Indigenous cultures, languages, and identities are irrevocably tied to the land. From traditional knowledge and land use practices to harvest traditional resources, the processing and material products made from them, to people gathering, visiting, sharing food, bead and sewing skills, music, song, dance, and storytelling.
Cultural retention and sustainability is dependent on transmission of these from the elder generation to the young, and a healthy and accessible land base from which to do that in order to thrive, not just survive.
Land stewardship, access, and confidence in the quality and quantity expected of traditional resources are a part of the inherent right to continue ways of life on the land. These expectations are integral to the maintenance of health and biodiversity of the air, land, water, and wildlife Indigenous people rely on. For people who live closest with the land than most, they are the first to notice changes, and the first to be affected by them.
Climate change and anthropogenic activities are key challenges that impact the ability and opportunity to conduct cultural and harvesting practices.
Land, air, water, wildlife and biodiversity are part of a holistic interwoven ecological system. It's balance is what is required to keep the people that live with it culturally, socially, economically, and physically healthy and sustained.
Canada has endorsed these and related principles within the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the UN Convention on Biodiversity Article 8(j), and recommendations of reconciliation made through the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Final Report (2015).
To truly achieve these, Nations and their community organizations and land users must be consulted and equitably included in collaborative development of regional land management plans and policies that will affect their rights, the ecological integrity of their harvesting territories, and culturally significant resources. Crown authorities have a constitutional obligation to fulfill this promise and maintain ecosystems at a level of productivity sufficient to support the healthy cultural continuity of Indigenous peoples and their rights. This priority should be echoed and coordinated in the mandates of all Ministries, and a new approach implemented through an equitable partnership that acknowledges the need for meaningful participation of Indigenous peoples and their knowledge for a successful outcome.
