Message Box Assignment - Supporting Resurgent Indigenous-led Governance
Immense biodiversity losses have begun to plague Earth, and Indigenous-led governance
may be the path to slowing these losses and restoring biodiversity globally. Artelle et al. (2019),
discusses the importance of supporting Indigenous-led governance and conservation efforts,
particularly in Canada, where the government has continuously failed to meet biodiversity
targets, such as those set out by the 2010 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples
successfully established a harmonious equilibrium with nature as they took the resources only
necessary for survival whilst allowing for the restoration of the area before obtaining resources
again. Today’s consumerist and extractivist society has led to rapid land-use changes, removal of
natural resources at a rate that does not allow for replenishment, and has driven a number of
species to extirpation and/or extinction worldwide. In particular, Canada has a relatively uneven
distribution of intact landscapes due to present-day developments (Artelle et al., 2019). Canada
also has a large population of Indigenous communities that are widely distributed across the
country that are constantly fighting for the protection of their natural lands (Artelle et al., 2019).
Unfortunately, many of these intact landscapes are either too large or too remote, where the
government’s limited resources make it difficult to enforce conservation efforts (Artelle et al.,
2019). Finally, this paper discusses how in both Canada and other regions of the world, residents
are often displaced in the name of conservation. It is clear that Indigenous Peoples are limited in
their involvement within conservation practices in Canada (Artelle et al., 2019). By supporting
Indigenous-led governance, Canada and suffering nations alike will experience the successes of
the Indigenous Peoples to ultimately slow significant biodiversity losses.
Indigenous titles and rights have yet to be fully respected since they were implemented
with the intention to respect the Indigenous lands and lifestyles. Moving towards conservation
initiatives that support Indigenous-led governance will assist in resolving deep-rooted trust issues
the Natives have had with the Canadian government since settler colonialism occurred (Artelle et
al., 2019). Allowing Indigenous-led governance to prosper will not only show promising
conservation results but also provide the opportunity to bring about social justice to Indigenous
communities who have repeatedly been impacted by the effects of settler colonialism (Artelle et
al., 2019).
The world’s nations containing the most intact landscapes, Canada, the USA, Brazil,
Australia, and Russia, also have the largest populations of Indigenous Peoples (Artelle et al.,
2019). More often than not, the key areas for conservation occur on Indigenous territories and
hence require Indigenous support to undergo. Since the permission of local Natives is already
required to undergo conservation initiatives on these lands, it only makes sense to involve those
who have a spiritual connection with the lands they inhabit. Oftentimes there tends to be higher
biodiversity on Indigenous lands than in state-led parks (Artelle et al., 2019). Hence, involving
Indigenous communities in conservation efforts, especially in Canada, will reap environmental,
social, political, and economic benefits for the nation.
Biodiversity losses globally may be seen as a minute problem to the general public,
however, those heavily involved in the research of biodiversity understand its importance not
only to the environment but human health. Generally, immense biodiversity losses are incurred
by human activities such as land-use changes, resource extraction, and development. These have
resulted in the degradation of ecosystems, and species extinction and migration due to unsuitable
habitats. As mentioned, Indigenous Peoples hold strong connections with their lands and
understand how to give and take without degrading the environment (Artelle et al., 2019). This
Immense biodiversity losses have begun to plague Earth, and Indigenous-led governance
may be the path to slowing these losses and restoring biodiversity globally. Artelle et al. (2019),
discusses the importance of supporting Indigenous-led governance and conservation efforts,
particularly in Canada, where the government has continuously failed to meet biodiversity
targets, such as those set out by the 2010 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples
successfully established a harmonious equilibrium with nature as they took the resources only
necessary for survival whilst allowing for the restoration of the area before obtaining resources
again. Today’s consumerist and extractivist society has led to rapid land-use changes, removal of
natural resources at a rate that does not allow for replenishment, and has driven a number of
species to extirpation and/or extinction worldwide. In particular, Canada has a relatively uneven
distribution of intact landscapes due to present-day developments (Artelle et al., 2019). Canada
also has a large population of Indigenous communities that are widely distributed across the
country that are constantly fighting for the protection of their natural lands (Artelle et al., 2019).
Unfortunately, many of these intact landscapes are either too large or too remote, where the
government’s limited resources make it difficult to enforce conservation efforts (Artelle et al.,
2019). Finally, this paper discusses how in both Canada and other regions of the world, residents
are often displaced in the name of conservation. It is clear that Indigenous Peoples are limited in
their involvement within conservation practices in Canada (Artelle et al., 2019). By supporting
Indigenous-led governance, Canada and suffering nations alike will experience the successes of
the Indigenous Peoples to ultimately slow significant biodiversity losses.
Indigenous titles and rights have yet to be fully respected since they were implemented
with the intention to respect the Indigenous lands and lifestyles. Moving towards conservation
initiatives that support Indigenous-led governance will assist in resolving deep-rooted trust issues
the Natives have had with the Canadian government since settler colonialism occurred (Artelle et
al., 2019). Allowing Indigenous-led governance to prosper will not only show promising
conservation results but also provide the opportunity to bring about social justice to Indigenous
communities who have repeatedly been impacted by the effects of settler colonialism (Artelle et
al., 2019).
The world’s nations containing the most intact landscapes, Canada, the USA, Brazil,
Australia, and Russia, also have the largest populations of Indigenous Peoples (Artelle et al.,
2019). More often than not, the key areas for conservation occur on Indigenous territories and
hence require Indigenous support to undergo. Since the permission of local Natives is already
required to undergo conservation initiatives on these lands, it only makes sense to involve those
who have a spiritual connection with the lands they inhabit. Oftentimes there tends to be higher
biodiversity on Indigenous lands than in state-led parks (Artelle et al., 2019). Hence, involving
Indigenous communities in conservation efforts, especially in Canada, will reap environmental,
social, political, and economic benefits for the nation.
Biodiversity losses globally may be seen as a minute problem to the general public,
however, those heavily involved in the research of biodiversity understand its importance not
only to the environment but human health. Generally, immense biodiversity losses are incurred
by human activities such as land-use changes, resource extraction, and development. These have
resulted in the degradation of ecosystems, and species extinction and migration due to unsuitable
habitats. As mentioned, Indigenous Peoples hold strong connections with their lands and
understand how to give and take without degrading the environment (Artelle et al., 2019). This
