Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) have been granted $21.6 million to support the conservation of lands and water throughout the region. The Our Land for the Future trust announced the allocation of the initial funding to 20 Indigenous governments that were signatories to the November 2024 agreement.
The funding is intended to facilitate research, planning, and management of designated conservation areas, along with species monitoring and language camp support. Specific projects set to receive funding in this round are yet to be disclosed by the trust.
Chair of the Our Land for the Future Trust, Danny Yakeleya, highlighted the significance of the grant in creating employment opportunities within communities, preserving Indigenous laws and knowledge through elder guidance, and nurturing youth leadership in land stewardship.
This financial support is part of a larger $375 million fund sourced from the federal government and private contributions, to be distributed annually over a decade. Dahti Tsetso, CEO of the Our Land for the Future Trust, explained that the funding allocation for each community will be contingent on project specifics and established milestones. Delays in funding disbursement were attributed to last year’s federal election.
The trust is actively establishing a framework for transparent reporting on fund utilization by recipient Indigenous governments and tracking achievement of milestones. Additionally, plans are underway to expand the trust’s workforce this year.
Tsetso expressed deep personal connection to the initiative, underscoring its potential impact on shaping the future of the Northwest Territories and passing on a legacy to future generations.
[Image Description: Tsetso with Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin and Danny Yakeleya, the chair of Our Land for the Future Trust. The funding aims to facilitate research, planning, and management of conservation areas, species monitoring, and language camp support, as stated in a news release from the trust. (Angela Gzowski)]