Videos

A historic agreement that will lead to $375 million for Indigenous leadership in caring for lands, waters, and wildlife has been signed in the Northwest Territories.

What is Indigenous fire stewardship and why is it important? Discover the benefits of Indigenous fire stewardship, and why the unique relationship between people, forest, and fire can’t be overlooked. 

Indigenous-led conservation protects vital ecosystems that store carbon and preserve biodiversity. By honoring Indigenous leadership, we can meet climate targets and ensure a better future for all.

A powerful documentary highlighting the leadership of 4 First Nations in Manitoba as they work to heal their community & protect the land by creating the Seal River Watershed Indigenous Protected Area.

A historic night welcoming Indigenous leaders, Senators, members of Parliament, and Guardians to a traditional Innu shaputuan in front of Parliament.

The NWT Project for Finance Permanence is a groundbreaking agreement funding the establishment and stewardship of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in the Northwest Territories.

Guardians are at the heart of Indigenous land and water stewardship. Their programs create sustainable jobs in remote communities, revitalize culture, and offer healing from the scars of colonization.

For the first time, a traditional Innu shaputuan is being erected in front of Parliament. We'll welcome Guardians, MPs, Senators, and First Nations leaders to celebrate Guardians' work nationwide.

In a major shift, the ILI is now leading the International Boreal Conservation Campaign. We are honored to take over this successful initiative that respects Indigenous Nations' rights and authority.

At the UN Biodiversity Summit in Montreal, the Indigenous Village was a place for Indigenous Peoples and allies to learn about Indigenous leadership in sustaining healthy lands and waters globally.

Understanding how fire can be a tool for the land is now easier with the Muskrats to Moose Project's digital toolkit! Combining generational knowledge & Indigenous fire practices, it offers a starting point for fire use.

We left the UN Biodiversity Summit with hope for the future. In the Village and beyond, it was inspiring to see the impact of Indigenous-led conservation worldwide and the possibilities for the future.

With 80% of remaining biodiversity on lands managed by Indigenous Peoples, investing in global Indigenous-led conservation is crucial to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.

In the 1970s, hydro and mining threatened the lands & water that the Innu people had stewarded for millenia. Thanks to their leadership, Akami-Uapishku National Park is now protected for future generations.

The Kaska are preserving one of B.C.'s largest intact landscapes. Dene K’éh Kusān – which means "Always Will Be There" is a proposed Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in the heart of Kaska territory.

A short documentary on the global movement of Indigenous-led conservation showcasing Indigenous leadership from Australia's bushlands, to Canada's forests, and the rivers of the U.S.

What is the Indigenous Leadership Initiative? We are an Indigenous-led organization that is dedicated to advancing the role of Indigenous Nations in deciding the future of traditional territories.

The Seal River Watershed Alliance aims to designate Manitoba's last undeveloped watershed as an Indigenous Protected Area, preserving its cultural significance, thriving language, & wildlife habitats.

The Seal River Watershed Alliance has proposed an Indigenous Protected Area that could expand ecotourism and sustainable jobs, while protecting one of the largest intact watersheds on the planet.

Four First Nations unite to safeguard the Seal River Watershed as an Indigenous Protected Area. They aim to integrate ecotourism for sustainable job opportunities beyond resource extraction.

“We have a responsibility, and an ethic of behavior to the land.” Valérie Courtois on cultural responsibility and how Indigenous stewardship helps protect the world's biodiversity.

Valérie Courtois highlights Indigenous Protected Areas and Guardians programs as pivotal to a sustainable conservation based economy, fostering a stronger future for us all.

Indigenous Nations are leading the way in protecting nature on a massive scale. Centering these initiatives in biodiversity efforts promotes ethical conservation rooted in respect, responsibility, and reconciliation.

Indigenous Nations are leading in conserving the Boreal Forest in Canada, one of the largest carbon storehouses in the world. Their stewardship safeguards peatlands, soils, and promotes sustainable, healthy lands.

Around the globe, Indigenous Peoples are at the forefront of sustaining biodiversity – from salmon recovery in the US, caribou monitoring in Canada, cultural burning practices in Australia and beyond.

Amid record-breaking fire seasons, Indigenous Guardians offer critical solutions. With deep knowledge of the land, they manage fires, ensuring community safety and environmental stewardship.

National Chief Perry Bellegarde commends the work of the ILI and shares his support for Indigenous-led conservation efforts at Shared Values: Stewardship, Nationhood, and International Leadership.

Full recording of Shared Values: Conservation, Nationhood and International Leadership panel where they discussed Indigenous-led conservation, climate change and biodiversity loss solutions and more.

Leadership on the land is a core part of Indigenous Nationhood. That's why many First Nations are establishing Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and Indigenous Guardians programs.

Caring for land acknowledges our interconnectedness and duty to biodiversity. Heiltsuk Nation Hereditary Chief Brown links cultural and natural diversity, underscoring the need for Guardians.

Indigenous Guardians are at the forefront of a movement—a movement growing up from the land, from youth, from a new generation of women leaders—calling for Indigenous leadership on the land.

Giving life to love of land is more than putting lines on a map. Watch the inspirational story of the Taku River Tlingit’s visionary plan to protect their lands, and why that matters for all of us.

The K'asho Got'ı̨nę people have led the way in conserving 10,000 sq km near Fort Good Hope, NWT. They are working in partnership with the Government of NWT to establish the Ts'udé Nilįné Tuyeta protected area.

The Ross River Dena is proposing 25,000 sq km of protected area in the Yukon. This protected area will provide economic opportunity for the community and preserve vital habitat for caribou.

Dehcho First Nations worked to designate the Edéhzhíe Dehcho Protected Area & National Wildlife Area, conserving over 14,200 sq km of Boreal Forest. That's twice the size of Banff National Park.

Indigenous Guardians help communities manage traditional territories. They draft land use plans, study wildlife and monitor development. They also honour Elders’ knowledge and connect youth to their culture.

Steven Nitah was raised by his grandparents alongside the Great Slave Lake – he served as the chief negotiator for the Lutsel K’e on the new Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve, to be co-managed by the community.