GATINEAU, QC – Minister Guilbeault’s statement on the eve of COP15 in Montréal, “Indigenous peoples have been stewards and caretakers of the land, water, and ice, and leaders in ecosystem conservation, since time immemorial. We can learn from them how to live in harmony with nature. As the world gathers this week in Montréal for the largest United Nations Biodiversity Conference in a generation, Canada is highlighting the crucial role of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners in conserving and protecting nature and monitoring climate change. Indigenous peoples have unique perspectives, knowledge, rights, and responsibilities to teach, inspire, and help improve the natural balance. They have long been leaders in environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and management of the land we all share. Research from the United Nations suggests Indigenous lands make up only around 20 percent of the Earth’s territory, but contain as much as 80 percent of the world’s remaining biodiversity.”