Our Partners
The Indigenous Leadership Initiative works with a broad array of partners to advance Indigenous land management and conservation.
International Boreal Conservation Campaign
The International Boreal Conservation Campaign (IBCC) is a collaboration of multiple organizations that has been working for two decades on the shared goal of balancing strong protections and responsible development throughout the Boreal Forest.
The Indigenous Leadership Initiative is a lead partner in IBCC which also includes Ducks Unlimited Incorporated, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Resources Legacy Fund, and Boreal Songbird Initiative. The campaign also works directly with dozens of First Nations and collaborates with other Indigenous and environmental NGOs, and organizational and individual partners.
IBCC’s shared vision for the future of boreal forests is embodied in the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework. A critical part of the Boreal Framework vision is our explicit recognition that Canada’s Indigenous Peoples must lead efforts to conserve the boreal region. IBCC is committed to ensuring this principle guides all boreal conservation efforts.
Land Needs Guardians
The Land Needs Guardians campaign celebrates and supports Indigenous Guardians programs and Indigenous stewardship. Across the country, Indigenous Guardians are stepping forward to care for traditional lands, waters, and resources.
A movement is growing up from the land, from elders, youth and a new generation of leaders calling for Indigenous leadership on the land. The Land Needs Guardians campaign recognizes those who are honouring the cultural responsibility for stewardship. It is calling for long-term support for Indigenous Guardians programs and Indigenous-led conservation.
The Indigenous Leadership Initiative helped launch the Land Needs Guardians campaign to create a platform for guardians and their supporters to celebrate and expand the proven results of Indigenous stewardship.
The Conservation Through Reconciliation Partnership
The Conservation Through Reconciliation Partnership (CRP) represents a seven-year program of work hosted by the IISAAK OLAM Foundation, the Indigenous Leadership Initiatives, and the University of Guelph.
CRP was launched in May 2019 to create a collation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders and organizations, scholars, conservation agencies and organizations, and knowledge mobilization specialists. They have come together to act on the recommendations laid out in the Indigenous Circle of Experts’ landmark report for creating and expanding Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in the spirit of reconciliation.
CRP is dedicated to three primary objectives: Creating a network for conservation through reconciliation; ensuring ethical and collaborative research; and increasing capacity amongst Indigenous Nations and communities, the conservation sector and the general public.
First Nations
ILI has worked with dozens of First Nations, helping support land use plans, the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, Guardians programs, and other Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
