Guiding Principles for Supporting Indigenous Leadership and Reconciliation
Preface
CPAWS works across Canada including on unceded, unsurrendered, and treaty lands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. As a conservation organization, we are on an ongoing reconciliation journey and are adopting the following principles to guide our steps along this path.
Complemented by nationally and regionally appropriate actions, our commitment to these principles helps advance our reconciliation efforts as we advocate for effective, long-term protection of ecologically- and culturally significant land, freshwater and ocean areas of Canada. We are prepared to be held accountable to this commitment and acknowledge that we will not be alone in deciding whether our actions are effective.
CPAWS recognizes positive collective efforts and progress made in conservation as well as the harms inflicted on Indigenous Nations, communities, and individuals in the pursuit of conservation in Canada, including actions taken by our organization. We are committed to acknowledging and addressing past harms and avoiding such harms to Indigenous Peoples in the future.
Advancing truth and reconciliation requires that we take steps towards healing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples by forming new partnerships and relationships based on respect, reciprocity, equality, and trust. This includes advancing our biodiversity conservation priorities in an open and honest way while respecting the rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities and organizations in pursuing their own economic and cultural interests.
These principles were developed by our National Board of Trustees, in consultation with national and regional staff. They will be updated through a similar process as needed.
CPAWS is committed to ensuring that the following Guiding Principles are integrated into our work across Canada.
1. Respect and Recognition
CPAWS acknowledges and respects Indigenous rights, knowledge systems, legal traditions, protocols, laws, governance structures, and customary practices as equally valid and binding as other frameworks.
We will ensure our conservation efforts align with applicable Treaties, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and other relevant instruments. We recognize the distinct and varying nature of Indigenous Nations and communities, and honour the principle of free, prior, and informed consent.
As appropriate and desired by Indigenous partners, will help to centre and amplify Indigenous voices and uplift Indigenous-led conservation organizations and initiatives.
2. Truth and Historical Context
CPAWS recognizes, reflects upon, and publicly acknowledges approaches to conservation that harm Indigenous communities and individuals, including the displacement and disconnection of Indigenous individuals and communities from lands and waters that became parks and protected areas.
We are committed to leading and supporting efforts to address and avoid such harm. This includes supporting fundamental shifts in how biodiversity conservation is framed and implemented which recognize longstanding and ongoing Indigenous connections to the land, and contributions and priorities in caring for the country’s lands and waters.
3. Meaningful Engagement and Partnerships
CPAWS builds and nurtures trusting, timely, respectful, authentic, and collaborative relationships with Indigenous Peoples, based on recognition of rights, responsibilities, cooperation, and partnerships.
We recognize the importance of adapting our efforts to respect the unique preferences and priorities across and within various Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations, and commit to adapting our approaches to appropriately reflect such differences.
CPAWS will continue to work alongside Indigenous partners in the spirit and practice of reconciliation, within an ethical space approach, to build lasting relationships and advance protected and conserved area establishment and management and other conservation-related priorities.
4. Indigenous Knowledges and Cultures
Within a distinction-based context and working in a good way in collaboration with Indigenous communities, organizations, and individuals, CPAWS recognizes and incorporates Indigenous knowledges, cultures, languages, stories, ceremonies, perspectives, and traditional practices in our work, while embracing principles and practices of Two-Eyed Seeing.
This includes embracing a narrative shift to better recognize Indigenous conservation interests, responsibilities, and approaches that reflect Indigenous Peoples’ longstanding sustainable uses of and relationships with nature as well as opportunities to enhance economic prosperity and wellbeing for Indigenous communities.
CPAWS also commits to respecting and preserving the rights of Indigenous traditional knowledge holders to retain and control the access, use, and interpretation of any knowledge shared with CPAWS.
5. Indigenous-led Conservation
CPAWS recognizes the crucial role Indigenous peoples play as knowledge and rights holders and stewards of lands and waters.
CPAWS prioritizes and actively supports the establishment and management of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and comparable approaches to area-based conservation as well as other conservation actions of Indigenous importance. We will seek to do this in ways that support reconciliation while being attentive to the interests of all other groups.
Supported conservation actions could include elements such as conservation of cultural keystone species and places, guardian programs, site management, educational programs and outreach, etc. We are also prepared to collaborate on Indigenous-led initiatives to reconnect humans with nature and heal lands and waters as well as Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
6. Capacity Development & Resource Allocation
CPAWS promotes and supports opportunities for Indigenous communities to build economic and cultural capacity in relation to conservation activities, understanding the importance of language, culture, and sustainable livelihoods. We also allocate time and resources to enhance cross-cultural competency within CPAWS staff and partners and share expertise and resources where possible and appropriate.
7. Agreements and other Constructive Arrangements
CPAWS supports Indigenous Nations, organizations, and community leaders in creating unique and flexible legal and policy frameworks, agreements, and planning approaches for conservation. This includes identifying and recognizing IPCAs and other conservation measures and practices that support Indigenous rights, interests, and priorities.
8. Education and Awareness
With the guidance and leadership of Indigenous partners and others, CPAWS helps raise awareness with staff, organization members, partners, and the broader public about collective and individual Indigenous rights, interests, histories, language, and cultures, as well as the importance of reconciliation in the context of conservation.
Where appropriate, CPAWS also works to identify, recognize, and communicate shared conservation objectives, and support cross cultural initiatives between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, governments, and organizations.
9. Ongoing Learning and Improvement
CPAWS recognizes that reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and with Indigenous lands and waters conservation is an ongoing process, and, as such, CPAWS commits to continual learning, self-reflection, and improvement in our reconciliation efforts.