Cover art by Abby Sparling for the IISAAK OLAM Foundation

Prepared by: Jeremy Williams (River Voices Productions and Board Director of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation), Kristy Tomkinson (Communications Director of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation), and Anaïs Brusel (Cross-Cultural Relations Coordinator of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation).

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Publication Date: December 2025

The čukʷaa haʔuk audio and video series delves into the historical, legal, socio-cultural, and narrative dimensions of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in Canada.

čukʷaa haʔuk, pronounced CHOO-kwa ha-OOK, means, “come, let’s feast” in Nuu-chah-nulth. The series invites viewers and listeners to feast on the knowledge that is shared. 

Each episode includes additional resources for further learning.

Hosted by the IISAAK OLAM Foundation and featuring Eli Enns, Co-Founder and CEO of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Citizen.

Produced by Jeremy Williams of River Voices Productions and Board Director of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation. 

Music by Joseph Tutakwisnapšiƛ Martin, Tla-o-qui-aht Master Carver and Historian, and Board Director of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation.

Artwork by Abby Sparling, Westcoast IPCA Support Program (WISP) Manager of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation.

Project management, transcript editing, and curation by Kristy Tomkinson, Communications Director of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation,  and Anaïs Brusel, Cross-Cultural Relations Coordinator of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation.

Eli Enns

Eli Enns is an internationally recognized expert in Indigenous-led conservation. From Tla-o-qui-aht Nation on his father’s side, and of Dutch Mennonite heritage on his mother’s side, Eli promotes holistic solutions for community and ecosystem health and well-being. With a background in political science, Eli is a ‘Nation-builder’ with values and approaches rooted in Indigenous economic theory and practice.

In 2017, a decade after co-founding the Ha-uukmin Tribal Park in his own territory, Eli co-chaired the Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) for the Pathway to Canada Target 1, which culminated with the groundbreaking 2018 report, We Rise Together: Achieving Pathway to Canada Target 1 through the creation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in the spirit and practice of reconciliation. IPCAs are now a central component of Canada’s conservation efforts. Eli supports Indigenous Nations across Canada to advance their conservation efforts via his roles with the IISAAK OLAM Foundation and the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership.

Nuu-chah-nulth values and concepts that guide Eli’s life and work:

hishuk-nish-tsa-wahk – “Everything is one and everything is interconnected.”
iisaak – “To observe, appreciate, and act accordingly.”

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Overview

In this inaugural episode of čukʷaa haʔuk, Eli Enns introduces the concept of Elder societies, where Elders and knowledge holders serve as advisors and teachers, preserving cultural knowledge, language, and wisdom.

He discusses the Primary Treaty with the Creator and Mother Nature – a relationship rooted in gratitude, respect, and generosity – and how it informs human relationships as well as our connection to the natural world.

Eli explores the evolution of governance and treaties as “Canada” was being formed as a nation-state, including the Two Row Wampum of 1613, the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the Treaty of Fort Niagara of 1764, and how colonial interpretations of these relationships continue to shape our present-day economic, political, and legal systems.

The episode concludes by positioning Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) as contemporary expressions of the enduring principles of the Primary Treaty – ethical relationship with the Land and one another.

Additional Resources

Allen, R. S., & Conn, H. (2008, July 8; last edited 2019, Sept 4). Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea). The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/joseph-brant

Borrows, J., & Coyle, M. (Eds.). (2017). The right relationship: Reimagining the implementation of historical treaties. University of Toronto Press. https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442630215

David Suzuki Foundation, University of Ottawa, Ecojustice, & Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership. (2024, September 25). Reweaving the legal fabric: Indigenous governance and conservation law in Canada [Panel discussion]. https://ipcaknowledgebasket.ca/reweaving-the-legal-fabric-indigenous-governance-and-conservation-law-in-canada/

Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council. (n.d.). Haudenosaunee Confederacy — official website. https://www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com/

Maracle, C. [Candace Maracle]. (2019, October 19). Wampum belts: The first treaties in North America [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jWcmTsKOp4

InfoBrics. (n.d.). BRICS portal. Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://infobrics.org

Sandlos, J. (2008). Not wanted in the boundary: The expulsion of the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway Band from Riding Mountain National Park. Canadian Historical Review, 89(2), 189-221. https://doi.org/10.3138/chr.89.2.189

Yellowhead Institute. (2024). The Treaty Map: Indigenous perspectives on treaties in Canada. Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://treatymap.yellowheadinstitute.org/

Listen to or watch this episode below:

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Overview

In this second episode of čukʷaa haʔuk, Eli Enns delves into the deep historical and constitutional roots that shape Indigenous-Crown relations in British Columbia today. He traces how the 1763 Royal Proclamation and the 1764 Treaty of Peace and Friendship at Fort Niagara established Canada’s constitutional responsibilities toward Indigenous Nations, and how these commitments were later disregarded when B.C. joined Confederation in 1871.

