Along the waterfront facing St. Mary’s River and the United States, there were thirteen wooden poles stuck into the snowy earth, framing the teepee that protected the fire within. For five days, firekeepers kept the flame burning. Next door, inside Sault Ste. Marie’s Delta Waterfront Hotel Conference Centre, over 270 people from across Canada gathered in Bawating (“the place of the rapids”).
From February 3 to 7, attendees explored the future and legacy of healthy lands and Indigenous peoples in Northern Ontario. This marked the third year that Wahkohtowin Development facilitated the Indigenous Lands Symposium, and they had the largest turnout yet. This gathering came at a time when the need for collaboration to uphold Indigenous rights and land management for the benefit of shared territories, communities, and livelihoods has never been more urgent.
As attendees gathered to discuss land stewardship and conservation, the significance of nature in Canada and the role of Indigenous leadership emerged as a central theme in the discussions.
“We’re the second largest country in the world. We have the largest intact forest. We have a fifth of the world’s freshwater and a fourth of the world’s wetlands. We are the breeding area for 3-5 billion birds every year that fly out of the boreal forest. Of course, we have leadership responsibilities to take on,” said keynote speaker Valérie Courtois.
If Canada is committed to protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030, Courtois said that IPCAs (Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas) are the only way we can achieve it — and we have five years to go.
The Symposium encompassed more than IPCAs. It included panels on the future of land stewardship, the ongoing pursuit of Indigenous self-determination, the integration of Indigenous knowledge into forestry practices, carbon financing, Guardian programs, reconnecting youth to the land, and cultural revitalization workshops.
Ecotrust Canada’s Climate Resilience team attended to connect with our long-time partner, Wahkohtowin Development, and, like everyone else, to learn and gain insights from experts and innovators in forestry. So what did we learn?
We learned that access to land is essential for identity, culture, and stewardship. We must break down the barriers that keep youth and others out, to ensure that future generations remain connected to their territories. “The connection to the natural world is at the heart of what we do, not only to survive but to thrive,” said Master of Ceremony Lorraine Rekmans from Serpent River First Nation.
We witnessed how First Nations are pushing back against harmful policies and practices, asserting their jurisdiction and taking action—such as calling for an immediate ban on chemical herbicides in Ontario’s public forests.
We heard that Indigenous Peoples must lead land stewardship initiatives; it’s not enough to simply consult with them. Where decision-making tables don’t exist, they must be created, just as Wahkohtowin’s Indigenous Lands Symposium demonstrated.
“Forests and landscapes are healthier, better, and more robust when Indigenous people are in charge of management planning and implementation,” said Leigh Fox, a forestry professional and conservation finance specialist who has collaborated with Indigenous communities worldwide for the past 25 years. Fox is a carbon specialist for Wahkohtowin. “If you involve ceremony when working on the land, you set the work off in a good way to recognize the value of what you’re doing.”
Ceremony was present at the Symposium as well. From the firekeepers to the morning smudging, there was an opening and closing ceremony filled with songs and the beat of drums. Interspersed throughout the meeting rooms were details of earthly elements to remind us all why we were there.
Hats off to our friends at Wahkohtowin, who are celebrating their 10th year as a social enterprise. What began as one employee — their General Manager David Flood — has grown into a full-time team of ten. Each member played a vital role in an incredibly smooth and impactful Symposium.
Our history with Wahkohtowin stretches back over 12 years to when the Northeast Superior Regional Chiefs’ Forum, a political body comprised of leaders from the region’s six First Nations, asked Ecotrust Canada to help them find an alternative economic model to support their communities. Wahkohtowin emerged from this mandate as a social enterprise made up of Chapleau Cree, Missanabie Cree, and Brunswick House First Nations that collectively strive to advance sovereignty, well-being, and jurisdiction over their shared territory. In the past three years, Wahkohtowin has been facilitating the Indigenous Lands Symposium, creating a space for Indigenous leaders, land stewards, government representatives, and industry professionals to collaborate on addressing critical issues in land stewardship, conservation, and cultural revitalization.
On February 6, I watched as David Flood mapped Wahkohtowin’s journey on a flipchart in front of a full room. He spoke about the growth of Wahkohtowin’s Guardian Program, which helps youth build connections to their land, language, and culture through land-based learning. Over the summer months, Guardians receive skill-building certifications and gain job and education-ready experience in forestry and forest stewardship. The program also includes a cultural revitalization component, where youth learn to build a birch bark canoe with Chuck Commanda, a master birch bark canoe builder from Kitigan Zibi, Quebec.
While Flood spoke, some of his team members eagerly awaited the anticipated announcement. Flood welcomed Mary Wabano-McKay, President and CAO of Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, an Anishinaabe post-secondary institute, to join him at the front of the room. Together, they signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance opportunities for Guardian Program participants. Through this partnership, Guardians will now earn recognized high school and post-secondary credits, opening new doors for their education and careers.
“This helps our Guardians with their credits in high school to be able to graduate effectively, and further to that, it strengthens our Guardian Program by adding value for our young people,” Flood said.
Throughout the week, we engaged in panels, group discussions, and cultural activities—including a bear bundle workshop with Elder Gloria Harris from Missanabie Cree First Nation and a feast of fried pickerel hosted by Batchewana First Nation. We collaborated with Wahkohtowin’s team on future natural climate solutions, and on the final night, smiling and holding hands, we joined in a traditional circle dance around local drummers and singers.
As Canadians navigate challenging times and seek new pathways forward, the Indigenous Lands Symposium demonstrates what is possible when diverse communities and voices unite. The new partnership between Wahkohtowin and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig shows how Indigenous-led initiatives create practical opportunities for youth while advancing conservation goals. As we move toward Canada’s 30 by 30 goals to protect 30% of the land and water by 2030, this gathering reminds us that Indigenous leadership isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. We are, indeed, stronger together.
