Presentation short abstract

This paper examines how reconciliation and resurgence, two decolonial frameworks, intersect with Indigenous-led conservation in Canada. Through theoretical engagement and grounded analysis, we argue that transforming conservation is possible when responsibilities accompany rights.

Presentation long abstract

This paper examines the shifting landscape of conservation in Canada, where colonial models—long characterized by the exclusion and dispossession of Indigenous Peoples—are being challenged by the rise of Indigenous-led conservation. This paper considers how these developments intersect with two divergent but interconnected frameworks for decolonial change: reconciliation and resurgence.

Reconciliation is taken up by some Indigenous Peoples as a relational approach to bring about positive change in the Indigenous-state and/or Indigenous-settler relationship, with the goal of advancing Indigenous self-determination. However, reconciliation can become a form of political recognition in which the state confers certain rights and opportunities to Indigenous Peoples within the broader Canadian project, thereby limiting the possibilities for alternative conservation futures. Proponents of resurgence tend to pursue transformative change through a turn away from the harmful relations of domination that animate settler colonial society, instead focusing on strengthening Indigenous governance, legal systems, economies, and languages.

Through theoretical engagement and grounded analysis—particularly the case of Thaidëne Nene, a protected area led by Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation—the paper explores how Indigenous Peoples navigate these frameworks. Considering the risks and opportunities of both orientations to change, this paper offers theoretical and practical guidance for conservationists seeking to support Indigenous self-determination while resisting the reproduction of colonial relations in environmental work. Ultimately, we argue that rights must be accompanied by individual and collective responsibilities to care for one another and the Land.