Meet the changemakers: Nature United

The changemaker series highlights the organizations supported by the BHP Foundation that work on building solutions to complex social and environmental challenges. This time, we highlight Nature United’s impact in Canada’s northern region.

In Manitoba’s Boreal, Nature United works to support First Nations’ leadership and authority over natural resource decision-making and management within the nine million-hectare ecologically, economically, and culturally significant forest landscape.

Why is Nature United’s work needed?

Representing 10 per cent of the second largest intact forest in the world, Boreal Manitoba is the heart of Canada’s Boreal Forest and a critical source of freshwater that supports biodiversity, urban populations and rural communities across Manitoba.

However, only 12 per cent of this region is protected. There is an opportunity to transform vital forestry management practices across this landscape, balancing protection with sustainable economic development in this significant area.

Indigenous Nations are leading efforts in this transformation. To ensure a sustainable future for nature and people in the region, their leadership and values must be integrated into forest management and practices.

The solution

Nature United’s work in the Boreal Manitoba region focuses on listening and learning from the Indigenous Nations and Communities who are deeply connected to these territories.

By investing in building partnerships with government, communities, industries and other Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs), providing technical expertise to Indigenous communities, and collaborating with communities to develop management plans, establish stewardship and monitoring programs, Nature United supports First Nations in upholding ecological and cultural values and sustainable resource management.

This approach in Boreal Manitoba is based on almost two decades of supporting Indigenous-led conservation in Canada. It is rooted in trust, respect, shared values, adaptability, and long-term investment, which are crucial for achieving sustainable results for both nature and people.  

The results so far

Nature United’s efforts in Boreal Manitoba have spanned seven years. The programs’ achievements to date include:

• First Nations community-led Land Use Plans are now recognized in the Terms of Reference of Boreal Manitoba’s Forest Management Planning (FMP), and representatives from all seven Nekoté communities have formalized roles in the FMP planning process (where previously only the forest company and government were represented).
• Four Nations have asserted their right to manage resources (e.g., fishing, forestry, hunting and land use planning) on their territories.
• Two communities have established Guardians programs, which focus on patrolling the territory, engaging with the community and industry, and maintaining trails. An additional five communities are planning to develop a similar program.
• Partners reported increased decision-making authority, strengthened self-governance and greater community involvement in land management, often achieved through the application of traditional laws. Over time, governance priorities have shifted toward asserting ancestral land rights.
• Community partners reported gaining new knowledge and expertise in monitoring and planning processes, as well as increased awareness of how to engage federal and provincial legislation as strategic tools.

The future

Alyna Wyatt, BHP Foundation’s Canada Country Director said, “Nature United’s support to Indigenous nations in Manitoba has opened doors and opportunities, not only with the ten nations with whom they have worked over the past seven years, but has also elevated the importance of Indigenous-led conservation to the forefront across the province.”

“In partnership with Nations, we hope to see increased public support and necessary systemic change towards long-term sustainability,” she said.