A shared path: protecting land for future generations
By: David Crate Posted:
For generations, the lands and waters of the southeastern Interlake have sustained our people. The rivers and lakes provided fish for our tables, the forests offered game to feed our families, and the land itself nurtured our communities and traditions.
These lands hold our history, and they must also hold our future.
That is why Fisher River Cree Nation, together with Peguis First Nation and Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation are leading the Conservation Areas Initiative, an effort to keep some of our lands and waters natural by establishing conserved spaces for all to enjoy in the region.
For us, conserving lands and waters is about more than just protecting nature — it’s about protecting a way of life. It ensures that hunting, fishing, recreation, and time spent on the land can continue for generations to come. It provides certainty for our communities and for industries such as logging and mining as they will know where development proposals can and cannot occur.
Our initiative puts Indigenous leadership at the heart of conservation, recognizing the deep knowledge and care that our Nations have for these lands. As we know we are not the only ones that love the land, we’re reaching out to our neighbours to develop a regionally tailored conservation proposal.
Some may ask why protecting these lands is necessary. The answer is simple: Many areas remain vulnerable to industrial activities that can damage the land, impact wildlife, and threaten traditional harvesting areas and waterbodies. Without proper planning, we risk losing the very places and wildlife that sustain us.
This initiative does not mean shutting out industry or economic development. There is a balance to be found between conservation and resource extraction. We have seen examples of success right here in Manitoba, where agreements between Indigenous nations, governments, and industry protected critical caribou habitat while still enabling responsible land development. We believe the same can happen here.
Responsible land-use planning provides certainty. It ensures that areas essential for wildlife — like moose calving grounds and fish spawning sites — are protected, while still leaving room for industry to operate in other places.
You can’t hunt where mines have destroyed the habitat. You wouldn’t want to fish in a lake that has been polluted. Taking care of the land is not just about conservation — it’s about securing the future of our communities.
Protecting land also creates economic opportunities. Across Canada, Indigenous-led conservation efforts have brought new investments into communities. Ecotourism, sustainable hunting lodges, and land-based learning programs offer new ways to support local economies while maintaining a healthy environment.
In other parts of Manitoba, Indigenous Guardians programs have provided jobs for community members to monitor the land and water, ensuring protected lands remain healthy for future generations. These types of initiatives could bring new employment opportunities to the southeastern Interlake, supporting both economic prosperity and environmental stewardship.
By protecting these lands, we are also ensuring a stronger future for Manitoba’s outdoor tourism industry. Visitors come from all over to hunt, fish, and explore our province’s natural beauty. Keeping these spaces healthy and accessible will bring long-term benefits not just for First Nations, but for everyone who values Manitoba’s lands and waters.
Our nations have been stewards of these lands for thousands of years. But this isn’t just about us — it’s about everyone who depends on these lands, including non-Indigenous hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
We work closely with the conservation group CPAWS Manitoba, which is helping to manage these efforts in support of our leadership. We are grateful to the over 16,000 Manitobans who have sent postcards and emails to the Manitoba government to let them know they support our Conservation Areas Initiative.
We want to see more people out on the land, enjoying its beauty and abundance. We want to create opportunities for tourism, land-based learning, and sustainable economic growth. Protected areas don’t mean people can’t use the land — they mean people can continue to use it in a way that respects and preserves it for the future.
We cannot afford to wait until the land is lost to take action. Moose populations in the region are declining. Fish stocks are under pressure. Extreme weather and climate change threaten the lands and waters that have sustained us for generations. By acting now, we can ensure that our children and grandchildren can continue to hunt, fish, gather, and play on these lands.
The southeastern Interlake has always been a place of abundance. By working together — Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, local communities, governments, and conservation groups — we can ensure it stays that way. We invite everyone to be part of this conversation, to share their voices, and to help shape a future where both conservation and economic opportunity thrive. Please visit frcnconservation.ca to learn more and share your views.
Our nations are not just looking to protect land. We are looking to protect our way of life and all regional lifestyles. And that is something that benefits us all.
David Crate is chief of the Fisher River Cree Nation.
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