Our PartnershipPimachiowin Aki is also the name of a non-profit corporation comprised of four Anishinaabe First Nations and the governments of Ontario and Manitoba working toward a common goal:

To protect, preserve and gain international recognition of an enduring cultural tradition, and an outstanding example of the global boreal biome.

Giwiijiiwewinaan oWnSQnWnVB

wfSEWnB Ro WLXuP uz WQn WLSpWnB WnUCoBORnY XWnB WHiXyuVB Lun EofWnVB EBS EBUmWE fXIr uVU RoBy uz S upn ffWnuPoB piB.

S uVQnBSuPy S VuSSuPy WQn slQnusy SopBSuPy EQn WLUnWnB RXB WQn runUusy QL sC;y o uVRnBURny S wfUy piVB.

Our VisionThe Pimachiowin Aki partners share a vision of a land where Anishinaabeg and all other beings are understood and safeguarded as one.

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See how Pimachiowin Aki meets the requirements and criteria for inscription on the World Heritage List.

First Nations call it

It is Pimachiowin Aki, a gift from the Creator to share with the World

OPEN

The medicines have kept us alive and helped to cure sickness. The bush is our drug store and we are grateful for all those plants that are happy to give up their lives to help us.

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—Elders Abel Bruce and Albert Bittern

Water is sacred. It is the source of life and should therfore be respected and protected.

oS WZBUunB Xw. wfOlWnB Wf EBS;fuB s S EBS fVSSuPy S VuSSuPy uz.

—Pauingassi Lands Management Plan

There are rock paintings at Dog-skin that are sacred because the people of Little Grand Rapids believe that those paintings were made by the [little] rock people. The rock people were part of creation and were here from the beginning.

Rw PQnWpRnY XudRnY ffWnCRnY roSpRny uz s EEQn u WL ooCROBy. RrZ QnBS suWnvBy RnRQn oS RXLVQ u oS opBSpY WnB o XuX. s RnRQn oS RXLVq U Xud pP XudVB Lun fHoo S opY.

—Joseph Levesque, Sr.

The Creator has given us the responsibility to protect and care for the lands on which we were placed.

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—First Nations Accord

In Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwe language, Pimachiowin Aki means “the Land That Gives Life.” Pimachiowin refers to a good life in the fullest sense: enjoying good health, longevity, freedom from misfortune, and a rewarding livelihood.RnXLVqdBy WWQn wfSEWnBRo WoIfuB sXivBy wfOlWnB. QoIfuy WQn sC wfOlWnB QVnSuPy uoV piB SsC;orB owfOlWnXBy.

For Anishinaabeg, aki refers to the land and all life that emerges from and flows across the land. Aki includes all of the Creator’s gifts of sun, water, wind, rain, fire, rock, soil, plants, and animals. Aki is also the source of life; all of the features, beings, forces, relationships, and processes that together make up the Land that Gives Life.RXLVqy eBS Eo EOVnUVRn UwHi wfOlWnB Wf QnBS;y RoBy. Ro sVRn uoV WX u OqBSpY o sXVBy olkB Xw COB osRnB WHiP RLho ZUWnooB Lun RvWnJy. Lun sVRn Ro wfOlWnB EBS;fuB Wf EBS uoV piB u WnSQn;fuoB QnBS;fuoB EBUOlWnVB.

Ji-ganawendamang Gidakiiminaan consists of the beliefs, values, knowledge, and practices that guide Anishinaabeg interaction with aki (the land and all its life) and with each other in ways that are respectful and express a reverence for all creation.WQn S uVQnBSuPy oUosVB EBS;fuCB WX PqnUdWnVB opBUkWnVB RXLVqWnSpWnVB Ev EBS RoBy QnBSfuy wfOlWnB WX u fVSSuPoB RvfuoB Ef RoBy.

An exceptional mosaic of boreal shield ecosystems and species diversity, and a remarkable cultural landscape; the manifestation of an ancient, enduring, and sustainable kinship between culture and nature.

Cared for by the Anishinnabeg for millennia through the cultural tradition of

Nominated for inscription on the

World Heritage List

Nomination Requirementsu RBUQnBSuPoB

Meet one or more World Heritage criteria so as to demonstrate Outstanding Universal Value pvw qLy pf RRnLa S oLIvBy S opBSuPoB slQnusy u oS WZBUunoB.

Meet conditions of authenticity and integrity soQnB RXB QL QnBSURnBy pi Lun u PqnSuPy

Demonstrate adequate protection and management WnBUfpB RXB p WL uVQnBSuPy VuSSuPy uz

Nominated under three Criteria (iii, vi, ix) Niisin gegoon gaa-andawenjigaadegin imaa (iii, vi, ix)QBUlBoB EViXpWnXBy S VuSSuPy slQn RoB S soQnRnY EVKQnWn flVWuVB S VUfpIRnY RXB EViXpWnBy S VuSSuPy WWQn wfSEWnB Ro uo EVSuPy XlBy S EViXuPXy WX iii, vi ix WnBUfpfuoB.

Criterion iiiu RBUQnBSuPy iiiTo bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappearedqLiB pi S WSuPy S oS WZBSuPorB if pP XBiS RWnvy o RvRnY if o RBonfuy.

Criterion vip RBUQnBSuPy vi To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significanceEBSU S ws UiXuPy RXB piB QL;oB QLUnRnBy uz S EZBSuPoB piB S PqSuPy piB RXB uz QL sVnrBSuPy piB slQnusy pS WZBSuPy.

Criterion ixp RBUQnBSuPy ix To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animalsEBSU S RnrBSuPy RXB Q RX WL wfUoB WWf RoB u EXLLBy XwB Sowy runUusy u XUWnoBoB RvWnJy uz.

Summary of the Nomination for Inscription on the

World Heritage List

Decision will be made JULY 2018!

For the complete nomination document:pimachiowinaki.org

For more information:Pimachiowin Aki Corporation

whp@shaw.ca204.275.1564

Support Pimachiowin AkiPimachiowin Aki will foster sustainable growth for

First Nations communities and allow us to carefully develop and manage a wide range of initiatives.

WnS wfSEWnB Ro RXB S RX WLSpRnY RXLVqy S RX

uHoQWnlRnY S oLIRnY qruB piB u RCuUdRnY.

Please donate to the Pimachiowin Aki Fund:Uu WnS KXvB wfSEWnB Ro WLSpWnB S RCuUdRnY EQn:

wpgfdn.org

Tax receipts will be issuedCharitable Registration Numbers:

The Winnipeg Foundation: #119300960RR0001Pimachiowin Aki Corporation: #842713125RR0001

Nominated Area | 29,040 sq kmThe nominated area is comprised of protected areas designated in First Nation planning areas, one provincial

wilderness park in Manitoba, and one provincial wilderness park and a conservation reserve in Ontario.

Authenticity and Integrity QnBSURnBy Lun pVBURnyPimachiowin Aki contains all the attributes that express Ji-ganawendamang Gidakiiminaan and all of the elements necessary to ensure the continuity of the ecological processes of the boreal shield. Anishinaabe knowledge, ethical and spiritual teachings guide behaviour as they have for millennia. Oral traditions in the Anishinaabe language continue to be central to the expression of the principles of Ji-ganawendamang Gidakiiminaan. Archaeological evidence demonstrates the use of cultural sites and travel routes from ancient times through to the present.

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XLp Rvfuy WXQnXRnB RoBy QvfuoB oQnOCBy. RXLVq

opBUkWnB unvunUoB piB u ooCRfORnY RrZ aWnBJ EBS.

u RXp OrSdUOBy piB RXLVqdBy s WQn Qvfuy Wf S

uVQnBUfBy oUosVB u WSuPy. pP VaUnWnB WnBUfpfuB RBO

u ws RvRnY pP RXLVqy RBO uz u wsHuRnY rrs RvRnY

aWnJ EBS sXy CBig u oLuy.

Criterion iii u RBUQnBSuPy iiiTestimony to a cultural traditionWnBUfpWnB pP WLSpWnB

Pimachiowin Aki provides the most complete testimony to the ancient and continuing cultural tradition of Ji-ganawendamang Gidakiiminaan (Keeping the Land). Through the beliefs, values, knowledge, and practices embodied in this cultural tradition, Anishinaabeg have lived for millennia with the boreal forest that sustains them. Ancient and contemporary livelihood sites, habitation and processing sites, travel routes, named places, traplines, and sacred and ceremonial sites provide tangible evidence of Ji-ganawendamang Gidakiiminaan. These sites are found throughout Pimachiowin Aki and are especially evident along waterways, which provide connectivity throughout the landscape.

WWQn wfSEWnB Ro WLSpWnB WnBp QnQnX WnBUfpnRy RXB

pP u WL uVQnBUdRnY EUosRn RXLVqy Wf S uVQnBUfBy

oUosVB u WUdRnY. RXLVqy u WL PqnUdRnY pPBUdRnY

EopBUkWnXRn EOLSpWnXRnB uz oZnLH o w EBUSERny Wf

oQnOCBy runUusy. RXB pP u WL wfOlRnY Wf Lun CBig

u WL wfSERnY u WL rwsHuRnY u WL WnBUdRnY qruB XiS

u UL RnXWpRnY RBO uz u UL RXLVqWnUnRnY s WWQn QL

opBSuPy WQn S uVQnBUdRnY oUoVB. slQn EC oRnrBUVB Wf

wfSEWnB RoBy asBUp u wsHuRnY RWnvy s WQn p WL WJRnY

slQn RoB.

Criterion ix p RBUQnBSuPy ixSignificant in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals u oS aHunS;y piB QvfuoB RoBy XwBy SpN uz ReHp u XUWnooB

RvWnJy uz.

Pimachiowin Aki is the most complete example of the North American boreal shield. It contains an exceptional diversity of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and fully supports wildfire, nutrient flow, species movements, and predator-prey relationships sustained among species such as wolf and moose, and lynx and snowshoe hare. Sustainable hunting and trapping by Anishinaabeg are part of these interactions. Pimachiowin Aki’s remarkable size, intactness, and ecosystem diversity support characteristic boreal species and species of conservation concern such as woodland caribou, wolverine, lake sturgeon, leopard frog, and Canada warbler.

WQn wfSEWnB Ro u WSuPy s WQn fRnG uVBURny oQnOCBy

Ro. VVBIy piB RvfuCB Wf RoBy XwBy uz u WnSQn;fuoB.

RvfuCB WnSQn;fuy joPy s EBUOlRnY RvWnJy S rrs RvRnY

uz. u CSWORnY uz RvWnJy UwHi fWBuVy dky wLRny Rneky

uz. U RX EBUolRny Wf RXLVqy RBUQnBSpRnY RnXWpRnY uz.

sFfuB WQn wfSEWnB Ro uVBURn uoV piB Wf WnSQn;fuCB S

EBUOlRnY u wfOlRnY Wf UwHi ROuny onBunRpy Vay Euoy Lun

wZLJy.

Criterion vi p RBUQnBSuPy viLiving traditions, ideas, beliefs, and artistic works of outstanding universal significance WLSpWnVB QvfuoB fsuWnVB PqnUdWnVB flXSuVB uz slQnusy

pS WZBUunoB.

Through the living cultural tradition of Ji-ganawendamang Gidakiiminaan, Anishinaabeg uphold a sacred trust to ensure aki (the land and all its life) is cared for and respected. The cultural tradition is maintained through a vibrant oral tradition that includes legends, stories, and songs. The deep and abiding connection between Anishinaabeg and the land is a compelling example of the inseparability of an indigenous way of life and a natural ecosystem.

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QnQnX S VuSIRnY EUosRnB S fVSIRnY uz. UOrsdUOBy

UwHi ROkpWnVB OrSdWnVB XudVB uz s QL RnWnBUfORnY

EOLSpWnXRnBy. RXB RXLVqy u WL WnSQn;y Ro

EwfOlWnXRnBy u WL RvfuXXy Wf oQnOCBy u RvRnY.

Protection and Management S VuSSuPorB uVQnBSuPy uzProtection and management of Pimachiowin Aki occurs through Anishinaabe customary governance, grounded in Ji-ganawendamang Gidakiiminaan, contemporary provincial government law and policy, and cooperation among the four First Nations and provincial government partners. The area is protected under law from commercial forestry, mining and hydroelectric development.

The Pimachiowin Aki Corporation enables the partners to work together to safeguard and present the Outstanding Universal Value of Pimachiowin Aki for present and future generations.

S VuSSuPy S uVQnBSuPy uz WQn wfSEWnB Ro u WSuPy

WLSpWnB o EVSuP RXLVq WLSpWnXBy EBS wsXJRdRnY

EIViXpWnXRnB WnUCoBORnY uz VVB ruB RXLVq WHiXuVB oS

EofWnB uz. WQn Ro EViXpWnXBy EBS VuSSuP S rHiPWuPlCy

S wRnwiplCy pf RnluB S EBOXuPorB.

WWQn wfSEWnB Ro WLSpWnB o EVSpRny uoV u WnUCoBORnY S

RnWnSWORnY WQn EBS Ro slQnisy u oS WZBUunoB piBS EEQn

CBig u wfOlRnY EBS Lun RX XuB p RX RvRnY.

Pimachiowin Aki is the largest protected area in the North America boreal shield; an outstanding boreal forest, integral to traditional lifeways of Anishinaabeg (© H. Otake 2006)

Listening to and talking about our place names is like reading a book. They tell stories of the landscape, the animals, birds, fish, plants and people. These named places ensure that these stories will carry on, sometimes for thousands of years. The stories of our ancestors are connected to those places and to us by the place names.

—Sophia Rabliauskas

Elder with prayer drum (H. Otake 2010)

Pictographs provide a tangible connection between the present and an ancient past. In fact, “no area of North America more perfectly demonstrates such continuity from early times down to the contemporary residents of the Central Canadian Shield” (Steinbring 2010). The influence of ancient pictograph designs on contemporary Anishinaabe culture is evident in the Anishinaabe Woodland Art tradition. (© H. Otake 2010)

Four major rivers with numerous falls and rapids flow across Pimachiowin Aki. Remarkable hydrological complexity and connectively contributes to aquatic ecosystem diversity and integrity (Pimachiowin Aki Corp. 2015)

At least 14 bird species of conservation concern, including the Canada warbler, have large and diverse habitats in Pimachiowin Aki, with potential to sustain breeding populations (© C. Artuso 2011)

Protecting a landscape that meets the needs of an umbrella species, such as Woodland caribou, provides for the needs of many other species. Pimachiowin Aki provides extensive areas of Woodland caribou summer and winter range, and critical calving and rearing habitat (© H. Otake 2012)

Ceremony is a way to honour the gifts that sustian life (H. Otake 2010)

Young boys in their dance regalia (Pimachiowin Aki Corp. 2012)