Biological Diversity Ecosystem Condition and Productivity Soil and Water Role in Global Ecological Cycles Economic and Social Benefits Society's Responsibility
Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Aboriginal Traditional Land Use and Forest-based Ecological Knowledge Forest Community Well-being and Resilience Fair and Effective Decision Making Informed Decision Making
Indicator 6.2.1 Area of crown forest land with traditional land use studies
Indicator 6.2.1 - Area of crown forest land with traditional land use studies
core indicator


For more than a generation, Aboriginal communities have used the knowledge of the Elders to map the location of areas of significant cultural or traditional importance, both on their reserves as well as traditional territories, much of which is on provincial or territorial crown lands. Aboriginal communities carry out land use studies for several reasons. Firstly, they increase a community's pride in its cultural history and its awareness of its past and current connection to the territory. Recorded and mapped information provides valuable insight into a community's orientations in the administration and management of its territory. Secondly, many studies are undertaken for reasons related to land claims or to ensure that industrial users respect and acknowledge traditional values in forest management planning on territorial land. In recent years, the western scientific community has begun to recognize traditional knowledge for its value to contemporary environmental management.

There have been many traditional land use studies conducted throughout Canada over the years. However, their total number is unknown as there has been no concerted effort to catalogue them. In some instances, Aboriginal peoples did not want their studies and the information they contain to be in the public domain.

Provincial and territorial forest management agencies provided the information used to report on this indicator, but data relating to the area of crown forest lands with traditional land use studies is sparse (Table 6.2a). Several provinces have a good understanding of the number of studies undertaken on crown lands, but only Quebec was able to provide some information, although minimal, on the area of forest land encompassing traditional land use studies. The identification of the number of traditional land use studies completed or now underway obviously represents only those that government agencies are aware of. Any other studies that may be taking place on crown lands, but without the direct involvement or funding from provincial or territorial agencies, will remain unreported.

The lack of information on this indicator suggests a need for the provinces and territories to work toward establishing a set of key information requirements that can be measured to answer the question the indicator poses.

Table 6.2a Traditional land use studies on crown land.
Jurisdiction Description of studies planned, underway, or completed
Newfoundland and Labrador Not available.
Prince Edward Island Not available.
Nova Scotia Not available.
New Brunswick Not available.
Quebec There are two major undertakings in Quebec. These involve the Crees of Quebec (6 617 700 ha covered by the Agreement Concerning a New Relationship between the Government of Quebec and the Crees of Quebec) and the Algonquins of Lac Barrière (1076 415 ha under the Barrier Lake Trilateral Agreement). They map traditional uses and various sites of interest to integrate them into forest management planning. Moreover, the Micmac communities of Listuguj and Gesgapegiag have developed integrated resource management plan projects to inventory and integrate sites of Aboriginal interest into a forest management plan. The area of forest land involved in these studies is 11225 ha and 47500 ha, respectively.
Ontario The Ministry of Natural Resources is carrying out some work, but complete details are not yet available. The Pikangikum First Nation in northwestern Ontario is now conducting one major traditional land use study. The plan will contain a combination of traditional knowledge and GIS technology to map natural features as well as traditional values and uses.
Manitoba As part of the province's ecosystems-based management pilot project on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, the province provided financial support to three First Nations' communities to complete traditional land use studies (2001-02 to 2003-04). During the same period, and in the same region, the Manitoba Model Forest supported similar studies by three other First Nations.
Saskatchewan Not available.
Alberta The province has allocated $2.25 million over three years to help fund studies. There are now 27 studies underway and 3 completed studies. The area of crown forest land covered by these studies will not be known until all studies are completed.
British Columbia The province funded a Traditional Use Study program covering the period 1994 to 2001. As of March 2002, there were 59 traditional use projects that documented traditional ecological knowledge and cultural use of land and resources.
Yukon Territory First Nations have carried out traditional land use studies primarily in support of land claim negotiations and have considered the entire land base of the Yukon. The federal and territorial governments have completed many other studies. Ongoing studies/consultation continue as part of the land use planning process. There is no information on the number of studies undertaken and completed.
Northwest Territories Various First Nations' communities and other agencies, organizations, and researchers have conducted studies, but the number of studies is not available.