NWT a Candidate for Innovative New Approach to Sustaining Indigenous-led Conservation

Yellowknife: May 26, 2022: Representatives from Indigenous, Territorial, and Federal Governments and private investors gathered in Yellowknife on Wednesday to begin exploring an innovative partnership to create long-term support for Indigenous-led conservation and sustainable growth in the Northwest Territories.  

The partnership has enormous potential to generate transformative benefits for the North.  

The region has already shown that investing in Indigenous-led conservation is good for people and the land. Thaidene Nëné, Edéhzhíe, and Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta have attracted significant investment and, together with Indigenous Guardians programs, have delivered economic development, language and cultural revitalization, and greater health and wellbeing.  

“Our relationship with the land is what sustains us as Indigenous Peoples. It’s how we retain our languages. It’s how we create jobs for our youth and prosperity for our communities,” said Interim Grand Chief of the Dehcho First Nations Stanley Sanguez. “We are interested in this partnership opportunity because we want future generations to care for the land and be strong in their cultures.”

At the gathering, participants discussed an innovative financing tool called Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), which is a growing trend around the world. PFPs lead to comprehensive funding agreements between partners including governments at all levels designed to sustain healthy lands and local economies. Their goal is to provide long-term financing for holistic conservation, economic diversification, and community prosperity.

The Northwest Territories is an excellent candidate for the PFP model, given its global leadership in Indigenous conservation, strong governance, and enabling legislation.

“The Government of the Northwest Territories is ready to explore this opportunity that could support a healthy, sustainable future for all Northerners,” said NWT Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Shane Thompson. “We value our partnerships with Indigenous governments, and we look forward to exploring other ways to diversify the NWT economy and support Indigenous stewardship over the long term.”

Yesterday’s conversation is part of the growing recognition that Indigenous-led conservation plays an essential role in addressing climate change and species loss. About 80 percent of the world’s remaining biodiversity is found on lands managed by Indigenous Peoples.

“Our government acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and water traces back to time immemorial. Indigenous Peoples’ leadership and knowledge are central to conserve nature now and for future generations,” said the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. “We have made the commitment to conserve 25 percent of lands and waters in Canada by 2025, and work toward conserving 30 percent by 2030. In the Northwest Territories, as in the rest of Canada, success in achieving our ambitious conservation goals relies on innovative conservation opportunities with Indigenous governments, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and donors.”

“The work unfolding in the Northwest Territories offers a model for the world,” said Tom Dillon, Senior Vice-President for the Environment at The Pew Charitable Trusts. “By recognizing and supporting Indigenous Nations’ leadership on the land, the region will demonstrate that durable conservation generates healthy communities and strong local economies far into the future.” 

“The Indigenous Leadership Initiative is honoured to convene this meeting,” said Valérie Courtois, Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative. “After conducting a visioning exercise with Indigenous Governments across the territory, it’s exciting to gather the partners together to help support a made-in-the-Northwest-Territories approach to building diverse economies and world-leading conservation.”

The meeting in Yellowknife will be followed by the launch of a technical working group to determine the shape and scale of the potential PFP, with a goal of securing consensus among partners on the core elements by June 2023.

Media Contact:

Sean Durkan: sean.sda.inc@rogers.com (613-851-2151)