Conservation Biology​​​ in the Boreal
HOW DOES NEWFOUNDLAND and LABRADOR COMPARE??​
In 1993 the environmental government recognized that tourism, recreation, conservation, and economic development are all interlinking factors between protected areas and the Inuit communities, so they worked to implement the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) to define the roles of government and Inuit in environmental protection. It was a new approach to establishing protected areas, which focused on involving indigenous people in joint-planning and management. The NLCA allows communities to propose their own parks based on their knowledge and desire to protect areas important to them, therefore potentially working to protect areas over-looked, or deemed insignificant to environmental agencies (17).​
From this agreement, an Umbrella Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement was formed in 2002 and would affect all current and proposed territorial parks. It is sub-divided into Joint Planning and Management Committees at both the community and territorial levels.Within the agreement there are several steps that government and Inuit representatives work through to establish protected areas:
In British Columbia, indigenous people were not involved in conservation planning or management until February 2006. This is when the province committed to a land use initiative for the North and Central coastline, and began their effort towards building positive relationships and trust with the indigenous people of the area. This initiative protects 28% (approximately 1.8 million hectares) of coastal planning areas from mining and logging. Conservationists recognized that large portions of the area are used for traditional purposes by the indigenous people in the area. Therefore they approached them with their intentions, it was positively received and the first nations agreed that large amounts of the area still need to be protected, but they would prefer if these areas remained available to them to use as they always have (18).​
Great Bear Lake is located within the Northwest Territories and is within the Arctic Circle. It is a large lake that has been historically used by the Déline community who has settled on the edge of the lake. This particular example is interesting because the Déline people approached conservationists for help protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Great Bear Lake, unlike many other co-management operations where the conservationists typically approach the indigenous people. The people of Déline worried that the watershed would not be available for future generations of their people unless it became a protected area (19).​
Signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
Source: http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca
The area of coastline protected by the Land Use Initiative. Source: http://www.parks-parcs.ca
The Great Bear Lake watershed area.
Source: http://www.parks-parcs.ca
How Canada Has Worked With Indigenous People
There are numerous examples available of how Canadian indigenous people have worked towards with conservation of our lands. Below are three examples taken from case studies where indigenous people were collaborated with to plan and manage parks and protected areas.
Nunavut Land Claims Agreement
British Columbia Land Use Initiative
Great Bear Lake Watershed
Metlakatla native actively involved in the land use management proccess.
Source: http://www.metlakatla.ca/
Great Bear Lake at sunset.
Source: http://www.idntourism.com
Source: http://www.donkom.ca
In October 2002 the Great Bear Lake Working Group was established; composed of many different parties including Déline elders, DFO, territorial department of resources, Sahtu land use planning board, etc. It required a long period of time to develop trust and communication between the indigenous people of Déline and professional parties; illustrating the importance of involving indigenous people in conservation efforts. The goal of this group was to develop precautionary conditions for development that require developers to prove that no harm will come to the watershed instead of the group proving how it will harm the watershed (19).
However, since there is no legislation binding the working group, it can only control the level of development, not stop it entirely which would be the preferable action. Further action was required and so the Sahtu Land Use Plan is currently awaiting governmental approval and will be binding once complete. It was originally presented in 2006, drafted in 2007, and is now out for review and consultations (19).
By engaging the indigenous people early on in the development process and being actively responsive, BC gained a sense of goodwill and support for protected areas from the community and empowered the indigenous people. Ultimately the province was able to retain the decisive power, but by taking input from first nations they developed strong relationships for future projects (18).
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(1) A preliminary park resource file is composed to document background information on the cultural/natural resources and recreational/economic opportunities that will develop from the park.
(2) It is publicly presented to the Inuit community to be approved.
(3) Once approved, a parks advisory committee is assembled to assess park feasibility, distribute newsletters, etc. (this committee includes members of the community as well as professionals to ensure the indigenous people are represented) (17).