REACTION – Nature Canada Celebrates Historic Conservation Agreement: “NWT: Our Land for the Future”
This agreement exemplifies how true collaboration can drive meaningful change, with Indigenous communities and the federal government working as equal partners toward lasting conservation.
At the federal level, the leadership of Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has been steadfast in fostering the political will necessary to pursue the 30×30 vision. Today’s announcement builds on decades of work by Indigenous and federal partners across the country including Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy, the Project Funding for Permanence investment model for Indigenous conservation projects, Federal-Provincial-Territorial Nature Agreements, and the Indigenous Guardians Program. All this work has enabled groundbreaking agreements like this one and built the necessary foundation to put Indigenous conservation at the centre of Canada’s 30×30 strategy.
With today’s announcement, we stand on the verge of protecting a huge tract of Canada’s lands and freshwater—a significant stride toward our national conservation goals. This partnership not only sets a new standard for Indigenous-led stewardship but also demonstrates Canada’s commitment to conservation that uplifts Indigenous knowledge and respects the land.