Prioritizing Indigenous values and knowledge systems in environmental monitoring and management

A necessary path forward for wildlife management and conservation in Canada involves rebuilding relationships and rebalancing power dynamics between Indigenous nations and non-Indigenous Canadians. This requires recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ authority to steward their traditional territories, embracing the value of Indigenous Knowledge systems, and creating space for Indigenous voices in decision-making related to the environment. We work in partnership with Indigenous communities across Canada to identify the Indigenous values that need to be prioritized in environmental monitoring and research, and determine which methodologies are most effective at doing so.