GANAWENDAN

Reconnecting
Our Lands & Voices

Brunswick House, Chapleau Cree, Missanabie Cree First Nations Ecological Corridor

A SHARED PATH

To the Conservation of Our Lands for Future Generations.

Take ownership in active conservation by sharing, learning, and contributing to stewardship plans for the Height of Land Ecological Corridor. This collaborative effort between First Nations Communities, Environmental Organizations, and Partners embraces First Nations culture and knowledge to ensure the future stories of our Lands is one of protection and conservation.

We collaborated with The David Suzuki Foundation to identify 8 potential core reserves and linkages for conservation and restoration efforts.

We will reinstate connectivity, conservation and stewardship with owner First Nations.

We are engaging with Community members to inform, gather input, share knowledge, and develop recommendations for Land Tenure Holding Study.

We will provide community led recommendations for Land Tenure Holding Study including corridor boundaries, leadership team, governance structure and goals.

We will issue, implement, and oversee the contract for Land Tenure Holding Study with leadership team to ensure goals are met.

Height of Land Project Leads to Creation of Indigenous-Owned Protected Area

In 2024, Wahkohtowin launched the Height of Land Ecological Corridor project with our three Owner First Nations. This project, funded by Parks Canada, mapped out a vision of conservation for our Owner Nations' territories - centered on water, guided by values, and connected across the landscape.

Earlier this year, we incorporated Wahkohtowin Askiy Trust as a sister organization. This new non-profit will act as a land trust focused on increasing conservation in the priority areas identified by the Height of Land Ecological Corridor project - led by Indigenous knowledge and values.

Our collective work on the Height of Land Ecological Corridor led to the acquisition of a 237 hectare private property that will be stewarded as an Indigenous owned and led conservation area for future generations, and we are seeking new funding and new opportunities to care for this property - and the others that will follow soon. This is only the beginning of our journey of reclaiming and revitalizing Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship.