March 12, 2025 What tools support Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas? by Youth Advisory Council (2024-2025 Cohort) Canada is committed to numerous national and international reconciliation goals and environmental targets that can be aided by the implementation, protection, and expansion of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and Indigenous-led conservation. IPCAs aid reconciliation goals by supporting Indigenous livelihoods and autonomy, enhancing connections to the land, promoting Indigenous cultures and ways of life, and contributing to inherent, constitutional and treaty rights. Canada is committed to a variety of reconciliation goals in order to make reparations for the attempted assimilation and genocide of Indigenous Peoples. This includes: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and its 94 calls to action; the international instrument the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and its Canadian enactments DRIPA in British Columbia and later the national UNDA Action Plan; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. IPCAs can also aid in environmental targets as they are known to utilize more direct on-the-land monitoring and centuries of local Indigenous knowledge. This leads to increased protections for lands, waters, and ice and enhanced ecosystem services such as natural disaster mitigation, carbon storage, and species management. Canada is committed to a variety of environmental targets including: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its subsidiary at the national level, Canada Target 1; the Paris Climate Agreement and its subsidiary, Canada’s Nationally Determined Contributions; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, and SDG 15: Life on Land. There are many IPCAs being proposed or are already established across Canada by various Indigenous communities who want to see their culture and local ecological integrity protected. No federal or provincial legislation explicitly outlines the legal status of IPCAs, leaving ambiguity around their recognition and enforcement, so it is especially important for Canadians to recognize and support IPCAs and the amazing work they are doing. You can learn more about what you can do to help IPCAs over the next few weeks, as the Youth Advisory Council shares more posts on the subject, or by checking out the links below. Articles for additional learning: Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas: What they are and why they are important? Utilizing Indigenous Conservation in Canada to Strengthen Contributions to Environmental Targets and Reconciliation Goals Explore Related Content Youth Advisory Council Bagida’waad Alliance: Meet the leaders and show your support March 12, 2025 Read more Youth Advisory Council nʔaysnúlaʔxʷ iʔ‿k̓ łluxʷnwixʷmntət: Protecting Ashnola, Protecting the Future March 12, 2025 Read more Youth Advisory Council Seal River Watershed Alliance: All you need to know March 12, 2025 Read more
