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What is Lands Management?

Lands management refers to the administration and stewardship of Indigenous lands, environments, and resources. It ensures that communities can manage their lands responsibly to support future generations. Effective lands management balances technical expertise, traditional knowledge, and community values, guiding how land is used, protected, and shared in ways that reflect cultural priorities and sustainability goals.

Lands management promotes organized growth, environmental stewardship, and community well-being, while remaining rooted in culture and tradition. It is essential for building resilient communities, protecting ecosystems, supporting economic growth, preserving cultural identity, and strengthening self determination.

Key Areas of Lands Management

Lands management covers many areas, including:

• Administration: Managing permits, registrations, and land transactions.
• Governance: Developing and implementing policies that protect the environment and reflect community priorities.
• Economic Development: Creating opportunities through tourism, agriculture, and adding new lands to reserves.
• Legal Frameworks: Developing by-laws and negotiating land use agreements.
• Community Engagement: Consulting members on land use planning.
• Technical Services: Conducting environmental assessments, GIS mapping, data collection, and land monitoring.
• Cultural Preservation: Safeguarding sacred sites and traditional practices.
• Environmental Stewardship: Conserving wildlife and water resources and complying with environmental laws.

Who Are Lands Managers?

Lands managers serve as the link between communities, leadership, external partners, and the land itself. Positions and titles vary and may include certified lands managers, environmental officers, land guardians, estates managers, lands technicians, membership clerks, and knowledge keepers.

There is no single path to becoming a lands manager. Some begin with formal training and certification programs, such as the Professional Lands Management Certification Program (PLMCP). At its core, the role requires understanding the land, honoring community values, and fostering collaboration.

Lands managers play an instrumental role in supporting First Nations to manage their lands autonomously. Their responsibilities can vary depending on their community’s land regime.

Land Regimes

Land regimes provide First Nations with greater control and decision-making authority over reserve lands. They establish the legal and administrative frameworks that define how lands are managed, clarify responsibilities, and outline who holds authority. These regimes enable a gradual transfer of land management authority from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to First Nations, supporting self-determination, sustainable development, and environmental stewardship.

There are three primary land regimes in Canada:

Indian Act – Reserve Land and Environment Management Program (RLEMP)

RLEMP supports First Nations in managing land, natural resources, and the environment on reserve. Under the Indian Act, the Indigenous Services Canada Minister retains ultimate authority over reserve lands. Through RLEMP, eligible First Nations can assume specific responsibilities for day-to-day land administration in partnership with ISC, but fiduciary responsibility remains with the Federal government.

RLEMP provides annual funding to support the establishment of a lands office, the employment of a lands manager, and the development of systems and expertise needed for effective land management. Through a phased approach, communities gradually take on more responsibilities as their capacity grows, strengthening autonomy.

To participate in the program, a First Nation must have a Certified Lands Manager, a designation earned by completing the Professional Lands Management Certification Program (PLMCP). Administered by NALMA, this certification program combines post-secondary education with practical training to equip lands managers with the skills to navigate reserve lands management.

Three Levels of RLEMP

RLEMP is structured around three levels of responsibility:

Training & Development Level

The First Nation hires and trains a lands manager, establishes a lands office, and sets up administrative systems. ISC continues to carry out most land management tasks while the lands manager gains hands-on experience and completes PLMCP certification.

 

Operational Level

Once certified, the lands manager assumes core responsibilities in partnership with ISC, including:

• Managing land and natural resource transactions (e.g., permits, leases, individual interests)
• Supporting environmental processes and assessing risks
• Monitoring compliance with land instruments and policies

Delegated Authority Level

Currently closed to new applicants, this level allows First Nations to take on additional responsibilities under sections 53 and/or 60 of the Indian Act, including initiating and approving certain land transactions.

Overall, RLEMP offers a structured pathway for First Nations to build capacity, increase control over land-related decisions, and develop skilled lands management teams that support community development and environmental stewardship.

Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management (FAFNLM)

FAFNLM is a significant step towards self-determination. Under this regime, a First Nation replaces 44 land-related sections of the Indian Act with its own Land Code, developed and approved by community vote.

Once the Land Code is in place, the Nation gains full authority over land-related decisions without requiring ministerial approval.  This form of sectoral self-government allows for faster, more flexible, and community-driven lands management. Under FAFNLM, the First Nation assumes the fiduciary obligation and liability for decisions made under its Land Code, while Canada retains responsibility for lands transactions registered prior to enactment.

Comprehensive Self-government Agreements (CSG)

CSG agreements provide the broadest scope of authority. These government-to-government agreements recognize a Nation’s authority not only over lands and resources, but also over other sectors of governance, such as education, health, and social services.

Under these agreements, the Nation enacts and enforces its own laws, which are constitutionally protected and tailored to reflect community priorities and governance systems.

Once a Self-Government Agreement is enacted, the First Nation assumes the fiduciary obligation and liability. Land transactions registered prior to enactment are negotiated with Canada before the agreement takes effect.

Supports for First Nations

Several organizations provide training, technical guidance, and capacity-building support to help First Nations strengthen their lands management capacity. These include: