Research summary
Indigenous Peoples have a long and beneficial relationship with the land. In their care, lands are more biodiverse and the water and air are cleaner. But despite this dedication, current land use practices across Canada have resulted in biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. This has led to a growing need to develop sustainable land use practices that enhance biodiversity and the environment’s resiliency to stress, including tools for efficient ecosystem monitoring.
As Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples, Governance, and Environmental Relations, Dr. Warren Cardinal-McTeague is examining how traditional land use practices, such as traditional gardening, harvesting and cultural burns, benefit the environment. He and his research team are also working with Indigenous communities to develop new methods for monitoring ecosystem health. Their aim is to build the evidence needed to support the return of sustainable Indigenous land use practices throughout Canadian society.