Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources

Background of the organization

The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) is a national Indigenous-directed, non-profit charitable organization with more than 30 years of experience supporting Indigenous communities across Canada to build local expertise and strengthen their capacity to independently protect their lands, waters, and livelihoods.

Project description

CIER recognizes the importance of equipping Indigenous communities with the knowledge, tools, and collaborative approaches needed to advance economic opportunities in ways that align with their environmental priorities, values, and long-term goals. Funding will support CIER in expanding its existing Collaborative Leadership Method to advance environmental-economic development. Initial activities will strengthen organizational capacity through staff training on Indigenous economics and the development of an Environmental-Economic Reconciliation Strategy. CIER will also develop an online introductory Ecoversity course for Indigenous peoples, alongside supporting a regional environmental-economic development pilot in the NWT. Lessons learned from the pilot will inform and strengthen continued development and scaling of future in-person training offerings. Together, these activities will build lasting capacity, strengthen cross-jurisdictional partnerships, and support a shift toward collaborative governance that aligns environmental stewardship with economic prosperity.