The Land Back movement is more than a political demand—it is a climate imperative rooted in local and regional ancestral knowledge, relationship, and responsibility. Across Turtle Island, returning land to Indigenous stewardship has shown tangible ecological benefits, helping restore biodiversity, increase climate resilience, and revitalize sacred relationships between peoples and place. Land Back is not solely a political movement—it is fundamentally about and the inherent right to care for the land through Indigenous laws, governance systems, and lifeways rooted in sustainability, reciprocity, and long-term balance.
Why Land Back is a Climate Solution
For generations, Indigenous Nations have safeguarded the natural world by managing ecosystems in accordance with natural law, ensuring the continuity and balance of all life. Today, a growing body of research confirms what many Indigenous Peoples have always known: lands under Indigenous stewardship often outperform state-managed lands in terms of biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and resilience to climate stressors.
A landmark report by the United Nations highlights that Indigenous-managed lands hold as much or more biodiversity than formally protected areas (UNEP-WCMC, 2021). This is not coincidental. Indigenous stewardship is built upon place-based knowledge systems emphasizing interdependence, seasonal cycles, and respect for non-human relatives.
Real-World Examples of Land Back as Ecological Restoration
Across Canada, Indigenous Nations are leading land reclamation and stewardship efforts that serve as powerful models for climate action:
- Syilx Okanagan Nation (British Columbia): Through salmon reintroduction projects in the Columbia River system, the Syilx people have revived an essential species with deep cultural and ecological significance. These efforts are rebuilding food sovereignty, restoring riparian ecosystems, and improving watershed health. The Syilx Nation’s work with the Okanagan Nation Alliance demonstrates how climate action and cultural resurgence go hand-in-hand (Syilx.org).
- Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation (Ontario): The Alderville Black Oak Savannah is one of the best-preserved examples of native grassland ecosystems in Ontario. Using cultural burning and traditional land management techniques, the community has restored a once-fragmented landscape, supporting pollinators, rare plants, and diverse wildlife. These actions have increased carbon storage, soil health, and ecosystem connectivity (Alderville.ca).
- Haida Gwaii (British Columbia): The Haida Nation’s co-governance model with the Government of Canada in the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site demonstrates what respectful partnership and Indigenous leadership can achieve. Through this model, logging was halted, marine protection zones were expanded, and Haida ecological knowledge was embedded in park management strategies.
These are not isolated success stories—they are evidence of what becomes possible when Indigenous Peoples are given the authority and support to govern their territories.
What Land Back Looks Like in Practice
Land Back can take many forms: co-governance agreements, the return of Crown or park lands, support for Indigenous land trusts, and legal recognition of Indigenous land title. In all these models, ecological outcomes improve when Indigenous values and protocols shape land management.
For example:
- Controlled burns restore grassland health.
- Seasonal harvesting prevents overuse.
- Watershed monitoring improves water quality.
- Language and ceremony are woven into stewardship practices that care not just for the land but also for the relational responsibilities associated with it.
These approaches move beyond conservation as enclosure and towards regenerative guardianship.
Recommendations for Readers
- Learn More: Explore the research and advocacy work of Indigenous-led organizations like the Yellowhead Institute.
- Support Indigenous Stewardship: Donate to or volunteer with Indigenous land trusts, guardianship programs, or Nations actively engaged in ecological restoration.
- Advocate for Policy Change: Push for co-governance agreements, the return of protected parklands, and meaningful inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in environmental decision-making.
- Listen and Follow: Center Indigenous leadership, particularly local nations whose territories you reside in. Support their calls to action and respect their governance systems.
Reference Points and Additional Reading
- Yellowhead Institute, Land Back Red Paper: https://yellowheadinstitute.org
- Syilx Okanagan Nation Salmon Restoration: https://www.syilx.org
- Alderville Black Oak Savannah: https://alderville.ca/our-offices-services/alderville-black-oak-savanna/
- UNEP-WCMC, Territories of Life Report, 2021
Blog by Rye Karonhiowanen Barberstock
(Image Credit: Michael Hamments, Unsplash)
