News Releases

May 16, 2018

Manitoba’s effort to achieve a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for Pimachiowin Aki has received a pair of strong endorsements leading up to the final decision this summer, Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires announced today.

“Manitoba is proud to continue its support of this important project and we remain confident the bid will be successful,” Squires said.  “This unique and environmentally important part of the province is worthy of our protection and we are pleased to see support for our efforts continue to grow.”

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), advisory bodies to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, have announced recommendations to add Pimachiowin Aki to the UNESCO World Heritage List.  

Pimachiowin Aki is Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) for ‘the land that gives life’.  A partnership of four Anishinaabe First Nations – Bloodvein, Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi and Poplar River – and the Manitoba and Ontario governments has worked with the Government of Canada for over a decade to achieve World Heritage status for 29,040 square kilometres of boreal forest spanning the Manitoba–Ontario boundary.

“We very much appreciate the support we have received from the governments of Manitoba, Ontario and Canada,” said William Young of the Bloodvein First Nation and Pimachiowin Aki spokesperson.  “We respect the process but remain optimistic that the recommendations will be accepted.”  

Poised to become Canada’s first ‘mixed’ cultural and natural World Heritage Site, Pimachiowin Aki would be recognized for its outstanding Indigenous cultural and boreal ecosystem values.  The World Heritage Committee in 2016 commended the partnership for deepening the understanding of nature-culture connections in the context of the World Heritage Convention.

A decision will be made at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee to be held in Manama, Bahrain, June 24 to July 4.

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