List of 22 Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk projects 2024-2025
Backgrounder
Alberta
Project title: Community Outreach, Indigenous Knowledge and Species at Risk Monitoring in the Moose Lake Area
Recipient: Fort McKay First Nation
Approved funding: $149,280
Project description: This three-year project aims to protect species at risk such as the Boreal Caribou, the Wolverine, and certain bat and bird species on Fort McKay First Nation reserve lands. This project will engage McKay First Nation members in conservation efforts, raise awareness about at-risk species, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge across generations. This will be accomplished through community meetings, documenting Indigenous Knowledge, engaging youth and elders in species at risk activities, and conducting field surveys.
Project title: Assessing Relative Abundance of At-Risk and Common Bumble Bees, Improving Barn Swallow Habitat, and Increasing Education and Awareness of Species At Risk on a Métis Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area in Central Alberta
Recipient: The Otipemisiwak Métis Government
Approved funding: $240,000
Project description: This three-year project, led by Métis Nation Alberta, will contribute to species recovery of endangered bumble bees and Barn Swallows in Central Alberta. This project will survey for endangered bumble bees, such as Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumble Bee and the Western Bumble Bee, and restore Barn Swallow habitats in a Métis Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area. The data collected in the surveys will help to inform recovery plans, improve Barn Swallow nesting areas, incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into outreach materials, and promote Métis and community involvement in stewardship and conservation decision-making.
British Columbia
Project title: tmixw Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for the Species and Habitat that Require syilx Help for Conservation, Protection, and Recovery
Recipient: The Okanagan Indian Educational Resources Society
Approved funding: $90,000
Project description: This three-year project aims to secure land leases for critical habitats, including those for species like the Yellow-breasted Chat. The 25.87-hectare lease area is threatened by urban development, and this project aims to preserve connectivity between rare lowland riparian, wetland floodplains, and terrestrial habitats.
Project title: Walking the Zaxalmixwaz (Whitebark Pine) Path in St'at'imc Traditional Territory
Recipient: Splitrock Environmental Sekw'el'wa
Approved funding: $113,602
Project description: This three-year project aims to conserve and restore Whitebark Pine in St’at’imc territory. It will involve assessing the health of Whitebark Pine, planning cone protection and collection, seedling propagation, and planting potentially rust-resistant Whitebark Pine. It will also include community outreach and education activities to share knowledge and raise awareness.
Project title: Wolf Cub Creek Floodplain Restoration for Terrestrial Species At Risk
Recipient: Osoyoos Indian Band
Approved funding: $140,001
Project description: This three-year project, led by the Osoyoos Indian Band, aims to restore degraded habitats within the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve #1. It will benefit seven at-risk species, such as the Great Basin Gophersnake, the Western Screech-Owl, and Lewis’s Woodpecker, by restoring fish-free floodplain meadows, riparian forests, and dryland sagebrush/grasslands.
Project title: Hwmet'atsum Species at Risk Recovery Project 2022–2025
Recipient: Stqeeye’ Learning Society
Approved funding: $150,000
Project description: This project will build on existing Indigenous-led conservation efforts focused on restoring wetlands at Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. This additional funding will help to restore three hectares of old agricultural fields to wetlands, which will benefit over 15 at-risk species, including the Black Swift, the Western Painted Turtle, the Western Screech-Owl, the Dun Skipper, and the Barn Owl.
Project title: Forest Habitat Restoration for SAR on Haida Gwaii
Recipient: Secretariat of the Haida Nation
Approved funding: $15,000
Project description: This one-year project will support Indigenous-led conservation planning and will begin restoring up to 400 hectares of second-growth sites in Haida Nation territory, British Columbia. It involves assessing current stands and past stewardship efforts and developing site-specific restoration plans. Once completed, several at-risk species will benefit from this project, including the Northern Goshawk, the Northern Myotis, the Marbled Murrelet, and the Northern Saw-whet Owl.
Manitoba
Project title: Manitoba Species at Risk and Indigenous Land Monitoring Program
Recipient: Government of Manitoba
Approved funding: $160,000
Project description: This two-year project will help locate and identify species at risk in and around Pimachiowin Aki, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This project will strengthen Manitoba's engagement with First Nations in eastern Manitoba, increase awareness of species at risk in multiple First Nation communities, and foster community-led knowledge gathering. It will hire four Indigenous shared management coordinators from local communities, develop community-led species at risk educational materials, facilitate meetings, document Indigenous Knowledge, and conduct field surveys to achieve its objectives.
New Brunswick
Project title: Cihkonaqc (Turtle) Protection Project in Peskotomuhkati Territory
Recipient: Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Incorporated
Approved funding: $138,000
Project description: This three-year project, led by Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Inc., will monitor, steward, and protect the culturally significant at-risk reptiles in southwestern New Brunswick. This project will focus on surveys and baseline work to understand species distribution, habitat use, and mortality in this region of the province, where there is currently little data.
Project title: New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council Bird Conservation Initiative: Protecting At-Risk Birds in Our Communities
Recipient: New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council
Approved funding: $37,500
Project description: This one-year project will help recover at-risk bird species, such as the Bobolink, the Least Bittern, the Olive-sided Flycatcher, and the Yellow Rail, by increasing the environmental stewardship capabilities of Indigenous communities to begin conservation planning along the Nashwaak River Watershed in New Brunswick. This project will focus on capacity building and outreach to emphasise the benefits of conservation actions for the targeted at-risk bird populations within their region.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Project title: Rusty Black Bird Central Newfoundland and Labrador Inventory
Recipient: Kikmanaq Indigenous Cultural Revival Association
Approved funding: $135,000
Project description: This three-year project aims to support recovery of the Rusty Blackbird by empowering Mi’kmaq community members in Central Newfoundland and Labrador to understand and protect this species through surveys, monitoring, and the collection of Indigenous Knowledge. By combining Western science and Indigenous Knowledge, the project will gather essential data to raise awareness, fill knowledge gaps, and inform management plans for the species, contributing to its conservation and habitat preservation efforts.
