Indigenous peoples have been stewards of the land, water, and ice since time immemorial. Across the country, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis are braiding Indigenous Knowledge with modern science to offer solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss, while safeguarding the natural spaces we all depend on.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced an investment of almost $12.8 million to support 27 Indigenous-Led Natural Climate Solutions initiatives across Canada. These new initiatives will conserve, restore, and enhance land management of wetlands, peatlands, and grasslands to store and capture carbon while benefitting biodiversity, climate resiliency, and human well-being.
Some examples of these initiatives include:
- The Métis Nation of Ontario initiative, which will support future Indigenous-led emissions reduction activities in Southern Ontario. These include developing the capacity for carbon accounting, educating citizens about natural climate solutions, and acquiring 40 hectares of wetlands for long-term conservation. The project will also support the development of a Métis culture and language camp that will focus on land-based education, providing access to additional eco-sites and traditionally important plant and animal species.
- The Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources initiative, which will conduct research and knowledge gathering into nature-based climate solutions and sustainable models for carbon-based projects on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. The initiative will establish sites for researching and monitoring the use of nature-based climate solutions on coastal and Crown land, engage with Mi'kmaw leaders, youth, and other Knowledge Holders to share knowledge and create an evaluation framework for decision-making.
- The Mikisew Cree First Nation initiative focuses on peatland restoration to preserve the integrity of caribou habitat and restore ecosystem services to promote carbon sequestration in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Activities and methods are informed by Traditional Knowledge and western science. Elders and Knowledge Keepers will be engaged throughout the initiative and Mikisew Guardians will develop Indigenous Science indicators to measure results. Ecologists are assisting with the identification of habitats suitable for restoration, providing training in restoration techniques and supporting carbon quantification.
Together, these Indigenous-led initiatives will help to address the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution-and their combined impacts. In the spirit of reconciliation, the Government of Canada is committed to supporting the leadership of Indigenous peoples to help conserve ecosystems, protect Indigenous cultures, and develop sustainable economies for our collective future generations.
