The initiative is designed around a conservation financing model known as Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), which brings governments and the philanthropic community together to provide funding for long-term protection and stewardship of lands and waters. The Indigenous Leadership Initiative played a pivotal role in convening the partners and facilitating the process around the co-development of NWT: Our Land for the Future, ensuring Indigenous voices and priorities remained central to the process.

Indigenous leadership is at the heart of this agreement. By investing in Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship, the initiative seeks to create employment opportunities, support local economies, and strengthen community health and well-being. With a goal of protecting approximately 38 million hectares over the next decade, NWT: Our Land for the Future is set to become one of the largest Indigenous-led conservation efforts in the world.

We are proud to support this groundbreaking initiative and honoured to have our Board Chair, Sandy Houston, present in Behchokǫ̀ to sign the agreement. NWT: Our Land for the Future is an enormous step forward for conservation in Canada and stands as a global model for collaborative conservation efforts. We are committed to continuing our support for Indigenous-led conservation, recognizing the critical role of Indigenous leadership in paving the way for community economic development and the protection of vital lands and waters for generations to come.