Indigenous Leadership Initiative

What is the Indigenous Leadership Initiative? We are an Indigenous-led organization who works to work to: ➡️ strengthen Indigenous Nationhood ➡️ support Indigenous responsibility to the land ➡️ help build a new generation of Indigenous leaders

Do you know about the Indigenous women who are helping lead a new future for fire stewardship? 🔥🌾 This @thenarwhalca article follows Interior Salish women at the forefront of wildfire response, cultural burning, and land restoration efforts in B.C. Read here: thenarwhal.ca/salish-women-r…

“Cultural burns are about more than fire. They’re about living with the land.” 🔥 In our newest blog, Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson breaks down the important distinctions between cultural burns, prescribed fires, and prescribed fires with cultural objectives — and explains why understanding those differences matters for Indigenous sovereignty, stewardship, and the future of fire management in Canada. Read here: ilinationhood.ca/blog/is-it-a-c…

Today is #MooseHideCampaign Day — an Indigenous-led movement grounded in ceremony, healing, and collective action to end gender-based violence. 🤎 Wearing the moose hide pin is a commitment to accountability, respect, and protecting women and children. Show your solidarity and take the pledge today! Learn more about the campaign by visiting their page: moosehidecampaign.ca

Every spring, the Boreal forest comes alive with birdsongs from our winged relatives that are coming back from the South. 🪶🌎 For generations, Indigenous communities have known these landscapes are vital for migratory birds. That’s why First Nations are working hard to protect these important ecosystems, like the Seal River Watershed, which alone is home to more than 100 species of migratory birds. Want to contribute to its safeguarding? Follow this link and leave a comment to support the new Indigenous-led proposition that aims to protect it: engagemb.ca/seal-river-wat…

When we talk about protecting nature in this country, the Boreal Forest must be part of the conversation. Stretching across almost 60% of Canada’s land area, this region remains one of the planet’s great ecological strongholds. The knowledge carried by Indigenous People has helped maintain its balance for millennia — and continues to guide its stewardship today.

Today is Red Dress Day. A day to honour Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people who are missing or have been taken — and to stand together in the fight for justice. These are not just statistics. These are our relatives. Stand in solidarity. Wear red. Uplift voices. Take part in your community’s events. And most importantly, act in calling for justice, safety, and change. ❤️ Beautiful beadwork by Heather Stewart (sweetgrass_beads)

10 years after Fort McMurray: are we better prepared? Wildfires now affect millions, from evacuations to smoke-filled cities. Indigenous knowledge offers a way forward: stewardship, prevention, and working with fire. Indigenous Fire Guardians + local Indigenous firefighters = both proven solutions for reducing wildfire risk. The solutions exist. It’s time to scale them. 🔥 theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…

Here’s a myth we need to leave behind. Indigenous fire knowledge wasn’t lost. Actually, Indigenous Nations across the country are leading cultural fire initiatives — restoring ecosystems, reducing wildfire risk, and passing knowledge to the next generation. Read more about it here: bit.ly/cultural-fire-…

Because when First Nations stand together, landscapes grow more resilient — and so do our communities. ❤️‍🔥

This is a conversation we need to be having. Indigenous communities make up 42% of wildfire evacuations in Canada — and are often displaced longer, with fewer culturally appropriate supports. In this clip, Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson explains why current approaches aren’t working — and what needs to change.

✨You may have heard: The proposal to protect the Seal River Watershed has been released—and the public comment period is officially open. 📣✨ The proposal to protect the Seal River Watershed is now open for public comment. After years of leadership and advocacy, the proposal to protect the Seal River Watershed — led by four First Nations — is now open for public feedback. Your voice matters in shaping what comes next. Participate now: engagemb.ca/seal-river-wat…

#EarthDay is a reminder of something Indigenous Peoples have always known: we are not separate from the land. The health of the forests, the waters, the wildlife — it is all connected to our own. Across the country, Indigenous Nations continue to lead that work. Today, and every day, we honour Mother Earth. (Artwork by Aspen Decker)

Breaking news! A major step forward for Indigenous-led conservation in Northern Manitoba has been achieved. Today, four First Nations, alongside the Governments of Canada and Manitoba, released a proposal to protect the Seal River Watershed. The collaborative proposition takes a “star blanket” approach to conservation, combining different tools to ensure long-term protection of lands, waters, and wildlife. Read more: bit.ly/SRWpressrelease

DEBUNKING TIME 🔥⏰ ! In our new blog, fire expert Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson takes on some of the biggest misconceptions about Indigenous fire stewardship — and sets the record straight. Today, take a few minutes to learn something new. Read here: ilinationhood.ca/blog/indigenou…

The Boreal Forest is the largest intact forest left on the planet. It’s also home to over 700 Indigenous communities who live, work, and care for its lands and waters. From protecting biodiversity, to safeguarding some of the world’s largest carbon stores, Indigenous-led conservation is protecting this vast, intact landscape for the health of the entire planet. 🌎

At the ‘Reigniting The Land’ gathering in Interior B.C, Indigenous Nations shared how fire can be used — to restore ecosystems, protect communities, and support recovery. 🔥 Learn more about the power of Indigenous fire stewardship here: thenarwhal.ca/salish-fire-ke…

We have a responsibility to protect Canada’s extraordinary natural heritage – from our lakes and forests to our mountains and coastlines. Our new Nature Strategy will protect up to 2.4 million km² of our lands and oceans — and mobilise new capital for sustained conservation efforts going forward.