Elder Dave Courchene was a gifted spiritual leader, orator, and knowledge keeper who served as a critical bridge between Indigenous place-based people and mainstream society. He spoke for those relatives that don't have a voice. He was a champion of Indigenous-led conservation, knowing Guardians are imperative for protecting the land, water, and air that sustain our very existence.

“Indigenous Peoples are already at the forefront of sustaining biodiversity. Across the country, the biggest, most visionary plans for protecting lands are led by Indigenous Nations. Now Canada has the opportunity to catch up to and recognize our ambitions. By working together, we can protect healthy lands, make communities more resilient, and build a more equitable future.”

This collaboration on a documentary series grows out of shared values and concerns. In the age of climate change and loss of biodiversity, both ILI and RCGS want to highlight Indigenous leadership in sustaining animals and plants, clean air and water, and healthy people and communities.

“This is the largest federal investment in Indigenous-led stewardship to date, and we welcome the Government of Canada’s commitment to partnering with Indigenous Nations on conservation and stewardship,” said Valérie Courtois, the Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative.

Justice Berger empowered people by creating a venue to speak and be heard. The inquiry contributed to the awakening of the political consciousness of Indigenous Peoples in the North. And it had a significant impact on the conservation of lands in the North.

“As the Government of Canada places Indigenous-led conservation at the center of its biodiversity strategy, we look forward to seeing this commitment reflected in specific investments on the ground. And we expect to see this implemented on the Nation-to-Nation basis Canada is committed to.” 

Indigenous Nations are honouring our responsibility for the land in ways that are good for people and the economy. With added investment, Indigenous Nations can help Canada emerge from the pandemic as a leader in economic recovery, conservation, and climate action.

Ottawa: February 2, 2021 Deputy Director Dahti Tsetso is Tłicho Dene and played a leading role in the launch and operation of the Dehcho K'éhodi Stewardship and Guardians Program and the establishment of the Edéhzhíe Dehcho Protected Area and National Wildlife Area.

Ottawa: Monday September 28, 2020: At a leader’s forum on nature and people earlier today, Prime Minister Trudeau emphasized the importance of partnerships with Indigenous Peoples in meeting Canada’s conservation goals.

Ottawa: Wednesday September 23, 2020: In the speech from the throne, Prime Minister Trudeau emphasized the need to confront climate change and conserve 25% of lands by 2025.

Ottawa: Tues. September 15, 2020: The United Nations Global Biodiversity Outlook reports that the international community has failed to meet 2020 commitments to reverse dangerous declines in animal and plant species. It calls for scaling up solutions, including expanding protected areas and strengthening the role of Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity strategies.

Ottawa: July 7, 2020 As the country focuses on restoring public health and the economy in the face of COVID-19, most Canadians continue to want the federal government to prioritize nature protection.

The Indigenous Leadership Initiative is honoured to receive the 2019 Gold Leaf Award from the Canadian Council of Ecological Areas. The council is a national organization dedicated to expanding and managing a network of protected areas that conserve the rich ecological diversity of the country’s land and seascape.

GUELPH, TURTLE ISLAND – A historic partnership in support of the conservation of traditional lands and waters by Indigenous Peoples is among a number of projects to receive funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Ottawa: Wednesday, July 17th, 2019: The Government of Canada announced that it will invest $6.4 million in the First Nations stream of the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program. Twenty-two projects—some existing and some new—will receive funds to support Indigenous-led conservation.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee today inscribed the Pimachiowin Aki boreal forest spanning the Manitoba–Ontario boundary as a World Heritage Site, recognizing the outstanding universal value of both its cultural and natural features. The decision ends one journey for the four Anishinaabe First Nations who have worked through two previous nominations to achieve success, and the beginning of a new one for the Pimachiowin cultural landscape, home to Indigenous peoples for more than 7,000 years.

Ottawa: Thur. June 28, 2018: Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for parks and protected areas met today to discuss advancing toward the shared goal of protecting at least 17% of lands by 2020.

May 16th, 2018: The acceptance of Pimachiowin Aki this summer as an Indigenous-led World Heritage Site would be a major inspiration in the drive to partner with Indigenous peoples to protect at least 17% of Canada’s land by 2020, says Valérie Courtois, Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI).

Ottawa: Tues. Feb. 27, 2018: The Government of Canada has made a major investment in protecting our lands and waters for future generations. The 2018 federal budget includes a $1.3 billion allocation to meet Canada’s international commitment to protect 17 per cent of its lands and 10 percent of waters by 2020 and points to the importance of Indigenous partnerships in achieving its conservation goals.

Ottawa: Wed. Mar. 22, 2017: The movement to create a National Indigenous Guardians Network gained new ground today when the government of Canada included an initial investment of $25 million over 5 years in the 2017-2018 federal budget. While this investment will not enable new guardian programs to be established immediately, this seed funding will help develop the national network and prepare Indigenous Nations and communities to launch their own Indigenous Guardians programs.