IMPAC5: Indigenous-led Conservation and a Sustainable Blue Economy
By: Inda Intiar
In February, the Blue Futures Pathways team attended The Fifth International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, on the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.
The event was co-hosted by provincial and federal governments, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS).
It took place a couple of months after the international community set a goal of protecting a third of the planet by 2030, placing an emphasis on Indigenous rights. This means in the next eight years, marine protected and conserved areas have to grow from approximately eight percent globally to 30 percent – a goal commonly known as 30×30.
One of the lessons learned from the congress was that Indigenous leadership is key in successful marine protection programs. During the congress, we learned about many co-managed initiatives that have advanced.
From films and panel discussions, it was clear that courage, collaboration, and persistence are needed to advance Indigenous-led initiatives.
One example is the two-decades of work that led to 15 First Nations assuming stewardship of a network of marine protected areas that spans nearly 70% of the west coast of Canada. The historic Great Bear Sea MPA network is a co-developed initiative between the First Nations and the provincial and federal governments.
The co-management of MPAs and National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCAs) is a start, but there’s a long way to go, Nuu-chah-nulth tribal council president and educator Cloy-e-iis (Dr. Judith Sayers) said in her keynote address.
MPAs and Indigenous leadership will also play a clear role in supporting the Sustainable Blue Economy.
“You can’t have a Blue Economy unless you have respected the rights of Indigenous people. Unless you have our consent,” said Cloy-e-iis. “Number one is conservation. We have to ensure there are enough of our sea resources going forward. We have to ensure high environmental standards.”
Cloy-e-iis shared with the audience that the problems we see today are not how it was. First Nations used to fish and whale freely, through a relationship with nature that’s guided by ancestral knowledge.
“There were no words in our language for conservation and sustainability because we didn’t need them. We didn’t need to conserve because that was how we lived,” she said.
Chief Danielle Shaw of Wuikinuxv Nation said unhealthy coastlines are already impacting her community, resulting in a loss of culture and livelihoods.
“This is not some future risk,” she said. “When the oceans are not healthy, when the stocks are declining, people will not eat. We know that a healthy coast is what feeds our families, feeds our communities and … our economies.”
Today, there are many barriers for First Nations to take part in the Blue Economy through policies that show the government of Canada still does not recognize Indigenous ways of life, and prioritizes commercial needs, said Cloy-e-iis.
Partnerships, funding for capacity building, training for youth to go back on the ocean, and conservation are key in reviving an economic base that’s in line with First Nations traditions and laws.
“We do have a place in the Blue Economy, but we will do it very carefully,” she said. “We will do it in keeping with our principles.”
During the congress, the Blue Futures Pathways team hosted a knowledge sharing session with young professionals, as well as current and potential partners.
There too, we heard that there is a need for Indigenous leadership, long-term funding, training and support for more experiential learning opportunities. The discussions during that session will inform the next phase of the program.
The current phase of Blue Futures Pathways is in the evaluation stage. Stay tuned for more information about the lessons and impact from phase two!
Also read: IMPAC5 Recap – A Global Effort to Protect 30% of the World’s Ocean