Indigenous Partnerships in Conservation
Indigenous leadership in conservation is inspiring us all to work differently together and restore healthy relationships with the land to build resilient landscapes for nature and people to thrive. As a leading conservation organization, we have a unique opportunity to partner with Indigenous Nations and communities to achieve conservation and stewardship goals. Working with individuals, communities, organizations and governments at all levels, we deliver on-the-ground results in landscapes across Canada.
We are committed to building meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities that are grounded in mutual respect and the desire to achieve significant and lasting conservation outcomes together.
Our Commitment
Our commitment to Indigenous communities and landscapes across Canada, and to the people and species they sustain, is expressed through four strategies:
Building meaningful relationships
Being a partner and ally in conservation requires establishing a respectful relationship as a foundation for all of our work.
Enabling a culturally competent organization
Building meaningful relationships requires knowledgeable staff, sufficient resources and a willingness to do things differently. This approach needs to be fully integrated across our organization; it is part of everyone’s work at NCC.
Transforming our conservation practices
We will continue to evolve our conservation practices to ensure that Indigenous rights, roles and responsibilities are recognized and respected in our work.
Supporting Indigenous-led conservation
We will support Indigenous-led conservation through multiple pathways to accelerate the achievement of shared conservation goals.
Supporting Indigenous-led conservation
Wabano Aki
Along the Assiniboine River in southwestern Manitoba, Wabano Aki (meaning Tomorrow’s Land in Anishinaabe) shows what’s possible when communities come together to care for the land. Here, nature thrives alongside agriculture and cultural traditions. Together, we’re caring for this remarkable landscape, honouring its cultural connections and creating a lasting legacy for future generations.
MB Manitoba
Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area
In southwest Saskatchewan, Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area (OMB) is home to one of the province’s largest remaining expanses of intact native grasslands. This endangered ecosystem conserves clean water, supports biodiversity and strengthens a landscape that communities rely on every day.
Central Newfoundland
In Central Newfoundland, boreal forests, freshwater shorelines and wetlands provide homes for wildlife, support communities and hold deep cultural importance. Yet less than 3% of the region is protected. Together, we’re protecting these connected landscapes and the wildlife and people that depend on them.
Kootenay Forest Lands
In BC’s East Kootenay, near the Alberta and Montana borders, the Kootenay Forest Lands show what’s possible when we come together to protect nature. Spanning 45,000 hectares, this remarkable landscape sustains wildlife, connects people to nature and provides lasting benefits for local communities. By conserving these lands, we can safeguard their natural and cultural benefits for generations to come.
Committed to building meaningful relationships
We have much to learn from Indigenous Peoples across Canada to help us become better land managers and conservationists. We also have a unique opportunity to collaborate with Indigenous Nations and communities to achieve our shared conservation and stewardship goals. We will continue to expand our understanding of lands and waters and improve our stewardship by learning from shared Indigenous Knowledge, history and contemporary relationships in reciprocity with the land.
Featured stories
AB Alberta
Amping up grassland restoration with fungi
March 31, 2026
Canada
Hope, insights, and awareness for invasive species management
February 26, 2026
SK Saskatchewan
The sound of the prairie: Why grazing management matters
November 26, 2025
Canada
Studying recreation so people and nature can thrive
October 10, 2025
ON Ontario
Advancing conservation: in the field with butterflies
October 6, 2025
Canada
Water is life — and it begins with land
October 6, 2025
Canada
Canada’s forests: the roots of a resilient nation
September 24, 2025
Canada
NCC shares expertise at the Canadian Ecological Connectivity Conference
July 30, 2025
Canada
Pollinators and the future of food
June 14, 2025
Canada
Harnessing technology for conservation: A new era for Canada’s ecosystems
May 15, 2025
Wild news, straight from the field
ON Ontario
Boreal forest and peatlands secured to support climate resilience
October 13, 2026
AB Alberta
Kropinak family’s century of stewardship helps secure a critical Rocky Mountain wildlife corridor
September 15, 2026
MB Manitoba
Manitoba community leads the way in conserving nature and supporting local livelihoods
September 10, 2026
NL Newfoundland and Labrador
New conservation area protects vital Newfoundland watershed
August 27, 2026
ON Ontario
New boreal conservation area strengthens communities and protects iconic northern landscapes
August 11, 2026
QC Quebec
Where agriculture meets conservation: an unprecedented approach in Montréal
July 15, 2026
QC Quebec
Tamaracouta: an iconic site protected and accessible to the community
May 20, 2026
MB Manitoba
Family legacy helps secure carbon-storing powerhouse
April 16, 2026
ON Ontario
Key link protected in Great Lakes biodiversity hotspot, strengthening conservation network
March 31, 2026
SK Saskatchewan
Plains bison welcomed back to the Kahkewistahaw First Nation in Saskatchewan
March 30, 2026