Latest news with #IndigenousLed
CBC
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Inclusive rite of passage + India's court backlog
The National is invited to an Indigenous-led camp in Alberta, working to inspire a renewal of rite of passage ceremonies by making them more inclusive. Plus, what's behind India's massive court backlog.
CBC
22-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Federal contribution to $375M conservation deal formalized in Yellowknife
Canada's environment minister signed an agreement Monday for the federal government's financial contribution to a "transformative" Indigenous-led conservation deal in the N.W.T. More than 20 Indigenous governments in the territory, along with the federal and territorial governments, signed a $375 million deal last fall called Our Land For the Future, which uses a project finance for permanence model that combines government and private dollars for long-term conservation on a large scale. The deal took another step forward Monday when Julie Dabrusin, the federal minister of environment and climate change, put her signature on an agreement that will transfer $300 million to the trust that's managing the money. Another $75 million is expected to come from private donors. "This isn't just a conservation announcement, it's really a global milestone," said Dabrusin. "This is about putting Indigenous leaders at the centre of decision making when we're talking about this land conservation." The agreement's primary purpose is to support Indigenous-led initiatives to conserve and steward land and water in the N.W.T. That is – to identify and establish more protected and conserved areas. It says Indigenous partners intend to protect nearly 233,000 square kilometres of land and water in the N.W.T. through new protected and conserved areas. That's a little more than 17 per cent of the territory, and a little more than two per cent of Canada. The secondary focus of the agreement is conservation-related activities that aren't tied to protected and conserved areas. Rather than being measured in hectares, the agreement says, they can be measured by things like increases to food security, cultural revitalization, knowledge and community wellness. Danny Yakeleya has been appointed chair of the Our Land for the Future Trust, which will manage the money. He said the agreement is "transformative" and will mean a lot for N.W.T. communities, like his own home of Tulita. "We're looking at two protected areas. One is the Willow Lake area, it's a biosphere, very sensitive for ducks," he said. "The other is in the mountains." Danny Gaudet, the Ɂek'wahtı̨dǝ́ (chief) of Deline, said for 21 Indigenous governments to work together is "unprecedented." He also said the deal will give communities the resources to document on paper what they've been saying is out on the land. "So that we could prove to the people that, guess what? The world is drying up, the plant is changing, we need to adjust to what's happening," he said. "There's a disconnect between Indigenous people that actually know everything about the land and water resources … and the legislators that are actually making decisions. There's a huge disconnect. This is an opportunity to actually start connecting it." Yakeleya said there's still a lot of work to do before funding starts flowing to communities, such as finding an office space, hiring staff, and nailing down a distribution policy for the money. He hopes the funding can start being dispersed in the fall. Yakeleya said he was one of the negotiators who brought the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement to fruition in the '90s. Back then, he said, he would not have been able to wrap his head around an agreement like Our Land for the Future.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Indigenous community brings back majestic animal once nearly driven to extinction in stunning land project: 'It's a very beneficial thing'
Charlie Carpenter, an Afro-Indigenous and Latino conservationist, is helping lead a movement to reintroduce one of North America's most iconic animals to the lands it once roamed freely — the buffalo. Carpenter is the braided science program manager at Indigenous Led, an organization working to elevate Indigenous-led conservation by weaving traditional ecological knowledge with Western science. At the heart of this work is a mission to heal land and community by restoring the sacred relationship between Indigenous people and the buffalo, an animal once driven nearly to extinction through colonization. In an interview shared by the Moab Sun News, Carpenter explained that buffalo were central to Indigenous life, providing food, clothing, shelter, and tools while shaping entire ecosystems. These efforts in cultural restoration are a holistic model that heals people and the planet together. Carpenter's work focuses on helping tribes reclaim land and restore it for buffalo. That includes collecting soil and vegetation data, removing invasive species, planting native grasses, and securing funding and permits. "Braided science is all about pulling in the Indigenous knowledge, then mixing in some Western science … and it just turns into this amazing thing," Carpenter told the Moab Sun News. Carpenter noted that while buffalo are classified as wildlife in some states, others define them as livestock, adding political and bureaucratic challenges to the process. So far, the group has sourced animals from Yellowstone National Park, private herds, and Canada's Oak Island. In addition to their importance to Indigenous culture, buffalo are a keystone species. That means their return has ripple effects, from boosting biodiversity and promoting native grasses to restoring balance to the ecosystem. "The native grasses also tend to have longer roots so they can hold more carbon in the soil. So it's a very beneficial thing to have buffalo back on the land," Carpenter told the Moab Sun News. "The ecosystem thrives if buffalo are back on the land." While restoring the ecosystem has plenty of environmental pros, it also benefits people. Healthy ecosystems support pollinators (crucial for protecting our food security) and improve water and soil quality for local communities, directly supporting farmers. Carpenter explained in the interview: "[Reintroducing the buffalo] is essentially bringing back what was taken from us. There's a lot of reconciliation that needs to happen with Indigenous communities, and bringing back the buffalo, I feel, is the number one way that it needs to happen." Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses? Absolutely Depends on how we do it Depends on where we do it Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
