First Nations to have greater role in parks: federal environment minister
BANFF, Alta. — Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna is supporting a greater role for First Nations in creating new protected areas and managing the ones Canada already has.
Speaking Friday at a parks conference in Banff, Alta., McKenna said indigenous protected areas will be one way Canada meets its international goal of conserving 17 per cent of its land by 2020.
“We will move forward in our commitment to reconciliation with indigenous peoples, including the development of indigenous protected areas and looking at how we can expand the guardians programs,” she said.
Such areas are regions singled out for conservation by local First Nations and identified through self-government agreements or land claims. They would also be managed and monitored by the bands.