Indigenous Engagement Across Ontario

Since 2022, the Tree and Tomorrow Foundation (TTF) has been supporting The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) – a leading Canadian organization dedicated to conserving nature for over 60 years. As a private, non-profit organization, the NCC works with individuals, corporations, foundations, Indigenous communities in Canada, other non-profit organizations, and governments at all levels to protect Canada’s most valuable natural treasures – pristine areas that preserve Canada’s wildlife and vegetation. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have protected 15 million hectares of land.

The first edition of the “Indigenous Advisors” project ran from July 2023 to September 2024, directly engaging Indigenous Peoples of Canada in traditional territories – often adjacent to areas protected and managed by the NCC – in nature conservation activities. The project financed, among other things, the employment of advisors (from local communities) to monitor the preservation processes of NCC’s protected areas and a developed a series of training courses (Indigenous Insights training) for the NCC team. Grassroot local initiatives of Indigenous people were also supported. These projects, ecological in nature and focused on protecting the biodiversity in the areas they inhabit, included: research on bird populations in Pays Plat First Nations and testing water quality in lakes via the purchase of a water quality monitoring station (for the Mamawmatawa Holistic Education Centre located on Constance Lake First Nation).

The project also included initiatives of a socio-cultural nature. Thanks to the support of the TTF, several ceremonies and meetings related to the celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the founding of Canada were held for local Indigenous communities, under the patronage of Grand Council Treaty 3, in which over 200 people participated.  A celebration for the community living in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, organized by the leader of this community – Ogimaa Kwe Manitowabi (Chief Woman Manitowabi), was also co-financed. In addition, in consultation with nine different Indigenous communities, a multi-phase archaeological survey was conducted in the MacMillan Nature Reserve. The purpose was to determine whether there were any traces of the cultural activities of traditional communities in these areas and to ensure that the NCC’s planned activities in these areas – wetland restoration – would not jeopardize the archeological heritage of these communities.

The project also financially supported cultural education activities for young Indigenous people. The financing, among other things, included transportation for school trips for students of St. Joseph’s Anishnabek School in Sheshegwaning First Nation and mental health awareness programming. Mental health education and resources are uniquely important for the process of rebuilding Indigenous cultural identity in these communities after the trauma of colonization and forced assimilation.

Engaging Indigenous communities in the protection of valuable natural areas continues under the 3-year project “Indigenous Engagement Across Ontario 2025-28”. TFF is funding the costs associated with establishing long-term relationships with additional communities living in territories adjacent to NCC-protected areas. As part of the project, the NCC team will invite both new communities and those with which initial relationships have already been established to discussions and meetings. Moreover, as in the previous edition of the project, NCC will support communities in protecting, researching and monitoring the ecological condition of the areas they inhabit.

The long-term effect of the project is the establishment of authentic, local, and long-term relationships with Indigenous nations and communities, based on respect for their cultural diversity. The project is being implemented in the province of Ontario, including in the areas of Boreal Wildlands and Hastings Wildlife Junction, in the purchase of which the TTF participated.