On April 22nd we committed to donating $50,000 to help conserve Canada's natural spaces and wildlife. We want to make a difference in biodiversity protection, not just today, but for years to come. We are proud to support
the Pakatakan Project through our partnership with
SNAP Québec, Quebec Chapter of the
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
What is the Pakatakan Project?
Pakatakan means “portage” in the Innu language. On the ancestral lands of the Innu communities of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam and Matimekosh-Lac-John, the
UAPASHKUSS group identified a series of eight natural sacred sites, linked together by hundreds of kilometers of portage paths. Members of the group define themselves as Guardians of Innu sacred sites and advocate for their recognition as Indigenous protected areas.
The impact of our involvement in the Pakatakan Project in 2021
Our contributions will help fund the following initiatives:
• Hiring 2 young people to help with internal and external communications related to the project and with the classification of maps and documents on sacred sites
• Mapping sites of interest (sacred sites)
• Funding advocacy work through a variety of actions (meetings, reports, presentations to decision makers, etc.)
On a larger scale, the project contributes to the:
• Protection of unique places essential to the cultural legacy of the Innus of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam and Matimekosh-Lac-John
• Protection of the habitat of 9 at-risk species over an area of 8,000 km2, including several species sacred to the Innu, such as the woodland caribou and the Labrador tea
• Establishment of Indigenous protected areas for the benefit of local Innu communities
• Safeguarding of the world’s cultural and biodiversity heritage as well as the rights and responsibilities of indigenous peoples towards these places
We are happy to be able to contribute to the work of this dedicated group who have such a special connection with their land and who are acting as its guardians to ensure its stewardship for generations to come.
For more, please visit SNAP Quebec's official website by
clicking here.
