About Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs)
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are defined by the Indigenous Circle of Experts (2018, p. 5) as “lands and waters where Indigenous Nations, their communities, and/or governments have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems through Indigenous laws, governance, and knowledge systems. Culture and language are the heart and soul of an IPCA.”
- In the Canadian context and according to the Indigenous Circle of Experts (2018, p. 5-6), IPCAs represent:
- A modern application of traditional values, Indigenous laws, and knowledge systems;
- An exercise in cultural continuity on the land and waters;
- A foundation for local, Indigenous-led economies;
- Opportunities to reconnect to the land and heal both the land and Indigenous Peoples;
- An acknowledgement of international law, such as Canada’s Treaties, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other relevant commitments;
- An opportunity for true reconciliation to take place between Indigenous and settler societies, and between broader Canadian society and the land and waters, including relationships in pre-existing parks and protected areas; and
- An innovative expression of Section 35 (Constitution Act 1982), which enshrines Indigenous rights in the Canadian constitution.
- The Indigenous Circle of Experts, through their engagement process and research, found that IPCAs vary in terms of their governance and management approaches. At a minimum, IPCAs:
- Are Indigenous-led. Indigenous Nations, their communities, and/or governments play a leading role in establishing and maintaining them;
- Represent a long-term commitment to conservation and stewardship; and
- Centre Indigenous rights and responsibilities to the lands, waters, and future generations.
To learn more about IPCAs, visit the Frequently Asked Questions about Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas resource.
About the IPCA Knowledge Basket
The IPCA Knowledge Basket is a digital space created to honour, celebrate, and catalyze Indigenous-led conservation pathways in Canada, including Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). The IPCA Knowledge Basket holds stories, videos, songs, government reports and policies, academic articles, resources, and artwork.
The IPCA Knowledge Basket primarily serves Indigenous Nations, governments, and organizations as they navigate pathways to Nation-building through Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and similar initiatives. We offer a national platform for Indigenous governments, Nations, and their communities to share and learn from each other.
The IPCA Knowledge Basket is also meant to inform and guide other actors in the conservation sector to share resources that enable the conditions in which Indigenous-led conservation can thrive. Allies and supporters are encouraged to learn with open hearts and open minds, in the spirit of peace and friendship.
Basket weaving is a significant cultural practice for many Indigenous Peoples.
The IPCA Knowledge Basket represents the strength and beauty we can create by weaving multiple knowledge systems together to support Indigenous-led conservation. The website provides pathways for visitors to harvest, collect, and contribute resources to grow our collective knowledge. It is a space for reciprocal sharing and collaborative learning in the spirit of ‘we rise together’.
From 2017-2018, Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) members led a national effort to consider how Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas IPCAs) could be created and supported in Canada. The idea for the IPCA Knowledge Basket came from the this process. It is meant to be a website for sharing information with Indigenous governments, as well as their partners, to help fulfill their IPCA visions.
The IPCA Knowledge Basket was created through the collective vision and efforts of many, including the IISAAK OLAM Foundation and members of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership (CRP). The web design was created by Design de Plume, a women-led and Indigenously-owned web design firm based in Sudbury, Ontario. The website project team included Monica Shore, Allison Bishop, Stephanie Siddon, Soudeh Jamshidian, Jena-Lee Ashley, and Kristy Tomkinson. The CRP Leadership Circle, which includes Marilyn Baptiste, Eli Enns, Faisal Moola, Steven Nitah, Robin Roth, and Lisa Young, provided the strategic oversight for the project.
We are grateful for the leadership of Elders Albert Marshall, Larry McDermott, Marilyn Capreol, and Paulette Fox. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and guiding our Two-Eyed Seeing process.
We are also grateful for Beverly Jeddore (Eskasoni First Nation) who contributed songs from the eastern gate and Gordon Planes (T’Souke Nation) who contributed a song from the Western gate. These songs help greet IPCA Knowledge Basket users and help send website users on their journey in a good way.
Many thanks to all of the Indigenous language speakers who contributed the initial greeting and thank you messages to the website: Dolorés André (Innu), Nikki Auten (Kanien’kéha/Mohawk), Lucassie Arragutainaq (Inuktitut), Susie Lulua (Tsilhqot’in), Joe Martin (Nuu-chah-nulth), Dorothy Stewart (Cree), Anne Taylor (Anishinaabemowin), Stephanie Thorassie (Dene). We hope that IPCA Knowledge Basket users will contribute welcome and thank you messages in other languages to help reflect the diversity of Indigenous languages spoken on what is now known as Canada.
Learn more about the origin story for the IPCA Knowledge Basket.
The IPCA Knowledge Basket is maintained and cared for by the IISAAK OLAM Foundation (IOF).
The CRP Leadership Circle has provided advisory support from the initiative’s inception. In 2026, the CRP’s program of work will officially end and IOF will continue its legacy through two interconnecting initiatives: ongoing stewardship of the IPCA Knowledge Basket and the Pacific IPCA Innovation Centre.
As steward of the IPCA Knowledge Basket, IOF will ensure the platform remains Indigenous-led, providing executive leadership and working closely with the communities it serves through its network of IPCA support initiatives and like-minded, collaborative organizations dedicated to supporting Indigenous-led conservation.
Once you have created an IPCA Knowledge Basket account there are several different ways to start your learning journey:
- Are you interested in audio-visual stories about Indigenous-led conservation? Consider starting with the Stories page.
- Do you have a specific topic in mind? Check out the Resources page with how-to guides to help with your search experience.
In the spirit of ‘we rise together’, you are encouraged to share resources to grow our collective knowledge. Access the contributions form on the Engage page for more information.
Creating an Account
You have the option of creating an account with a username and password. This allows you to save content in your own ‘digital basket’ that you’d like to return to later. However, you can access all the website’s content without an account.
We ask all who create an account to reflect upon and agree to a set of commitments and responsibilities as they use the website. These guidelines were created with guidance from Elders drawing on their cultural traditions as an important part of the ‘Two-Eyed Seeing approach’ for the website. Elder Albert Marshall, who helped popularize the Mi’kmaw concept of ‘Two-Eyed Seeing’, was a key contributor to this work.
The information collected when you create an account is not shared with or sold to any external third-parties. We only use the information collected to better understand who is visiting the IPCA Knowledge Basket and how we can improve the website.
If you’re having trouble creating an account, please contact info@ipcaknowledgebasket.ca.