Indigenous-led conservation
Content related to: Indigenous-led conservation
Wetland Knowledge Exchange October 2023 Newsletter
Protecting the ‘Caribou Heaven’ A Sacred Site of the Naskapi and Protected Area Establishment in Nunavik, Canada
Sacred Natural Sites play an essential role in the expression and transmission of culture, in the conservation of biodiversity, and are a vital means for the manifestation of cultural and spiritual values related to nature. In Nunavik, the Government of Québec, in partnership with the Kativik Regional Government recently created the Kuururjuaq National Park on 4,274 km2 of tundra. A cultural important site for the Naskapi First Nation, the Caribou Heaven is situated within the limits of this new protected area. This chapter first provides an overview of the linkages between Aboriginal peoples and protected areas in Canada. It then illustrates the crucial role played by the caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in the socio-cultural, spiritual, and economic life of the Naskapi First Nation. Next, it explains how the ecological knowledge of the Naskapi was used to designate this culturally important place as an area of maximum protection, in order to ensure its protection and integrity. It finally describes how cultural and spiritual values, have formed the basis of co-management models of nature conservation in this park. The initiative is among the first of such efforts by the Government of Québec to give expression to the importance of and to provide protection to the sacred sites of First Nations.
Inuit Co-management Led Research
Video - Caribou Conservation Project
Video - Blood Tribe Buffalo Restoration Project
Sacred Science Video Series
Bringing together Indigenous knowledge and western science creates opportunities for new solutions to environmental challenges, including issues that are important to Indigenous People.
The Sacred Science video series, developed in collaboration with Indigenous communities in Alberta, Alberta Innovates and InnoTech Alberta, tells the stories of how these communities are leveraging these two knowledge systems to tackle complex conservation and land management challenges and to preserve their cultures.
These videos demonstrate successful collaboration between Indigenous communities and natural scientists that create meaningful impact and demonstrate our commitment to reconciliation, particularly in the natural sciences.
Podcast - Shift talks Sacred Science with Alvin First Rider, Brett Purdy, and Emily Herdman
Webinar Series: Indigenous Led Caribou Conservation
This webinar series, hosted by the Indigenous Knowledge Circle of the National Boreal Caribou Knowledge Consortium, highlights Indigenous-led work to protect and restore caribou and their habitat.
Past webinars include:
- Jan 2021 - Collaboration, Range Planning and the Porcupine Caribou Herd
- May 2021 - How can range planning for caribou advance reconciliation?
- Mar 2022 - Community-led Planning for Caribou: Changing How We Do Conservation
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Jan 2023 - Caribou Conservation, Treaty Rights, and Guardians in Alberta's Oil Sands
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Nov 2023 - Tâdzié-Sagow Atihk Stewardship Plan - Indigenous Knowledge to Recover Caribou