How Indigenous Guardians Protect the Planet and Humanity | Valérie Courtois | TED

Summary

Valérie Courtois, an Ilnu leader from Mashteuiatsh, emphasizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge and guardianship in preserving biodiversity and healing the planet. Drawing on her experiences and the wisdom of Indigenous elders, she highlights the critical role of Indigenous guardians in protecting the environment, monitoring wildlife, and restoring ecosystems. She shares stories of hope and healing, stressing that by respecting Indigenous-led approaches to land stewardship, we can address climate change and ecological crises, ultimately securing a better future for all humanity and the Earth.

Takeaways

• 👋 Valérie Courtois, from the Ilnu community in Mashteuiatsh, emphasizes the importance of protecting the land for the survival of both the planet and humanity.
• 🌎 The planet is in ecological turmoil due to human-caused changes, threatening millions of species and causing societal struggles.
• ❄️ Nitassinan, Courtois' homeland, is experiencing dramatic environmental changes, such as the sharp decline in the George River caribou herd, reflecting the impacts of climate change.
• 🌿 Indigenous knowledge holds a vital solution: if people care for the land, the land will take care of them in return.
• 🛡️ Indigenous Guardians are trained experts who protect the land, monitor ecosystems, and help restore species. Their work combines Indigenous and Western sciences.
• 🌱 The land has healing powers, both for nature and people, especially those dealing with trauma from colonization and residential schools.
• 💡 Indigenous-led conservation programs can offer significant social, economic, and environmental benefits, with a strong return on investment for every dollar spent.
• 🌲 Indigenous-led conservation efforts are protecting some of the largest remaining forests and biodiversity, including huge carbon storehouses in Canada's boreal forest.
• 🏞️ Indigenous peoples are creating massive protected areas, including one in Manitoba that is nearly five times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
• 🤝 Everyone has a role in supporting Indigenous-led environmental stewardship, which is crucial for healing the planet and ensuring a sustainable future for all.

Q & A

Who is the speaker, and where is she from?

The speaker is Valérie Courtois, and she is from the Ilnu community of Mashteuiatsh, located in Pekuakami or Lac Saint-Jean, in Québec, Canada.

What important leadership lesson did Valérie Courtois share, and who taught it to her?

Valérie shared a leadership lesson from the Honorable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, who said that 'A mark of a good leader is if they leave a room filled with more hope than when they first arrived.'

What is the central message Valérie Courtois wants to convey in her speech?

The central message is the importance of caring for the land as a mutual relationship: 'If we take care of the land, the land takes care of us.' She emphasizes this as a guiding principle for ecological healing and Indigenous leadership in environmental conservation.

What major environmental changes have occurred in Valérie's homeland of Nitassinan?

Nitassinan, part of the boreal forest, is experiencing extreme changes in ice conditions and key species, such as a drastic decline in the George River caribou herd from hundreds of thousands to only 8,000.

What gives Valérie Courtois hope despite the environmental challenges her homeland faces?

Valérie finds hope in Indigenous knowledge and the fundamental understanding that caring for the land ensures that it cares for us in return. She highlights that Indigenous-managed lands harbor 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity.

What role do Indigenous Guardians play in environmental conservation?

Indigenous Guardians are trained experts who monitor water quality, restore species, and protect Indigenous-protected and conserved areas. Their work is rooted in both Indigenous and Western sciences, and they help sustain vibrant ecosystems and protect large carbon storehouses.

How have Guardian programs positively impacted Indigenous communities?

Guardian programs have been shown to improve physical and mental health, reduce incarceration rates, and increase pride in cultural knowledge. These programs offer economic, social, and environmental benefits, with studies showing a return on investment of up to four dollars for every dollar spent.

Can you provide an example of how becoming a guardian changed someone's life?

Jarett Quock, from the Tahltan First Nation, struggled with racism and addictions while working as a heavy-equipment operator. Becoming a guardian helped him overcome these challenges, reconnect with his land, and regain pride in his First Nations identity.

What significant environmental areas are Indigenous peoples in Canada helping to protect?

Indigenous communities are working to protect vast areas, such as a region the size of Costa Rica in the Northwest Territories, a protected area the size of Switzerland in northern British Columbia, and the Seal River Watershed in northern Manitoba, which will be five times the size of Yellowstone National Park.

What is the connection between the boreal forest and global carbon storage?

The boreal forest, where Valérie's homeland is located, holds twice as much carbon per hectare as tropical forests. The cold climate allows organic matter to decompose slowly, making it one of the largest carbon storehouses on the planet.