Strategic thinking and emergent approaches for Indigenous-led wildlife management

In 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada declared 1700 km2 as Aboriginal Title Land to the Tsilhqot’in Nation. The Title Lands are set within the Caretaker Area of Xeni Gwet’in First Nation (XGFN)- one of six Tsilhqot’in communities. The Tsilhqot’in decision has created a range of immediate management and planning needs, and new opportunities for XGFN. Re-establishing control of wildlife management within the Title Lands in a manner which addresses a legacy of provincial land management and associated impacts to habitat and wildlife is a priority. To do so, XGFN is exploring options for a wildlife management strategy for the Title Lands, which will be used to drive successful outcomes for both wildlife conservation and Tsilhqot’in well-being. To support XGFN in the planning for their wildlife management strategy, this project has been collaboratively developed by XGFN and UBC to aid the identification of a vision, goals, and priorities for wildlife management; in the creation of a land inventory highlighting the current state of the environment; and with technical writing and communications support for the composition and implementation of the wildlife management strategy.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kevin Hanna

Student:

Partner:

Xeni Gwet’in First Nation

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Sustainability & the Environment; Indigenous Affairs; Natural Resources

University:

The University of British Columbia - Okanagan

Program: