Northwest Territories Our Land for the Future Project Finance for Permanence

Overview

The Northwest Territories Our Land for the Future Project Finance for Permanence, known as NWT: Our Land for the Future, is an Indigenous-led conservation initiative that supports long-term, large-scale protection of lands and inland waters in the Northwest Territories.

NWT: Our Land for the Future will support new and existing conserved areas in the territory. It is estimated that the NWT: Our Land for the Future could contribute to the conservation and stewardship of up to 379,390 square kilometers of lands and inland waters in the Northwest Territories, aiming to protect more than 2% of Canada in new terrestrial areas over the longer term—a significant contribution to Canada’s conservation goals.

Who is involved

NWT: Our Land for the Future brings together partners from Indigenous, federal, and territorial governments, as well as charitable organizations, including:

• 22 Indigenous Governments and Organizations in the Northwest Territories
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Government of the Northwest Territories
• Private philanthropies, led by The Pew Charitable Trusts

Goals and activities

Indigenous-led stewardship is central to achieving the goals of NWT: Our Land for the Future, which include:

• protecting lands and waters
• preserving biodiversity
• supporting thriving cultures
• building community capacity
• contributing to healthy and equitable economies

Indigenous communities across the Northwest Territories will support these goals through many conservation and cultural revitalization activities, including:

• identifying and establishing new Protected Areas
• investing in ongoing stewardship of lands, including through expanding Indigenous Guardians programs
• environmental monitoring and climate change research
• on-the-land, cultural and Indigenous language revitalization activities
• sustainable community economic developments for conservation-related purposes

Status of NWT: Our Land for the Future

In November 2024, partners signed an agreement that outlines the shared vision for NWT: Our Land for the Future, including the terms, activities, and expected outcomes of the initiative.

In the coming months, partners will work toward implementing the agreement to deliver the initiative’s full vision of conservation, stewardship, and economic development benefits that last now and into the future.

Latest news

• Landmark Indigenous-led conservation agreement reached to protect nature and people in the Northwest Territories
• Canada reaches historic milestone on Indigenous-led land conservation in the Northwest Territories
  
• Major Milestone Reached in Indigenous-Led Initiative to Sustain Lands and Support Community Economic Development Across the NWT — Indigenous Leadership Initiative
• Protecting more nature in partnership with Indigenous Peoples