Audrey Popa

Topic

Whose Values on Whose Lands? An Exploration of Perspectives on Indigenous Conservation Financing

School of Environmental Studies

Date & location

• Tuesday, May 14, 2024

• 2:30 P.M.

• Virtual Defence

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Ana Maria Peredo, School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria (Supervisor)

• Dr. James Rowe, School of Environmental Studies, UVic (Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Francois Bastien, Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Ammie Kalan, Department of Anthropology, UVic

   

Abstract

While Indigenous knowledge is increasingly recognized as crucial in addressing the global environmental crisis, the application of Indigenous knowledge(s) in environmental management realms remains underfunded globally, posing significant challenges to the effective stewardship of lands and waters (Waldron et al., 2020; Williams-Davidson & Sarra, 2021; Arjaliès & Gibassier, 2022; Owen et al., 2022). Conservation finance, defined as mechanisms that generate, manage, and deploy financial resources for environmental conservation, has recently emerged as an alternative to traditional grant funding for conservation activities (Meyers et al., 2020). However, little research has documented conservation finance in practice, specifically, the emerging mechanisms which support Indigenous stewardship and conservation in Canada, and their impacts. This research asks: 1) What is the current landscape of Indigenous conservation finance in Canada? And 2) What are the key perceptions of peoples involved in these conservation finance initiatives? A Postcolonial Critical Realism methodological approach, a theoretical literature review, a landscape analysis, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to answer both these research questions. The landscape overview found that Indigenous conservation finance in Canada is diverse in mechanism type, size, and location and is evolving as Indigenous Peoples imbed local values in mechanisms and financing processes. Perspectives on these mechanisms varied; nonetheless, two key characteristics of the sector emerged: firstly, its association with extractive industries, and secondly, the role of conservation finance mechanisms in either reinforcing colonial values or resisting them. How values were enmeshed in these mechanisms greatly impacted the outcomes of initiatives, and power was demonstrated in ways in which communities could influence what was financed and how it was financed. This research contributes to the field of scholarship on conservation finance, mainly as it explores how financial mechanisms can support or subvert Indigenous values through their design.