PARRY SOUND, ON- Shawanaga First Nation will be taking care of an island in Georgian Bay.
According to a news release from SFN, their proposal to the federal government to develop the “Shawanaga Island Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area”, was successful.
SFN has been approved for a total value of up to $1 million for the four year project, which will run until March 31st, 2023. Shawanaga First Nation has been
“This project is a critical step to conserving the biodiversity of the area and protecting its cultural heritage,” read the announcement from SFN.
“Shawanaga Island is located within the traditional territory of Shawanaga First Nation. The proposed Shawanaga Island Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area consists of approximately 1,020 hectares of assumed Crown land plus inland waters, coastline and nearshore waters. This project will establish an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area that recognizes our rights and responsibilities as caretakers of our traditional lands and waters.”
The creation of the area is a collaboration between SFN and both the provincial and federal governments.
“I am very pleased with this initiative of our island,” Chief Pamajewon of Shawanaga First Nation said in the release.
“This is a step in the right direction, at no time was the islands, water ways or water beds included in the Robison Huron Treaty of 1850. I look forward to our teachings to be utilized to protect and conserve Shawanaga Island.”
Band manager Adam Good said that SFN was “extremely excited” to do their part to help prevent climate change and protect at-risk species with the project.
“The Shawanaga Island Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area project will redefine the relationship between our people and our non-Indigenous neighbours in the Georgian Bay region,” read the announcement.
According to SFN, the project will do the following:
– Allow Shawanaga First Nation to assert our rights and responsibilities as caretakers of our traditional lands and waters.
– Conserve cultural keystone species and protect food security.
– Grow understanding of and respect for our language, knowledge systems, protocols and ceremony.
– Support the development of conservation economies in the areas of ecotourism and environmental monitoring.
SFN has also partnered with the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and the Georgian Bay Land Trust for the project. The island is located within the biosphere reserve, which is an area of 347,000 hectares that stretches 200 kilometres along the eastern coast from Port Severn to the French River, in the world’s largest freshwater archipelago, also known as the 30,000 Islands.