Project title: NunatuKavut Resilience: Conservation and Recovery of Species at Risk in NunatuKavut with Indigenous Knowledge and Science
Recipient: NunatuKavut Community Council Incorporated
Approved funding: $150,000
Project description: The additional funding for this project will continue to expand its current polar bear monitoring to the southern coast of Labrador, where they have experienced increased sightings. By using trail cameras, the communities will develop a better understanding of their range and impacts on communities. Community members will be trained on safe stewardship practices of polar bears and identify and address threats, which will contribute to the conservation of the species.
Northwest Territories
Project title: Merging Advanced Technologies with Traditional Knowledge for Species at Risk Protection
Recipient: North Slave Métis Alliance
Approved funding:
Project description: This two-year project will contribute to the conservation of species at risk by undertaking Indigenous-led eDNA sampling and autonomous recording units monitoring around waterbodies inside the traditional territory of the North Slave Métis Alliance in the Northwest Territories. The results will help to assess the presence of species at risk in culturally sensitive areas of importance and support conservation and land management decisions.
Ontario
Project title: Long-term Population Monitoring for Species-at-Risk: Investigation of Population Dynamics, Home Range, and Movement Patterns to Inform Land Relationship Visioning
Recipient: Shawanaga First Nation
Approved funding: $212,195
Project description: This three-year project will support Shawanaga First Nation in Nobel, Ontario, to lead efforts in conserving endangered species, focusing on at-risk reptiles. By identifying critical habitats, protecting nests, and engaging the community through outreach and training, the project aims to enhance species recovery while incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into conservation efforts.
Project title: Sagamok Apakwaanaajiinh
Recipient: Sagamok Anishnawbek
Approved funding: $50,000
Project description: This one-year project aims to conserve endangered bat species, focusing on the Little Brown Myotis and the Northern Myotis, by supporting Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation to implement a bat stewardship program in Sagamok, Ontario. By gathering Indigenous Knowledge, identifying vital bat habitats, and providing training in monitoring techniques, it aims to develop a local strategy for bat protection and recovery while engaging community members in stewardship activities and events.
Project title: Goose Lake, Walpole Island Wetland Restoration Demonstration Project
Recipient: First Nation Phragmites Control
Approved funding: $45,000
Project description: This one-year project will support First Nation Phragmites Control and Walpole Island First Nation to restore endangered wetland habitat at Goose Lake on Walpole Island, Ontario, by controlling invasive phragmites. Using approved methods, it aims to demonstrate that phragmites control can be done safely and effectively, benefiting at-risk reptiles. This project will also provide training and education and raise community awareness about habitat protection.
Project title: Helping Species At Risk, With a Focus on Aerial Insectivore Birds and Bats on Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
Recipient: Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
Approved funding: $48,000
Project description: This one-year project will contribute to the recovery of endangered species, particularly avian insect-eaters, such as the Little Brown Myotis, the Chimney Swift, and the Tricolored Bat, and their habitats on Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation lands in Hagersville, Ontario. It will involve surveys, Indigenous Knowledge gathering, and community engagement to develop conservation plans and involve community members in protecting these at-risk species.
Prince Edward Island
Project title: Multi-Species at Risk Monitoring on Prince Edward Island
Recipient: The Native Council of Prince Edward Island
Approved funding: $119,382
Project description: This three-year project will contribute to species recovery of the Little Brown Myotis, the Northern Myotis, and the Bank Swallow in culturally significant areas across Prince Edward Island. This project builds on the success of previous conservation efforts, and will continue to monitor, document, inventory, and protect these at-risk species. Data will be shared with relevant organizations, and education workshops will engage citizens in monitoring efforts.
Quebec
Project title: Conservation of Multiple Species Through Seed Collection, Storage, and Planting
Recipient: Mohawk Council of Kahnawake
Approved funding: $26,000
Project description: This two-year project will contribute to species recovery of the endangered Butternut and Black Ash on the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake in Quebec. This project will find and identify species, prepare sites, and conduct outreach activities to encourage community participation.
Project title: Eastern Wolf Schyan River Area
Recipient: Kebaowek First Nation
Approved funding: $80,000
Project description: This two-year project, led by Kebaowek First Nation in Quebec, will contribute to the recovery of the endangered Eastern Wolf by conducting inventories and developing a conservation plan.
Project title: Research and Location of Critical Habitat for the Little Brown Myotis, the Northern Myotis, and the Tricolored Bat in Central Québec
Recipient: Conseil des Abénakis de Wôlinak
Approved funding: $63,402
Project description: This project builds on previous and ongoing conservation efforts to protect the endangered Little Brown Myotis, the Northern Myotis, and the Tricolored Bat in Central Quebec by conducting inventories and raising public awareness.
Saskatchewan
Project title: Kaministikominahikoskahk: Community-Led Research Program for Woodland Caribou Assessment and Protection in the Saskatchewan River Delta: Threats, Challenges, and Recommendations
Recipient: Métis Nation–Saskatchewan Secretariat Inc.
Approved funding: $100,000
Project description: This three-year project, led by Métis Nation–Saskatchewan Secretariat, will contribute to the conservation of the Woodland Caribou. The project will establish a regional Métis-led Boreal Caribou steering committee that will identify priority caribou habitats, guide conservation efforts, gather Indigenous Knowledge, conduct surveys, engage stakeholders, and work toward caribou and habitat conservation goals in the region.
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