How an IPCA would Sustain Boreal Abundance in the Seal River Watershed
October 23, 2024
A rushing river weaves through tree covered islands, flowing into lakes surrounded by forests as far as the eye can see. Birds of all sizes and colours flit about, and herds of caribou graze the tundra. This, and more, can be found in Seal River Watershed, an unparalleled natural beauty spanning 50,000 square km (nearly the size of Nova Scotia).
It can be hard to believe that places like this still exist. In the case of the Seal River Watershed, itʻs due to the efforts of four Indigenous communities - the Sayisi Dene First Nation, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, Northlands Denesuline First Nation and Barren Lands First Nation. These communities have served as the stewards of these lands for millennia. Now, they have come together to ensure this place of global significance remains this way by designating it as an Indigenous Protected Area. The vision? A place where their grandchildrenʻs grandchildren can speak their languages, hunt, fish, practise their traditions and honour their deep spiritual connection to the land.
As climate change and biodiversity loss approach a critical point, the Seal River Watershed offers us a gift; the opportunity to take action at a sweeping scale. When finalised, the Indigenous Protected Area will be the largest territorial protected area in all of Canada, safeguarding around 8% of Manitoba. It will also support a new model of conservation – one led by and for Indigenous Peoples – and contribute to global efforts to protect 30 percent of lands and water by 2030. It will ensure that habitats and peoples thrive, and thousands of caribou, millions of migratory birds and more are abundant for generations to come.
A landscape full of life
Covering over 50,000 sq km of Northern Manitoba, the watershed is 99.7% intact, and contains pristine tundra, lush wetlands, and forests. As the last truly wild river in the North, the Seal River carries life-sustaining nutrients that feed the Seal River estuary, the Hudson Bay, and all the life within. In the summer, thousands of beluga whales make their way to the Seal River estuary to breed and raise their young, along with seals, and polar bears.
The land itself is no different – over 200 bird species call the watershed home, in addition to wolverines, gray wolves, bears, fish, and caribou. In a rarity unlike anywhere else, all three species of North American bears – polar, grizzly and black bears – live in the watershed.
Permanent protections for the watershed will have a global impact on bird conservation, with species travelling from across the hemisphere to critical breeding and migratory stop-over sites in the watershed. As spring migration arrives, flocks of Sandpipers, Blackpoll Warblers, Godwits and more breed, rest, and refuel in the watershed. Sea ducks such as Black Scoters fill the waters, reaching numbers in the thousands, alongside Long-tailed Ducks, Green-winged Teals, and Northern Pintails. By mid-late July, millions of birds fly across North America, with some travelling as far away as South America for the winter.
A climate solution
Deep within the peatlands, wetlands and waters of the Seal River is a massive carbon bank, holding approximately 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon. This is as much as 70 years of work of Canadaʻs passenger vehicle emissions, and approximately 63% of all social carbon stocks.
As the number of intact, pristine landscapes dwindle, the remaining ones become more important than ever, and the Seal River Watershed is a source of hope amidst this unprecedented climate crisis.
When we conserve these fragile habitats, we prevent carbon from being released into the atmosphere and further exacerbating climate change. Called “nature-based climate solution”, this approach – conserving the resources and protecting existing carbon stores – can deliver one-third of the emissions reductions necessary to meet the Paris Climate Agreement.
Caribou and culture
About 200,000 caribou live and winter in the watershed, sustaining the Dene and Cree Peoples. These majestic animals are not only significant as a food source, but are a vital part of the languages, cultures and traditions of the region. Since time immemorial, Dene and Cree peoples followed the caribou, stewarding and living alongside them. This has fostered a spiritual connection to the animals, and knowledge of the caribou continues to be passed down through the generations.
“The health of our lands and the health of our people are intertwined,” said Stephannie Thorassie, the Executive Director of the Seal River Watershed Alliance. “Our cultures and languages are rooted in our relationship to the caribou and the land, and protecting the watershed means protecting the spirit of our people. The Indigenous Protected Area will help us honour our Elders and create opportunities for our youth. And it will generate jobs and sustainable prosperity for our communities.”
The Land is Healing
Through time on the land, people also find healing. Deep rooted trauma from residential schools, colonialism and forced relocations has led to a disconnect between the people of the Seal River and their traditional lands. But time on the land is medicine. It allows them to reconnect to their culture, their history and ancestors. The relationship with caribou strengthens this healing and the connection between the Dene and Cree people and land, animals and waters.
Led by and for Indigenous peoples, Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAʻs) preserve the lands and waters for future generations while supporting culture and language. The benefits don’t stop there: the establishment of an IPA in the Seal River will have significant benefits for the people of Manitoba both within and outside of the watershed. It will create jobs rooted in community and culture, and support local economies. Opportunities around Indigenous stewardship such as Guardians Programs, and eco and cultural tourism will boom, showcasing the significance of this place.
The time for Indigenous-led conservation is now
In the midst of a global effort to combat climate change, and national efforts to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030, movements to sustain places like the Seal River Watershed are critical. And momentum is building.
In January 2024, the four First Nations of the Seal River Watershed Alliance, the Manitoba Government, and the Government of Canada signed an historic agreement providing interim protections for the watershed while a feasibility study for the IPA is conducted. It shows what can be accomplished when people and governments unite around an Indigenous-led vision for the future – one that benefits lands, waters, wildlife and people.
“We are taking big strides in the journey to protect the Seal River Watershed,” said Thorassie. “This IPA will help our communities heal, create land jobs for land people, and help Manitoba and Canada meet reconciliation and conservation goals. And most of all, we are showing our youth that even though we come from small communities, we can do big things.”
If youʻd like to learn more about the Seal River Watershed, or the alliance of communities working to protect it, visit https://www.sealriverwatershed.ca/.
And click here to sign the letter of support of the Seal River Watershed Indigenous Protected Area.
