Tłıchǫ Welcome Funding for Indigenous-Led Conservation
Montreal, December 7, 2022 – Today, Prime Minister Trudeau announced $800 million in new funding for Indigenous-led conservation and land stewardship efforts. The Tłı̨chǫ Government welcomes this new funding and the federal government’s recognition of the critical importance and incredible opportunity that Indigenous-led land stewardship presents.
The Tłı̨chǫ Constitution recognizes and affirms the Tłı̨chǫ responsibility to be custodians of the land, water, and wildlife. Tłı̨chǫ have been carrying out this land stewardship responsibility since time immemorial as part of the Tłı̨chǫ way of life. More recently, this stewardship work has included western and Indigenous science and monitoring methods, sharing of Tłı̨chǫ knowledge, harvesting, and other cultural practices that maintain and revitalize relationships to the land, water, and wildlife. The relationship the Tłı̨chǫ have to the environment defines who they are as Tłı̨chǫ people and is intimately connected to their language, culture, and way of life.
Tłı̨chǫ traditional territory of Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè is the Tłı̨chǫ homeland, land that has been shared with other Indigenous people for generations, and more recently with Canada and the GNWT. The health of the land, water, and wildlife in this area is essential to Tłı̨chǫ well-being and way of life. The region is also valued for its pristine natural environment and biodiversity - including iconic species like tǫdzı and ekwǫ̨̀(woodland and barren-ground caribou). The Tłı̨chǫ approach to land and resource management is grounded in their relationship to the environment and their responsibility to be custodians. This is how balance can be achieved. And, as Grand Chief Lafferty and the Prime Minister both shared today during the announcement: the path forward is through true partnerships with Indigenous Governments.
“Taking care of our lands and waters is a key priority for the Tłı̨chǫ Government. It is vital to the well-being and way of life of our people. As a self-governing nation, we have the power to establish Tłı̨chǫ laws to protect and conserve Tłı̨chǫ Lands. We also have the authority to work with our treaty partners to manage and protect lands in Wek’èezhìı and throughout our traditional territory, Mǫwhì Gogha Dè Nı̨ı̨tłèè. This new funding presents a significant opportunity to invest in Indigenous-led stewardship and conservation efforts across Canada and help us achieve our vision for the benefit of our people and all Canadians.” Tłı̨chǫ Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty
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