Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Nation and the Wapekeka First Nation in their Conservation Vision

November 27, 2025

KI and Wapekeka Nations Declare Homelands Permanently Protected
Invite Diplomatic Talks with Province

Toronto, ON – Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Nation (KI) and Wapekeka First Nation have declared 3 million hectares of their Homeland permanently protected in northwestern Ontario. KI Chief Donny Morris and Wapekeka First Nation Deputy Chief Allan Brown travelled 2,000 km to Toronto to invite Ontario to join them in this important initiative that dates back 20 years.

Called Anishininew Aki, in their own language, Anishininiimowin, these lands include the KI land withdrawal area and the Fawn River Indigenous Protected Area totalling 3 million hectares of largely intact boreal forest and wetlands, clean lakes and healthy rivers: an area 48 times larger than the city of Toronto.

“This has been a long-standing issue for the community and community leadership. When we say diplomatic, we’re serious about an honest dialogue with Ontario to move this forward toward permanent protection of the 3 million hectares,” KI Chief Donny Morris. “We need to leave some green behind. We don’t know what the future will look like,” Morris added.

“Our Elders have been telling us that water is essential for life. This is for us: to protect our water,” says Deputy Chief Allan Brown of Wapekeka First Nation. “Canada and Ontario signed the Treaty with us and it’s intended to be ongoing in implementation. It doesn’t expire. Right now, Ontario appears more interested in mining and development,” Deputy Chief Brown says.

Located approximately 600 km northwest of Thunder Bay, Anishininew Aki, covers 3 million hectares, of which 77% is already withdrawn from mining. “This area is important for the planet and our communities, is playing a role in helping to fight climate change by safeguarding a watershed that provides clean drinking water for all life, habitat for the fish, water life and animals, food and travel ways for our people, moisture for the air and rich carbon peatlands our people refer to as the breathing lands,” Chief Morris added.

“Premier Ford signs a lot of deals on development. It’s time for the government to recognize the protection side of things, they have an obligation to work with First Nations on land protections,” says KI Deputy Chief Cecilia Begg. “It is crucial, we start taking these steps earnestly and that mining companies respect our process,” Deputy Chief Begg added.

MPP Sol Mamakwa, who represents the riding of Kiiwetinoong at Queen’s Park, commends KI and Wapekeka for taking this step and echoes their calls to Ontario. “In declaring their homelands permanently protected, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and Wapekeka First Nation are asserting their Inherent Rights, Title and sovereignty to safeguard the ways of life, the land, and the well-being of all. I call on the Premier and his Government to engage in diplomatic talks with these nations and substantively support their conservation efforts.”

“We’ve been honoured to support KI and now Wapekeka for 20 years. These lands are a powerful natural solution to climate holding more than 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon in their soils. The world owes these leaders an immense debt of gratitude,” says Jan Sumner, Executive Director for Wildlands League. “This is how we make progress on achieving the ambitious goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030”, Sumner says.

“We are proud to support KI and Wapekeka in their work to protect their Homelands and the wildlife that depend on them. Conservation must respect and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples to safeguard their lands, worldviews and Knowledge Systems,” says Dr. Constance O’Connor, Director Ontario Northern Boreal Program, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada.

“The lands, waters and wildlife of Anishininew Aki represent one of the world’s rare intact areas of boreal forest, peatlands that are combatting climate change, and free-flowing rivers. These ecosystems are essential for species at risk such as boreal and migratory caribou and lake sturgeon, which require large untrammeled areas for migration, breeding, and feeding and are highly sensitive to human disturbance. Anishininew Aki and the surrounding area remain a refuge for many northern species at a time when development pressures continue to increase across northern regions,” O’Connor added.

“Anishininew Aaki supports millions of nesting birds that migrate south to the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The National Audubon Society supports the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Nation and the Wapekeka First Nation in their conservation vision for their Homelands. The conservation of these rich ecological lands that are globally important for birds will be an amazing gift to the world,” says Dr. Jeffrey Wells, Vice-president, Canada Program, National Audubon Society.

“Waterfowl like Canada Geese and Mallards breed here and migrate to winter in wetlands in the U.S. Songbirds like Northern Waterthrush nest in the carbon-rich wetlands of the territory and fly south to winter in the carbon-rich mangrove forests of the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America. Shorebirds like the Lesser Yellowlegs nest in peatlands of the region and make epic longdistance journeys to spend the non-breeding season as far south as Chile and Argentina,” Wells added.

Both Chiefs expressed their gratitude to all the allies and friends who have supported them over the years. They look forward to finally achieving their goals.
 

For more information please contact:
Lands and Environment Director Jacob Ostaman, KI, 807-632-1887
Deputy Chief Allan Brown, Wapekeka First Nation, 807-738-3485
Conservation Director Anna Baggio, Wildlands League, 416-453-3285
Director of Communications, Ashleigh Talbot, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, 778-400-7090