Unit 3 - Indigenous Peoples and the Land

Like all Canadians, Indigenous Peoples use the forests for a variety of different reasons. As mentioned previously, many have jobs in the forestry sector, and, like many Canadians, worry about the balance of industry and environment. First Nations communities are working with industry and government organizations to help bring balance. Treaty 8’s partnership with the University of Alberta on the “Tracking Change” project, which uses traditional knowledge to aid in the tracking of changes in river systems, is an excellent example.

The forests continue to be used by Indigenous Peoples to hunt, harvest food, and gather medicine for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. Like their ancestors, many Indigenous People are, through educational programs and eco-tourism, sharing their knowledge and traditions, not only with future generations of Indigenous Peoples, but with other Canadians and people around the world.

Watch the following video.