In October, nearly 300 stewardship and conservation leaders from more than 70 Indigenous Nations and Inuit organizations gathered in Vancouver for three days of peer learning on protected areas at the first-ever Indigenous Conservation Forum, led by seven Indigenous Nations.

At the Forum, Indigenous leaders shared their experiences with declaring protected areas, going beyond the headlines to share frank reflections on their community engagement processes, negotiations with Crown governments and agencies, partnerships with funders and environmental groups, and approaches to long-term financing for stewardship and conservation.

“We are in an amazing new era, where our work is finally being recognized as best practice because the work we do is reciprocal.”

The gathering was an opportunity for stewardship leaders to learn from one another, build relationships, and share strategies for navigating common challenges like obtaining legal recognition for protected areas and addressing funding gaps for long-term programming.

“I am so grateful to have been a part of this event and I look forward to the next,” said Milas’ Santana Edgar, Marine Planning Coordinator for Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, and a presenter at the forum. “We are in an amazing new era, where our work is finally being recognized as best practice because the work we do is reciprocal. We care for our oceans, marine spaces, and lands because they take care of us. I look forward to the future of First Nations’ stewardship and being apart of the healing our traditional territories deserve across Turtle Island.”

The Indigenous Conservation Forum was led by Dehcho First Nations, Haida Nation, Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, Mamalilikulla Nation, Nunatsiavut Government, and Qikiqtani Inuit Association, and delivered with support from Coast Funds, MakeWay, Metcalf Foundation, and Parks Canada.

Coast Funds assisted with event planning, conservation finance session development, and delivered travel funding for representatives of First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, with support from Nature United.

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