This document discusses Indigenous-led conservation and governance of peatlands and territories in northern Ontario. It notes that peatlands are important carbon sinks and landscapes being impacted by climate change. Indigenous communities seek to embed their worldviews and generate sustainable livelihoods through protected areas on their traditional lands. The document provides examples of tribal parks and offshore Arctic conserved areas led by Indigenous groups. It also discusses Ontario's Far North Act, which some First Nations criticize for excluding them from policy discussions and economic development on their territories despite the province describing these lands as significant carbon sinks.

1. Yannick Beaudoin, Director General
Ontario and Northern Canada

2. Peatlands and Landscapes
in a Changing North

3. Peatlands and Infrastructure
in a Changing North

4. Peatlands and Livelihoods in
a Changing North

5. Peatlands, Permafrost, Climate
Change and Traditional Knowledge

7. Indigenous-led Conservation

8. Embedding
Indigenous
worldviews
Protecting carbon
sinks
Generating
sustainable
livelihoods
Nation to Nation
relationship
Indigenous Protected and
Conserved Areas

9. A Tribal Park Example

10. Indigenous-led Conserved Area

11. Example from offshore Arctic

13. Governance Innovation?
Ontario’s Far North Act

14. Far North Act – The
Basics
“The Far North [of Ontario] is not open for business
without First Nations involvement in development our
territories.”
Sol Mamakwa, Kingfisher First Nation, Member of
Provincial Parliament

15. An example

16. Reactions from First Nations

17. The Province of Ontario has described the
homelands of the NAN people as a “globally
significant carbon sink”
Nishnawbe Aski Nations
At the same time, they are excluding First Nations from
any meaningful involvement in policy discussion on
carbon storage and carbon credits, even though a vast
swath of NAN homelands is being confiscated for this
law.
Section 12 of the Act provides the entire far forth area
(100% within NAN territory) is frozen for most forms of
modern development. By the stroke of a pen, First
Nations peoples are not permitted to engage in most
forms of modern economic development throughout their
traditional territory.

19. Thank you from our Founders