An important focus of OLTA’s work over recent years has been to align with the 94 Recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Article 29 of UNDRIP affirms that “Indigenous people have the right to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources.” As an organization representing land trusts, we are in a unique and complex position, and have the opportunity to both support emerging Indigenous land trusts and to support non-Indigenous land trusts in their collaborations with local Indigenous communities.
Indigenous Land Trust Sharing Circles have been an integral part of the last two Gatherings, and provide a space for sharing and connection between Gatherings. A number of workshops have helped bridge communication between land trusts and Indigenous communities, and have also made clear the need for more work. This spring, through Nature Canada’s Work to Grow program, we were able to hire an Indigenous Engagement Coordinator to support this work, Lavanya Thirupathy. Read on to find out more about Lavanya, why, as a settler, she was drawn to this role, and how she is providing support to both land trusts and Indigenous communities.
Having grown up in both India and Canada, I carry the lived experience of being a settler in two different contexts — a racialized settler in Canada, and a settler navigating the complex histories of land and displacement in India. My connection to the land has been shaped by both environments, but in very different ways.
In India, sustainability wasn’t something we talked about — it was something we lived. Our milk and vegetables came directly from local growers, many of whom we knew by name. We knew which cows grazing in the neighborhood provided our milk, and the scraps from our kitchen — every bit of food waste — went back to feed those very cows. There was an everyday intimacy with land, animals, and food systems that shaped how we understood care, reciprocity, and stewardship. These practices were intentional, but not always formally articulated — rooted in community, interdependence, and a lived knowledge, rather than planning or policy frameworks.
Living in Canada, in an urban area, I feel a deep sense of disconnect. Many things here are packaged, distanced, anonymous. I often don’t know where my food comes from, and composting is not always accessible. This shift made me more aware of how colonization and capitalism have disrupted relationships to land — and how much we have to learn from Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and relating to place.
As someone who is not Indigenous to this land we call Canada, I recognize the deep responsibility that comes with my role. It’s so important to me that I approach this work with humility and care, being sensitive to cultural histories, needs, and the continued impacts of colonialism.
I believe deeply in resisting environmental harm while uplifting Indigenous leadership — who have long protected the lands and waters we now live and work on. My goal is to support land trusts in centering equity and inclusion in conservation, including identifying where systems may unintentionally exclude Indigenous communities, and finding ways to foster more reciprocal relationships.
This role continues to be a learning journey for me- one that challenges me to listen deeply, unlearn assumptions, and stay accountable. I’m excited for what lies ahead and look forward to supporting deeper collaboration between land trusts and Indigenous communities in pursuit of shared goals for land care and stewardship. If you’re a land trust looking to engage more meaningfully, or an Indigenous community interested in connecting, I’m here as a resource.
This month, dedicated to the recognition of Indigenous History, is a meaningful opportunity to reflect, both individually and organizationally, on how we can shift power and resources to better support Indigenous sovereignty and stewardship.
We encourage you to explore our learning resources. Please let us know if you have resources you’d like to see added.
