EnPAx Icon Peace with the Land: Reconciliation, Environmental Peacebuilding, and Indigenous Environmental Stewardship in Canada (Turtle Island) (A Path to Ottawa Event)

Feb 11, 2026 | University of Ottawa and Environmental Peacebuilding Association
Ottawa, Canada
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The objective of the event is to facilitate an interdisciplinary dialogue around Indigenous environmental stewardship, reconciliation, and environmental peacebuilding in the settler-colonial context (Turtle Island (Canada)), thus generating insights relevant to the Environmental Peacebuilding Association (EnPAx) Conference 2026 discussions taking place in June 2026, fostering deeper engagement with conversations around Indigenous leadership, political, institutional, and legal perspectives.

This panel brings together Indigenous, political, institutional, and legal leaders, scholars, and practitioners for an interdisciplinary dialogue on environmental peacebuilding understood as a collaborative natural resource management within the settler-colonial context of Turtle Island (Canada). Through short presentations and a facilitated discussion, the session will explore the following questions:

    • What political, legal, or institutional mechanisms exist to support and foster collaboration around land, water, and environmental stewardship?
    • How can these mechanisms be improved, if at all?
    • From your perspective, what responsibilities come with making decisions about land, water, and the environment?
    • Whose voices and responsibilities tend to shape those decisions, and whose are less visible?

The panel includes Justin Roy, Councillor and Director of Economic Development from Kebaowek First Nation; Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, and the Member of Parliament representing the southern Vancouver Island riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands on the territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation; Claudette Commanda, Algonquin Anishinabe from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and appointed Chancellor of the University of Ottawa; and Mora Johnson, a lawyer, consultant, and a leading expert in responsible business practices with rich and diverse experience in government, private and non-profit sectors. The discussion will foster meaningful exchange between Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants, centering Indigenous perspectives while creating space for respectful dialogue and learning. This event contributes to the Path to Ottawa series, leading to the 4th International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding, by foregrounding Indigenous voices and generating insights relevant to discussions on environmental governance and management, reconciliation, and peace with nature. Participants will have an opportunity to learn and engage in conversations on how Indigenous land stewardship and governance can inform more relational, just, and context-specific approaches to environmental peacebuilding in Canada and beyond.

The event will take place in English, with French interpretation provided during the discussion.

This event will take place at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Social Sciences, FSS 6032 (6th floor) on February 11, 2026, from 11am to 12:30 pm EST. We hope you'll be able to join us! To register please visit this link.