19 Indigenous Partnerships for Species at Risk initiatives 2025–2026
Backgrounder
On December 17, 2025, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, announced an investment of over $2 million for Indigenous-led conservation initiatives through the Indigenous Partnerships for Species at Risk fund. These initiatives will protect and recover species at risk and other culturally significant species and their habitats on Indigenous lands or territories.
Alberta
Project title: Aseniwuche Winewak Nation Caribou Habitat Assessment and Monitoring Program Development
Recipient: Aseniwuche Winewak Nation
Funding amount: $23,878
Project description: This one-year project will support Indigenous-led efforts to protect boreal caribou in the Grande Cache region of Alberta. It will help monitor caribou habitat and plan for land stewardship. The project includes working with partners to develop habitat assessment methods that respect Indigenous Knowledge and setting up a long-term caribou habitat monitoring program led by Aseniwuche Winewak Nation's Guardians.
British Columbia
Project title: Understanding Wildfire Effects on Critical Habitat for the Western Rattlesnake
Recipient: Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre
Funding amount: $109,137
Project description: This project will build on ongoing work to assess the impact of wildfire on snake habitat, understand snake movements, den use, food abundance, and habitat selection. It will also involve the community and youth in grassland and snake conservation. Activities include tracking snakes with radio telemetry, checking the health of at-risk species, counting prey animals, running a youth volunteer program, creating a Youth Conservation Camp curriculum, hosting workshops, and sharing educational content on social media.
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
Funding amount: $82,500
Project description: This project will protect critical habitats for species at risk, such as the yellow-breasted chat, by continuing to lease 25.87 hectares of restored lowland riparian, wetland floodplains, and terrestrial habitats. While this land is protected under the lease agreement, the recipient will work toward developing a land trust for long-term protection.
New Brunswick
Project title: Monitoring New and Previously Identified Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) and Cataloguing New Habitat
Recipient: North Shore Mi'kmaq Tribal Council – Anqotum Resource Management
Funding amount: $106,843
Project description: This two-year project will steward and protect the culturally significant wood turtle in northeastern New Brunswick by conducting surveys to update data on its distribution, habitat, threats, and mortality. The North Shore Mi'kmaq Tribal Council – Anqotum Resource Management will work with Knowledge Keepers to assess past successful efforts and explore future management plans using Two-Eyed Seeing. The project will also collaborate with the Government of New Brunswick to reduce speed limits in areas where wood turtles are commonly found to help lower road mortality.
Northwest Territories
Project title: Boreal Caribou Habitat Enhancement – Lichen Habitat Restoration on Disturbed Sites
Recipient: Deninu Kųę́ First Nation
Funding amount: $86,216
Project description: This two-year project will improve habitat for boreal caribou by stewarding lichen, a critical food source for boreal caribou. Efforts include training members of the Deninu K'e First Nation to identify species to collect, transport, distribute, and monitor. These activities will be guided by both Traditional Ecological Knowledge and modern transplanting methods. This project will also test ways to grow lichen and create a guide that other community programs can use, especially outside Fort Resolution in the Akaitcho Dene First Nations' traditional territory.
Nunavut
Project title: Caring for an At-Risk Caribou Herd by Protecting Traditional Harvesting Locations
Recipient: Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association
Funding amount: $50,000
Project description: This one-year project will identify important winter habitat for the Dolphin and Union Caribou by reviewing Inuit and western knowledge databases to find key harvesting and habitat areas. The habitat is threatened by the proposed Grays Bay Road and Port Project, which could increase mineral exploration and harm caribou recovery and local food security. A workshop with Inuit caribou experts in Kugluktuk will ensure the identified habitats align with Traditional Knowledge. The project will take place in Kugluktuk, Grays Bay and Wentzel River, Nunavut and support Indigenous participation in caribou conservation.
Project title: Amplifying Caribou Stewardship Through Community-Based Caribou Health Monitoring in Baker Lake
Recipient: Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization
Funding amount: $149,970
Project description: This three-year project will establish a hunter-based caribou health monitoring program to support community-led caribou stewardship and improve responses to caribou disease and threats. Local hunters will be trained in sample collection to help monitor long-term caribou health and inform herd management. The Baker Lake Hunter and Trapper Organization will contribute Traditional Knowledge to guide conservation efforts in the Kivalliq region. Data collected will support caribou management plans across both Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Ontario
Project title: Weaving Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Community Stewardship for the Protection of Freshwater Turtles: Whitefish River First Nation Turtle Conservation Project
Recipient: Whitefish River First Nation
Funding amount: $103,200
Project description: This three-year project will develop and implement a freshwater turtle nest protection and incubation program; undertake surveys, inventories, and monitoring of turtle populations and habitat; collect and document Indigenous Knowledge through surveys and interviews related to species-at-risk turtles; and engage community members, including youth, through at-risk turtle and wetland habitat education programs in Whitefish River First Nation Territory, specifically around Birch Island, Ontario.
