News
Another 1st for the Walpole Island First Nation!!!!
We are pleased to announce that the Walpole Island Land Trust has received registered charitable status!
In fact, the Walpole Island Land Trust is the first – First Nations land trust registered in Canada.
The Needs and Challenges
The quality of life of our children and future generations is dependent upon a healthy environment. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we leave our lands and waters better and healthier for the generations to come.
Unfortunately, our environment and landscape are under pressure from numerous threats and impacts. Declining habitats, urban development, invasive species, pollution, and the lack of connectedness to the Land threatens our people’s future & culture.
To put it simply, the Walpole Island Land Trust was born out of the desire to make sure that our legacy to the future is something that we and they can be proud of. We want the children of the future to be able to say “Wow! They were really thinking of us!” Not “What were they thinking?!”
The initial work to establish the Land Trust began in 2005. Don Gordon, of the Thames Talbot Land Trust, was instrumental in helping us develop the Land Trust and applying for incorporation and charitable status. We received financial support from Environment Canada’s Aboriginal Capacity Building Fund and more recently from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The Walpole Island Land Trust received official notice of charitable registration at the end of August 2008. Our current board of directors include: Clint Jacobs, Louis Johnson, Summer Sands, Toni Nahdee, and Steve Tooshkenig. Aimee Johnson is also assisting in getting the Land Trust on its feet.
The Walpole Island Land Trust would like to acknowledge Environment Canada - Ontario Region, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and the Walpole Island Heritage Centre for their support in helping us to get started in our first year of operation. We also would like to thank Don Gordon for helping us through the processes of incorporation, receiving charitable status, and being so generous with his advice and expertise. WIth their support, we habe been able to develop this website, a brochure, acquire new membership, carry out board development and fundraising training, produce 2 stewardship fact sheets, and carry out landowner visits. We have also developed our strategic direction and are in the process of developing our strategic plan. Our strategic direction will be posted on this site soon!!