Eli explains how the province’s demand for full control over “Crown lands” and refusal to uphold treaty obligations created a legacy of legal and political uncertainty that continues today. Through the story of Treaty 8, also known to the Dene as the Treaty of 1900, he highlights the understanding of treaty as a living relationship of peace and friendship grounded in shared benefits and shared responsibilities to the land, rather than ownership or surrender.

Drawing connections to Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), Eli describes how initiatives like Tribal Parks offer a path toward reconciliation by restoring Indigenous governance and relationships. The episode closes by envisioning reconciliation at the watershed level, where people care for the Land through a shared responsibility for the well-being of all life and future generations.

Additional Resources

Alfred, T. (2000). Deconstructing the British Columbia treaty process. https://www.sfu.ca/~palys/Alfred-2000-DeconstructingTheBCTreatyProcess.pdf

Borrows, J. (2010). Canada’s indigenous constitution. University of Toronto Press. https://utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781442610385

Borrows, J., & Coyle, M. (Eds.). (2017). The right relationship: Reimagining the implementation of historical treaties. University of Toronto Press. https://utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781442630215

Canada, Royal Proclamation of 1763. (1763). Reproduced in The Canadian Encyclopedia.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-proclamation-of-1763

Dorward, T., Hockin-Grant, J., Paul, A., Townsend, J. (2022). Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. https://ipcaknowledgebasket.ca/about/stories/tla-o-qui-aht-tribal-parks/

Kajlich, H. (2002). The British Columbia treaty referendum. Indigenous Law Bulletin, 5(17), 11. https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/IndigLawB/2002/33.html

McCrossan, M., & Ladner, K. L. (2016). Eliminating Indigenous jurisdictions: Federalism, the supreme court of Canada, and territorial rationalities of power. Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique, 49(3), 411-431. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309474514_Eliminating_Indigenous_Jurisdictions_Federalism_the_Supreme_Court_of_Canada_and_Territorial_Rationalities_of_Power

Nitah, S., Dunkin, J., Townsend, J., and Paul, A. Thaidene Nëné – Land of the Ancestors. https://ipcaknowledgebasket.ca/about/stories/thaidene-nene-land-of-the-ancestors/

Treaty 8 Tribal Association. (2015). Treaty No. 8: Easy-Read Version [PDF]. https://treaty8.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Treaty-No-8-Easy-Read-Version.pdf

Tzimas, E. R. (2005). Haida Nation and Taku River: A commentary on Aboriginal consultation and reconciliation. The Supreme Court Law Review: Osgoode’s Annual Constitutional Cases Conference, 29 (1), 447-478. https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/sclr/article/1088/&path_info=Haida_Nation_and_Taku_River__A_Commentary_On_Aboriginal_Consultat.pdf

Yellowhead Institute. (2024). The Treaty Map: Indigenous perspectives on treaties in Canada. https://treatymap.yellowheadinstitute.org/

Listen to or watch this episode below:

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Overview

In this third episode of čukʷaa haʔuk, Eli Enns unpacks the history of the concept of sovereignty, from Indigenous Nation boundaries shaped by the land to the modern nation-state system. He explores how the drive for economic certainty has reshaped Canadian government priorities and has often violated Indigenous Rights, especially when industrial development threatens lands and waters.

Eli outlines two ways governments have tried to achieve economic certainty: litigation (through the court system) and political negotiations. He explains how Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) offer a third path to economic certainty that goes beyond courts or adversarial politics.

Through historical documentation, stories, and practical examples, Eli shows how Peace and Friendship Treaties, watershed-level governance, and shared stewardship can create a sustainable future for all communities, the environment, and future generations.

Additional Resources

Ansley, J. (n.d.). The Illusion of Liberty. The University of British Columbia. Retrieved from https://artsone.arts.ubc.ca/student-journal/the-illusion-of-liberty/

Bauder, H., & Mueller, R. (2021). Westphalian vs. Indigenous sovereignty: Challenging colonial territorial governance. Geopolitics, 28(1), 1‑18. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2021.1920577

Canadian Heritage. (2020, June 8). Origin of the name “Canada”. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/origin-name-canada.html

Department of National Defence. (n.d.). In Defence of their Homelands. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/popular-books/aboriginal-people-canadian-military/defence-homelands.html

Dorward, T., Hockin-Grant, J., Paul, A., Townsend, J. (2022). Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. https://ipcaknowledgebasket.ca/about/stories/tla-o-qui-aht-tribal-parks/

Habermas, J. (n.d.). Legitimation crisis. Institute for Advanced Study. https://www.ias.edu/sites/default/files/sss/pdfs/Crisis-and‑Critique-2018-19/habermas_legitimation_crisis.pdf

McNeil, K. (2016). Sovereignty and Indigenous Peoples in North America. UC Davis Journal of International Law & Policy, 22(2), 81‑104. https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/scholarly_works/2642

Saul, J. R. (2008). A Fair Country: Telling truths about Canada. Penguin Canada. https://www.johnralstonsaul.com/non-fiction-books/a-fair-country/

Wilson, J. (1998). Talk and Log: Wilderness Politics in British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: UBC Press. https://www.ubcpress.ca/talk-and-log

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Overview

In this fourth episode of čukʷaa haʔuk, Eli Enns explores the history of Western concepts and laws that have attempted to dismantle Indigenous life, from Terra Nullius to the Indian Act. He explains how Indigenous Nations, including the Métis, First Nations, and French settlers, resisted colonial expansion through the Red River Resistance. In response, the Indian Act (specifically from 1885 to 1951) was used to suppress Indigenous governance and resistance.

