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Winter 2024

Newsletter Archive

 

Executive Director Message

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Happy New year to all of you.

Miistakis is excited to embark on 2024 and we have many great conservation initiatives to advance over the coming year.

One project we are particularly excited about includes supporting the Blackfoot Confederacy as they explore the establishment of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Land (IPCA) on Treaty 7 lands.

What is an IPCA?

These are areas of land or water set aside and managed by Indigenous communities in Canada for the purpose of conservation, sustainable resource management, and cultural preservation. IPCAs are important in advancing conservation in Canada for several reasons. IPCAs are instrumental in safeguarding Indigenous cultures, traditions, and knowledge tied to the land and they contribute significantly to the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. IPCAs promote community involvement and empowerment, allowing Indigenous groups to take an active role in managing and conserving their lands and the establishment of IPCAs represents a step towards reconciliation and partnership between Indigenous peoples, the government, and other stakeholders.

Here are some resources if you are interested in learning more about IPCAs

https://conservation-reconciliation.ca/about-ipcas

https://www.ilinationhood.ca/indigenous-protected-and-conserved-areas

https://cpawsnab.org/ipcas/

https://www.iucn.org/news/protected-areas/201802/indigenous-protected-and-conserved-areas-ipcas-pathway-achieving-target-11-canada-through-reconciliation

We look forward to working with the Blackfoot Confederacy and other supporting partners as this work progresses. We would like to thank The Calgary Foundation for generously supporting this work.

Stay tuned for updates on this exciting initiative.

Danah