Hill Times: Investing in Indigenous conservation to create a more resilient economy
Across Canada, people have done their part to reduce the threat of COVID-19 over the past few months. They have stayed home, observed social distances and supported medical workers. In Indigenous communities, many families have gone out on the land to further shield one another from illness.
This shared approach to reducing the spread of coronavirus has saved lives. Now it will take a similar joint effort to rebuild the economy and restore people’s livelihoods in the coming months. We will get through this crisis together, and our recovery must reflect the reality that we are linked—even as we stand six feet apart or live thousands of miles away from one another.
Helping communities and industries rebuild after the devastating shock of the pandemic will require unprecedented commitment. Already the government has provided vital supports to individuals, communities, and businesses. Enhanced investments in smaller, northern communities will also deliver far-reaching benefits across the country.
“Investing in Indigenous stewardship will deliver local and national benefits, now and into the future. ”
One of the most effective ways to generate both immediate local impact and broad transformation is to invest in Indigenous stewardship.
Indigenous-led conservation is proven to generate good-paying jobs, spur major purchases from suppliers and provide certainty for industry. At the same time, it is helping Canada meet commitments to conserve nature, address climate change and advance reconciliation.
Investing in Indigenous stewardship will deliver local and national benefits, now and into the future.
Here’s what that looks like on the ground. Indigenous Guardians are trained experts who manage lands across the North. They test water quality, restore caribou and salmon, and monitor development projects. Many guardians also co-manage Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas—places that sustain healthy landscapes and clean waters for all people.
East of Yellowknife, for instance, the Łutsël K’e Dene First Nation guardians manage wetlands full of migratory birds and respond to climate change. The program employs 10 people in the summer and 4 in the winter—a big impact in a community of 300. Those salaries sustain families, reduce public assistance costs and circulate money through personal purchases.
The guardians program also makes big investments. Łutsël K’e Dene First Nation signed an agreement in 2019 with Parks Canada and Government of the Northwest Territories to protect 26,376 square kilometres known as the Thaidene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area. Łutsël K’e’s leadership in this effort gained global recognition this month when it received the United Nations Development Programme’s Equator Prize as an example to be replicated the world over—marking the first time the prize was awarded in Canada.
Guardians will co-manage these lands, and this winter alone, Łutsël K’e spent $500,000 in boats, snowmobiles and other gear for their work. The vehicles—which will be used to monitor climate impacts, maintain biodiversity and support the return of tourism—were bought in Yellowknife and will receive ongoing servicing from local businesses. We expect to make additional purchases next year as well.
Replicating this model will unleash similar economic activity across the country. Right now, there are about 60 Indigenous Guardians programs in Canada. Yet many operate without predictable funding. Federal investment, particularly in the context of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, will enable guardians programs to expand and achieve longevity. It will create local investments now and conserve lands for years to come.
Read the rest of this piece at The Hill Times.
Photo credit: Pat Kane Photography