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© Lora Denis
Indigenous Perspectives on Protected Areas Gathering © Chris Craig
In commemoration of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this September 30th, Ontario Nature reflects on our role in advancing conservation through reconciliation. As we continue our learning journey, we are grateful to those who have guided us and walked alongside us in this work. We are not “experts” and instead hope to ...
Farabout Peninsula, Eagle Lake/Migisi Sahgaigan © Anne Bell
Across Turtle Island (what is currently known as North America), Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are rightfully being recognized as a solution to climate change and biodiversity loss, while simultaneously providing a path towards Indigenous Nations having their ancestral responsibilities to the Lands and Waters acknowledged and respected through reinstating their sovereignty and jurisdiction ...
Neyaashiinigmiing Unceded Lands © QuietFyre CC BY 2.0
Land Back refers to the Indigenous-led movement to reclaim stewardship over traditional lands and ecosystems, protecting them for generations to come. For time immemorial, areas primarily governed by Indigenous Peoples have maintained biodiversity despite continuous human population growth. However, Indigenous communities have been dispossessed from ancestral lands since settler contact. The Land Back movement aims ...
Earl Bales Park © binkwilder CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
A green and just recovery is the solution for a “better-than-normal” time, because getting “back-to-normal” is simply not enough until the COVID-19 pandemic is under control. To achieve a green and just recovery, we must listen to land defenders and climate activists in their ambitions to protect our food, water, and air. We must stand ...
Despite the physical barriers presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Youth Circle for Mother Earth (YCME)’s Coordinating Circle continues to engage with one another, learning together about cross-cultural literacy and working to bridge the gap between Western science and Indigenous knowledge systems. For instance, in March we organized a virtual retreat series that replaced the ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority