Saskatchewan offers five main types of protected area designation: provincial parks, park reserves, protected areas, historic sites, and ecological reserves.
The first chart in this section evaluates four of these five designations based on the Indigenous Circle of Experts’ (ICE) characteristics of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and identifies some overall advantages and disadvantages for IPCA creation. In Saskatchewan, there is no explicit legislative authority for the Minister to enter into co-management agreements with Indigenous governments and communities.
This section then delves into each of the five protected area designations. The charts in this section present information on what activities are permitted and prohibited in each area, as well as the process for creating them. Additional designations, such as heritage properties, are also briefly described.
| Provincial Park | Protected Area | Historic Site | Ecological Reserve | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislation | Parks Act | Parks Act | Parks Act | Ecological Reserves Act |
| IPCA Characteristic #1: Indigenous-led | No | No | No | No |
| IPCA Characteristic #2: Long-term commitment to conservation | Included in legislation – requires legislative amendment to remove protections | Included in legislation – requires legislative amendment to remove protections | Established by regulation – less permanent than in an Act | Established by regulation – less permanent than in an Act |
| IPCA Characteristic #3: Elevate Indigenous rights and responsibilities | No explicit powers for joint management or decision-making | No explicit powers for joint management or decision-making | No explicit powers for joint management or decision-making | No explicit powers for joint management or decision-making |
| Advantages | Strong protections |
| Provincial Park | Park Reserve | Protected Area | Historic Site | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislation | Parks Act | Parks Act | Parks Act | Parks Act |
| Responsible Government Department | Parks, Culture and Sport | Parks, Culture and Sport | Parks, Culture and Sport | Parks, Culture and Sport |
| Overall Goals and Values | Protect the environment for enjoyment and education of present and future generations (s. 3) | Temporarily protect lands that can be included in future parks or protected area (s. 9) | Protect natural, prehistoric, or historic resources of interest or significance (s. 5) | Protect significant prehistoric or historic resources (s. 7) |
| Establishment | Act (s. 4) | Regulation (s. 9) | Act (s. 4) | Regulation (s. 9) |
| Strength of Protection (Based on IUCN Protected Area Categories) | II National Park | Temporary | V Protected Landscape | III Natural Monument or Feature |
The Parks Act works to protect lands and natural and historic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
Cabinet can create a Provincial Park by including it in the Parks Act. Parks can be classified as one of the following types:
The Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport (“the Minister”) is responsible for managing Provincial Parks
Cabinet can create a Protected Area by including it in the Parks Act. These areas are protected to ensure the preservation of natural and historic resources. The Minister is responsible for managing Protected Areas.
By regulation, Cabinet can create a Recreation Site to provide public recreational opportunities. The Minister is responsible for managing Recreation Sites.
Historic Site
By regulation, Cabinet can create a Historic Site to protect historic resources. The Minister is responsible for managing Historic Sites.
By regulation, Cabinet can create a Park Reserve to temporarily protect lands while determining whether they should be transformed into a Provincial Park or Protected Area. A regulation creating a Park Reserve expires after five years. Park Reserves are managed as public lands but cannot be sold, transferred, or altered.
| Ecological Reserve | |
|---|---|
| Legislation | Provincial Lands Act, 2016 and The Representative Area Ecological Reserve Regulations (established under the repealed Ecological Reserves Act) |
| Responsible Government Department | Environment |
| Overall Goals and Values | Protect representative ecosystems and provide opportunities for scientific research and ecological monitoring |
| Establishment | Regulation |
| Strength of Protection (Based on IUCN Protected Area Categories) | Ia Strict Nature Reserve |
| Decision-Making Authority | Minister responsible for management |
| Hunting | Permitted |
| Fishing | Permitted |
| Trapping | Permitted |
| Development | Site-specific |
| Natural Resource Extraction | Site-specific |
| Access | Site-specific |
| Activities Allowed | Low-impact recreational activities, including hiking and nature appreciation Scientific research (with permit) |
| Activities Prohibited | Site-specific |
By regulation, Cabinet can create an Ecological Reserve to protect unique or representative ecosystems.
A Heritage Property includes any property that is of interest due to its “historical, cultural, environmental, archaeological, palaeontological, aesthetic, or scientific value.”
By order, the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport (“the Minister”) can create a Heritage Property. Land for Heritage Properties can be purchased or acquired by the Minister.
Once a Heritage Property is protected, it cannot be damaged, destroyed, or changed without the Minister’s permission.However, the Heritage Property can be cancelled after the Minister provides public notice.
A weakness of the Heritage Property Act is that the Minister can exempt certain properties from protection if protecting them would prevent “a development project that is of major significance to and benefit for the people of Saskatchewan.”
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Biocultural Monitoring and Community-based Stewardship
Information about biocultural approaches to monitoring and stewardship, including Indigenous Guardians programs. Includes information about traditional ecological knowledge and frameworks for ethical engagement across knowledge systems (e.g. two-eyed seeing) in the context of community-based monitoring and management.
Financing and Indigenous- led Conservation Economies
Information about revenue-generation for Indigenous-led conservation, including information about the conservation economy, nature-based climate solutions, Indigenous-led tourism.
Governance and Decision-Making
Information about Indigenous approaches to conservation governance. Includes partnerships, management, decision-making processes, and models.
Colonial conservation
Information about the dark history of conservation, in Canada and beyond. Includes critical discussions about the North American model for wildlife, and fortress conservation, which inform mainstream conservation approaches.
International context
Information from international examples of Indigenous-led conservation initiatives outside of Canada. Includes sources about relevant international policies (IUCN, CBD, UN, others).
IPCAs and Indigenous-led conservation
General information about Indigenous-led conservation and/or IPCAs, including the environmental and cultural/social benefits.
IPCA planning and establishment
The process of IPCAs and discussion of the steps taken. This includes the visioning for IPCA creation, community engagement, planning, declaration, negotiations, and relationship-building with partners that support the creation of an IPCA.
Language and cultural revitalization
Information about language and cultural revitalization, including land-based learning, in the context of Indigenous-led conservation.
Laws and Legal Systems
Information about Indigenous laws, legal systems and protocols; Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial laws and policies; case law relevant to Indigenous-led conservation; and efforts to reconcile or braid Indigenous and Crown legal systems.
Relationships, Reconciliation, and Knowledge Systems
Information about reconciliation, respectful relationships, and meaningful partnerships in the context of Indigenous-led conservation. Includes information about ethical frameworks for working across and between Indigenous and western knowledge systems.
Agreement
Memorandums of Understanding, establishment agreements, or other templates and constructive agreements
Audio
Stories and resources you can listen to (e.g. podcasts)
Blog Post
Personal reflections and project overviews, often with hyperlinks, videos, and photographs.
Book
Fiction and non-fiction books, including book chapters and chapters from other publications
Crown Laws and Legislation
Crown legislation, laws, and regulations (Federal, Provincial, Territorial, or Municipal/Local)
Indigenous Laws and Declarations
Indigenous laws and legal orders relevant to Indigenous-led conservation. Includes declarations to create Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas made by Indigenous Nations.
Other
A resource that does not fit into one of the categories above.
Plan
Land relationship and/or land use plans, governance plans, economic plans, and other documents to guide decision-making. Includes some additional resources relevant to planning.
News Article
Article published by news media outlets. Includes articles published by online magazines.
Press Release
Official statements delivered to news media outlets
Reports
Reports published by Indigenous governments; non-Indigenous Governments (Federal, Provincial/Territorial, or Municipal/Local); non-governmental organizations; and others. Includes management plans.
Toolkit
A resource geared towards practitioners. Contains useful and applicable information.
Video
Audio and visual resources you can watch (e.g. videos)
Website
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