From February 4 to 6, 2025, the Cree Nation Government (CNG), with the support of Groupe BC2 Inter-Nation Collaboration, hosted the Cree Nation Government Forum on Indigenous Governance and Management of Protected Areas at Lac Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec. The three-day event brought together community leaders, land stewards, decision-makers, and conservation experts to explore pathways toward Cree-led governance of protected areas in Eeyou Istchee. The forum offered a platform for sharing insights, lessons learned, and practical strategies drawn from local, regional, and national conservation experiences.
Highlights of the Forum
Presentations for sharing knowledge and experiences were structured around three key themes:
1. Working towards the Protection and Conservation of Eeyou Istchee
The forum provided an opportunity to provide an update and a comprehensive overview of the CNG’s ongoing efforts to protect and conserve Eeyou Istchee. Two presentations addressed this topic:
- Protected Areas Project in Eeyou Istchee. Chantal Otter-Tetreault, Protected Areas Manager at the CNG. See presentation
- Management of Biodiversity Reserves in Quebec. Mathilde Boissé-Gadoury, Team Leader at the Protected Areas Management Division, MELCCFP. See presentation
2. Learning from Here
The forum also featured presentations on different ways protected areas support and are supported by other Cree-led initiatives:
- Cree Nation Research Institute Project (CNRI). Norman A. Wapachee, Grand Chief, and Vincent Gautier-Doucet, Project Manager for the CNRI Project. See presentation
- Eeyou Istchee Land Keeper Program. Nadia Saganash, Director of Quebec and Indigenous Relations, CNG, and Benoit Longchamp, Coordinator of Operations for the Eeyou Istchee Land Keeper Program. See presentation
- Cree Tourism Opportunities. Robin McGinley, Executive Director of the Cree Outfitting and Tourism Association (COTA). See presentation
As part of the Learning from Here session, three conservation area projects that were developed recently were showcased:
- Nunavik’s National Parks. Isabeau Pratte, Conservation and Education Specialist, Kativik Regional Government (KRG), and Bobby Tooktoo, Director of Tursujuq National Park. See presentation
- Nibiischii National Park. Mireille Gravel, Executive Director of the Nibiischii Corporation. See presentation
- Wiinipaakw Indigenous Protected Area and NMCA. Diane Blanchard, Manager, NMCA Establishment, Parks Canada and Christopher Beck, Coordinator of Marine Conservation, CNG. See presentation
3. Learning from Others: Exploring Inspiring Cases
Participants had the opportunity to learn from various inspiring cases in Quebec and Canada. These included Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, the engagement of different stakeholders, the development of sustainable management strategies, and the exploration of financial alternatives. The insights provided valuable guidance for the ongoing development of protected and conserved areas in Eeyou Istchee:
- Thaidëné Nëné Protected Area. Adeline Jonasson, Former Chief and Thaidëné Nëné Advisory Committee Member and Chair of Thaidëné Nëné Xá Dá Yalti. See presentation
- IPCAs and Indigenous-Led Conservation: History, Progress, and Impact. Eli Enns, Co-founder and CEO of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation. See presentation
- Uapishka Biodiversity Reserve. Jean-Philippe L. Messier, Executive Director of the Manicouagan-Uapishka UNESCO Biosphere Region. See presentation
- Sustainable Financial Models. Jason Taylor, CEO & Founder of Climate Finance Advisors. See presentation
Collaborative Workshops and Other Activities
As part of the forum, three interactive workshops were developed with a focus on governance and management of protected areas at both regional and community levels:
- Regional Management Structure for the Protected Area Network
- Exploring Management Scenarios
- Discussion: Community Aspirations and Capacities for Protected Area Management
Key outcomes from the workshop’s discussions underscored the need for stronger collaboration between communities. Community leaders emphasized the importance of sharing data and best practices across Eeyou Istchee, as well as coordinating efforts to develop capacity through training and increased funding to support future management and operations of the protected areas.
A field trip to Gatineau Park was organized to meet with management staff to learn more about their organisational structure and gain a greater understanding of the day-to-day operations involved in managing nature conservation in balance with user experience.
An information kiosk providing details on the ongoing Terrestrial Protected Areas Project was installed, including the update to the Cree Regional Conservation Strategy, maps of the existing protected area network and the national marine conservation area, as well as an overview of conservation planning tools available in Quebec to achieve various objectives for land protection.
Looking Ahead
The outcomes from the discussions will inform the planning and approach for the upcoming engagement sessions in Spring 2025. At that time, community leaders, tallymen, and land stewards from all the communities will be invited to propose conservation objectives, to review and explore potential expansion areas, and to explore tools and mechanisms for governance and management of protected areas. This forum served as an essential step in the overall process to develop an Eeyou-led protected area network.
For more information, consult the forum’s Summary Report.
