The Government of Canada has signed a landmark grant agreement to support one of the world’s largest Indigenous-led land conservation initiatives, titled NWT: Our Land for the Future. The agreement, signed by Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin and Danny Yakeleya, Chair of the Our Land for the Future Trust, commits $375 million—$300 million from Canada and $75 million from philanthropic partners—to fund Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship across the Northwest Territories (NWT). This initiative is expected to create hundreds of culturally meaningful jobs and protect vast areas of the boreal and tundra ecosystems.
The initiative aims to conserve and steward up to 380,000 square kilometers of land and freshwater, which is nearly 30% of the territory and over 2% of Canada’s total landmass. This conservation area is approximately seven times the size of Nova Scotia and will include new terrestrial and freshwater protections. The project will focus on strengthening Indigenous leadership in environmental stewardship and advancing sustainable development in the region.
Planned activities include support for Indigenous Guardians programs that protect ecological health and cultural sites, the creation and stewardship of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), and climate action through research, adaptation, and mitigation efforts. The initiative will also support conservation-driven economic opportunities such as ecotourism, traditional harvesting, and arts enterprises, contributing both to environmental goals and local economies.
The partnership involves 21 Indigenous governments and organizations, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the federal government, and private donors. It is part of Canada’s broader efforts to achieve its conservation goals under the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for conserving 30% of land and water by 2030 while recognizing the vital role of Indigenous communities in biodiversity protection.
NWT: Our Land for the Future is one of four initiatives under the Project Finance for Permanence model announced in 2022. These initiatives aim to protect up to one million square kilometers in total. Governance of the fund will rest with the Our Land for the Future Trust Governance Committee, composed of Indigenous members, ensuring that investment decisions align with Indigenous priorities and values. This approach represents a significant step forward in combining long-term conservation with Indigenous self-determination and sustainable development.
