. Now she runs a Land Guardians program, where she works to monitor and protect a vast swath of northern British Columbia’s wilderness.
She still considers herself a social worker of sorts.
“Earth keepers can help the earth heal,” she said. And the earth can help guardians heal. »
Mme Ball is at the forefront of the new way Canada protects its still healthy rivers, lakes, forests, mountains and plains. Crown governments used to mark off an area deemed particularly scenic or suitable for outdoor recreation and call it a park. Not anymore.
“There is no future in conservation where the federal government is involved [et] where Indigenous peoples are not involved from the start,” said Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
This traditional model is a thing of the past.
Steven Guilbeault, Federal Minister of the Environment
Mme Ball said his eight-person team collects water samples, maps, monitors hunting, delineates archaeological sites, tracks visitor impacts, monitors animal movements, assists conservation officers and runs projects. of research. “They are very busy,” she says.
One thing they don’t do is put up fences. Indigenous protected areas are not meant to keep anyone out, said Ms.me Courteous.
“I would fall out of my chair if I heard of an indigenous group saying, ‘Let’s exclude everyone,'” she said. There may be small portions that are particularly sacred, but the idea of excluding people is the opposite of how we think about these places. »
Tara Shea of the Mining Association of Canada said her group generally supports the protection of indigenous lands — as long as the process is transparent and potential mining concessions are considered in advance.
“We strongly believe that mining development and biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand. »
There are challenges. While the federal government has earmarked more than $300 million since 2018 for Indigenous conservation, Guilbeault acknowledges that a permanent source of funding for such programs is still being sought.
“We don’t do permanent programs. The philanthropic world has played a huge role in conservation and will continue to do so. We welcome their involvement. »
Ottawa, the Northwest Territories, local First Nations and the U.S.-based non-profit Pew Charitable Trusts are currently negotiating a way to fund the National Park and Area Warden program. Edehzhie indigenous protected woman.
Another barrier is the varying degree of support from provincial governments, which control most of Canada’s Crown lands.
“The level of enthusiasm varies,” says Guilbeault, who declined to give further details. Some provincial governments do not believe in government-to-government relations. »
“It’s difficult for the provinces,” said Ms.me Courteous. They are used to being in the driver’s seat. »
Mme Ball believes that Indigenous conservation is important for the whole country as a crucial part of reconciliation. She welcomes what will happen if members of her First Nation go onto lands they help manage.
“Sometimes people just want to go out for the day. I already see a difference in people at the end of the day. Their demeanor changes, their mood has improved,” Ms.me Ball. She thinks it will also help a lot with social issues.