Advertisement.
The Our Land for the Future Trust, an NWT conservation fund set up through a massive injection of federal and private cash, has made its first round of investments.
Ottawa has already committed $300 million over 10 years to the fund alongside a further $75 million from private foundations. Participants call it “the largest investment in Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship in the NWT.”
On Thursday, the trust said it had made its first distribution from the fund – a total of $21.6 million – to Indigenous partners.
No breakdown of who received what was available. More than 20 Indigenous governments are signatories to the 2024 deal that created the fund, and representatives of those signatories are meeting in Yellowknife this week.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
In a news release, the trust said this is “the first of many investments from the trust designed to create tangible benefits on the land and in communities.”
“Early investments focus on protected areas and Guardians programs,” the news release added. The trust gave the example that the Tłıc̨hǫ Government’s work under the initiative focused on three new protected areas on Tłıc̨hǫ land.
“Some Indigenous Partners will use these funds to study, plan, or manage protected areas they have identified,” the trust stated.
“Others will invest in putting more Guardians on the ground to help monitor species, conduct research and support on-the-land programming like language camps.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
“These activities will help expand sustainable economic growth in the north: the initiative expects to support hundreds of jobs a year as it matures.”
Trust chair Danny Yakeleya said the money will help people “find meaningful jobs in their community instead of leaving for work.”
After this article was first published, the trust issued a separate document stating that the funding released on Thursday will support projects through to March 2027.
An initial evaluation and monitoring framework to report back on the work funded is due by the fall, the trust stated.