Eli connects this history to the present, highlighting how many Canadian laws still fail to uphold Indigenous rights and Section 35 of the Constitution. He emphasizes that Indigenous knowledge and Natural Law offer guidance for just and sustainable governance.

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), he explains, act as a corrective measure, helping Canada align its laws with its own constitution and international standards, including universal human rights, while supporting Indigenous sovereignty and caretaking of the Land.

Additional Resources

Assembly of First Nations. (2018, January). Dismantling the doctrine of discovery. https://www.afn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/18-01-22-Dismantling-the-Doctrine-of-Discovery-EN.pd

Borrows, J. (2015). The durability of terra nullius: Tŝilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia. University of Toronto. https://utoronto.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/b1515fdd-da24-4eab-befa-02e4c62b687a/content

Canadian Geographic. (n.d.) Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada: Red River Resistance. https://indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca/article/red-river-resistance/

The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2019). Royal Proclamation of 1763.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-proclamation-of-1763

Joseph, B. (2015, June 2). 21 Things™ You May Not Have Known About the Indian Act [Blog post]. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/21-things-you-may-not-have-known-about-the-indian-act

Louis Riel Institute Archives. (n.d.). Métis Oral History Project 1985 [Collection]. Archives of Manitoba. https://lriarchives.ca/collection/m%C3%A9tis-oral-history-project-1985

Tŝilhqot’in National Government. (n.d.). Tŝilhqot’in rights & title. https://tsilhqotin.ca/governance/tsilhqotin-rights-title

United Nations. (n.d.). About the responsibility to protect. https://www.un.org/en/genocide-prevention/responsibility-protect/about/

United Nations. (n.d.). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

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Overview

In the fifth episode of čukʷaa haʔuk, Eli Enns talks about what “constitution” means from both a Western and a Nuu-chah-nulth point of view. He shares how Tla-o-qui-aht Historian and Master Carver Joe Tutakwisnapšiƛ Martin teaches that totem poles are more than art – they are a legal system and a social contract, showing people how to live in right relationship with each other and the Land.

Eli explains how Canada’s constitution came to be and how it contrasts with Nuu-chah-nulth systems of law, which are open, visual, and shared through stories and carvings rather than written in complex legal language. He describes how Nuu-chah-nulth teachings, like ha’hopa (learning through stories) and iisaak (to observe, appreciate, and act accordingly), connect people to natural law and cycles of renewal and transformation.

The episode ends with reflections on the strength and survival of these teachings, which continue to live on through story, memory, and ceremony.

Additional Resources

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. (n.d.). The evolution of the Canadian constitution. https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn/discover-your-legislature/constitutional-framework-governance/evolution-of-the-canadian-constitution

Life Worlds. (2022, July 12). The Indigenous View: With Joe Martin (Tutakwisnapšiƛ). [Audio]. https://www.lifeworld.earth/episodes-blog/indigenousviewjoemartin

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations. (n.d.). Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation [Website]. https://www.tla-o-qui-aht.org/

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Overview

Episode six of čukʷaa haʔuk explores how Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are much more than land-use designations — they are expressions of Indigenous laws, governance, and responsibilities. Eli Enns explains that Indigenous Nations across the country hold their own sovereign legal traditions, rooted in Natural Law and passed down since time immemorial. When Nations create an IPCA, they are drawing on these deep legal foundations and exercising what he calls a “Grandmother’s authority”— the responsibility to protect future generations “with a firm but loving hand”.

Eli also speaks to the realities many Indigenous Nations face when stepping into self-determination after generations of harm. This is why ceremony, healing, and cultural restoration are essential parts of this work. He explains that, “IPCAs are an expression of a Grandmother’s authority within a family.” But this work can be daunting for Indigenous leaders, Guardians, and other community members who are navigating and healing from the ongoing impacts of colonialism while also creating a safe, thriving future for future generations.

At its heart, this episode is about reclaiming identity, rebuilding confidence, and carrying forward teachings to shape a hopeful future.

Additional Resources

Dorward, T., Hockin-Grant, J., Paul, A., Townsend, J. (2022). Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. https://ipcaknowledgebasket.ca/about/stories/tla-o-qui-aht-tribal-parks/

IISAAK OLAM Foundation. (2024). Meares40: 40 Years of Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fn99nqWZTQ

Tin Wis Resort. (2021). Rough seas calming: Tin Wis, past, present, and future. https://tinwis.ca/rough-seas-calming-tin-wis-past-present-and-future/

Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. (n.d.). Our story. https://www.tribalparks.com/our-story/

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