Project title: Eastern Wolves of Wahnapitae First Nation
Recipient: Wahnapitae First Nation
Funding amount: $48,689
Project description: This one-year project will confirm the presence of eastern wolves in Wahnapitae First Nation territory through camera surveys and DNA analysis of scat and hair at known wolf gathering, denning, and kill sites identified by Indigenous land users and community. The project will also develop a species data set to help monitor wolf populations and their habitat. The project will include community education and outreach to promote positive perceptions of wolves.
Project title: Building a Healthy Carolinian Zone in Deshkan Ziibing
Recipient: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Funding amount: $150,000
Project description: This three-year project will build capacity for species-at-risk research and conservation in Muncey, Ontario, using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach. It will survey species like the Blanding's turtle, the eastern hog-nosed snake, and the red-headed woodpecker; identify habitat conservation priorities; and engage community members and Knowledge Keepers. Activities will take place on biodiverse reserve lands within the Carolinian Zone Priority Place.
Project title: Bats and Black Ash Conservation Within Wiisinin Zaagi'igan
Recipient: Ginoogaming First Nation
Funding amount: $150,000
Project description: This three-year project will survey and monitor black ash to assess emerald ash borer impacts, collect seeds for future restoration, and monitor species-at-risk bats and their habitats. It will partner with Indigenous communities to train staff on survey and monitoring techniques. The project will also engage community Elders and land users to gather Indigenous Knowledge on Ginoogaming First Nation lands in Ontario.
Project title: Sagamok Apakwaanaajiinh
Recipient: Sagamok First Nation
Funding amount: $152,922
Project description: This three-year project will continue a bat stewardship program to protect species at risk by training people, surveying bats and their habitats, and engaging the community in Sagamok, Ontario. Activities include monitoring bats through netting nights, roost identification, and land classification, as well as hosting outreach events.
Project title: Species-at-Risk Assessment on Georgina Island First Nation
Recipient: Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation
Funding amount: $143,486
Project description: This three-year project will map species at risk and their habitats on Georgina Island by surveying land and checking for species in suitable areas. It will train community members to monitor species and use better practices on their properties and create a plan to restore and improve habitats for species at risk and culturally important species. Actions include building nesting and overwintering sites and removing invasive plants.
Quebec
Project title: Awesìnzag Kipìwàgoziwag – Defending the Animals
Recipient: Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg
Funding amount: $142,167
Project description: This three-year project in Anishinabe territory, Quebec, will help protect monarchs, wood turtles, and eastern milk snakes through habitat conservation, species monitoring, and threat reduction. It will work with farmers to promote wildlife-friendly farming, protect turtle nests, and conduct road surveys to reduce road mortality. The project will also include community education, school outings, and outreach to reduce threats, like attacks from domestic animals. Indigenous Knowledge and citizen science will be key parts of the project, with data shared with provincial partners.
Project title: Acquiring Knowledge of Chimney Swift Nesting Sites in the Wild
Recipient: Council of the Wendat Nation
Funding amount: $124,892
Project description: This two-year project will contribute to the recovery of the chimney swift by improving knowledge of its nesting in its natural environment in Quebec—and more specifically in the Nionwentsïo—by searching for nests using telemetry and developing tools to identify and prioritize areas of natural nesting habitat. The project will include telemetric tracking of 30 individuals and visits to 11 previously identified nests.
Project title: Citizen Science for Bat Recovery
Recipient: FaunENord
Funding amount: $38,683
Project description: This one-year project will support the recovery of chiropterans (bats) present in the Nord-du-Québec region by filling gaps regarding habitat use through citizen science, while raising awareness among Cree tallymen and the regional population of the importance of protecting these habitats and how to reduce threats to these species.
Project title: Assessing Presence of Migjigj (Wood Turtle) in Gespe'gewa'gi Using Two-Eyed Seeing
Recipient: Gespe'gewa'gi Institute of Natural Understanding
Funding amount: $38,000
Project description: This one-year project aims to protect and recover wood turtles (migjigj) across the Gespe'gewa'gi territory in Quebec. The project will use a Two-Eyed Seeing approach to braid Mi'gmaw Knowledge with scientific methods to assess wood turtle habitats, identify threats, and develop long-term stewardship strategies.
Project title: Research and Mapping of Critical Habitat for the Little Brown Myotis, the Northern Myotis, and the Tri-Coloured Bat in the Centre-du-Québec region
Recipient: Abenaki Council of Wôlinak
Funding amount: $188,324
Project description: This project continues efforts to protect endangered bats through research, habitat monitoring, and public awareness. The additional funding will be used to locate and monitor hibernacula, track populations, and inform homeowners and the general public. It will also support 18 acoustic survey routes and collaboration with partners to reduce human threats, such as forestry and development. The project contributes to five recovery strategies and capacity building within the Indigenous community.
Saskatchewan
Project title: Critical Habitat Development, Enhancement, and Protection for Loggerhead Shrike and American Badger Populations Within the Wanuskewin Heritage Park
Recipient: Wanuskewin Heritage Park Authority
Funding amount: $147,250
Project description: This three-year project will enhance and build Indigenous capacity to steward land within Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatchewan. It includes training youth through hands-on learning with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and partner organizations. Activities also involve planting trees and shrubs for the loggerhead shrike, using controlled burns to maintain grasslands, and setting aside quiet zones with less human activity.