Background

Established in May 2014, the Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI) is an innovative form of collaboration and partnership between the Province and First Nations, designed to produce high-quality, accessible and trusted environmental information. Projects are designed to focus on:

  • Ecosystem assessment and monitoring;
  • Ecosystem restoration and enhancement;
  • Ecosystem research and knowledge exchange; and
  • Stewardship education and training.

The ESI is providing a model for collaboration on stewardship that gives meaningful effect to reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration). ESI projects are beginning to yield results, providing valuable information to improve resource management in British Columbia.

To date, representatives from approximately 30 First Nations, industry, and the federal and provincial governments have participated in the development of four regional environmental stewardship projects. A governance working group with representatives from all stewardship forums provides governance oversight and guidance for the ESI.

 

 

“It’s good to look back just to see where you came from, but you always have to look ahead. But don’t hurry. Go as far as you can see…and when you get there you will always see more.”

Lelt Fred Johnson

 

 

ESI Now

The Skeena First Nations and the province of BC have formed a partnership to create shared and trusted data about five shared values: Medicinal Plants, Grizzly Bears, Fish, Fish Habitats, Moose, and Wetlands. In 2014, the SSAF ESI was established as one of four regional forums to integrate Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and science into the Environmental Stewardship Initiatives (ESI). As a result of the formation of the Gitxsan Laxyip Management Office (GLMO), the SSAF ESI program was taken over from the Gitxsan Development Corporation (GDC).

As we familiarize ourselves with the ESI program, it becomes apparent that we are too short-staffed to participate in all the committees. Through SSAF ESI there are 12 committees GLMO staff members are required to attend, which is problematic as it interferes with other responsibilities and commitments. Since the Provincial Government has committed to funding the program for another five years, it is imperative that GLMO continues to participate in the meetings.

The Gitxsan First Nation receives $150,000.00 from the SSAF ESI throughout the course of the year. Since 2017, Gitxsan has committed IGP resources to moose value and will keep doing so by allocating another $100,000.00 for 2022-2023. The remaining $50,000 will be utilized for capacity building. The ESI program’s ultimate objective is to serve as the framework for a land guardian program that will monitor, gather data, and have a boots-on-the-ground presence within the Gitxsan Laxyip.

 

The 2022/22 SSAF Annual Report 2021/2022 can be found here: SSAF Annual Report 2021_2022.pdf