From February 2nd to 6th, leaders, knowledge holders, youth, and partners from across the country gathered in Sudbury, Ontario for the fourth annual Indigenous Land Symposium (ILS), hosted by Wahkohtowin Development. This year’s gathering centred on Resurgence, Restoration, and Relations - themes that guided powerful conversations about Indigenous rights, stewardship responsibilities, and the deep relationships that connect people to the land.
FSC Canada was honoured to participate once again and to support a space grounded in Indigenous leadership, community priorities, and shared learning.
Strengthening relationships and shared stewardship
Across the week, participants emphasized the importance of relationship-building as the foundation for responsible forest stewardship. Many discussions highlighted the strength of combining Indigenous knowledge systems with western science - an approach often described as two-eyed seeing - to advance healthier forests and stronger communities.
Key themes raised throughout the symposium included:
- The need for proactive involvement of Indigenous Peoples in forest planning
- Ongoing concerns about cumulative effects and herbicide use
- Capacity challenges that limit community participation in planning processes
- The importance of advancing conservation in Ontario while maintaining the integrity of managed forests
- The role of Indigenous Cultural Landscapes in recognizing rights and relationships to land
- Community-led climate action and the value of Indigenous knowledge in adaptation planning
These conversations reinforce the work underway across the FSC system to uphold Indigenous rights, strengthen shared decision-making, and support stewardship approaches that reflect local values and priorities.
Welcoming FSC Australia and New Zealand for an Indigenous exchange
This year’s symposium also provided a meaningful opportunity for cross-regional learning. FSC Canada welcomed representatives from FSC Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) including the ANZ Indigenous Working Group, who travelled to Ontario for an Indigenous exchange focused on shared stewardship, rights recognition, and community-driven forest solutions.
The visit brought together FSC ANZ leadership and Indigenous representatives from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, creating space for dialogue with Indigenous leaders in Canada. The exchange highlighted:
- Common experiences across regions in asserting rights and responsibilities to land
- The importance of relationship building in achieving Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
- Opportunities to learn from each other’s approaches to Indigenous led stewardship and conservation
- The global relevance of Indigenous knowledge systems in addressing climate and biodiversity challenges
Their participation in the symposium’s “Beyond the Boreal: Stewarding Global Indigenous Territories” panel underscored the deep connections among Indigenous Peoples worldwide and the shared commitment to protecting lands, waters, and cultural relationships for future generations.
FSC’s contributions to the dialogue
Throughout the symposium, FSC contributed to multiple sessions focused on forest management, conservation opportunities, and stewardship-based economies. These discussions explored how FSC certification, the National Forest Stewardship Standard, and emerging tools such as Verified Impacts can help support Indigenous-led conservation, strengthen rights recognition, and create pathways for communities to shape forest outcomes.
FSC also joined global partners in a panel on Indigenous territories beyond the boreal, where speakers shared common experiences around land connection, customary rights, and the importance of relationship-building in achieving Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Looking ahead
The symposium also surfaced promising opportunities for collaboration, including growing interest in nature-based solutions, conservation finance, and partnerships that blend Indigenous leadership with credible measurement and verification frameworks. These conversations align strongly with FSC’s commitment to advancing climate resilient, rights respecting forest stewardship across Canada.
Read about the 2025 Indigenous Land Symposium here.