Category: In the News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Curve Lake First Nation, ON — May 15, 2025

The National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA) proudly marks its 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter-century of empowering First Nations communities across Canada through professional land management, capacity building, and self-determination.

Founded in April 2000, NALMA was established by a dedicated group of First Nation Land Managers who recognized the need for a national body to support and enhance land management practices. Under the leadership of Executive Director Leona Irons, NALMA has grown into a dynamic, non-political, not-for-profit organization that provides technical expertise, training, and networking opportunities to over 700 First Nations and Inuit participants nationwide annually.

“Our journey began with a vision to unify and strengthen the role of Land Managers in First Nations communities,” said Leona Irons. “Over the past 25 years, we’ve built a strong foundation that honours Indigenous values and promotes sustainable land stewardship.”

Key Milestones:

•Professional Lands Management Certification Program (PLMCP): Developed in collaboration with Indigenous Services Canada, PLMCP has certified over 225 Land Managers, training them with the skills and knowledge to manage reserve lands effectively.

•Regional Lands Associations (RLAs): NALMA’s structure includes eight RLAs, fostering regional collaboration and ensuring that local needs and perspectives are integrated intonational strategies.

•Strategic Partnerships: NALMA has established partnerships with post-secondary institutions; University of Saskatchewan, Algoma University, Vancouver Island University and the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue to provide accredited training programs that blend academic knowledge with practical land management skills.

As NALMA celebrates this significant milestone, the organization remains committed to supporting First Nations in achieving greater autonomy over their lands and resources. Through continued advocacy, education, and collaboration, NALMA aims to build on its legacy and drive positive change for Indigenous communities across Canada.

For more information about NALMA and its programs, please visit www.nalma.ca.
Media Contact:
Crystal Bourke
Communications & IT Support
E: cbourke@nalma.ca

About NALMA:
The National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA) is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to providing professional development, technical expertise, and support to First Nation Land Managers across Canada. Through its programs and partnerships, NALMA promotes best practices in land management that respect and integrate Indigenous values and traditions.

Congratulations to our Executive Director, Leona Irons, on being appointed to the Order of Canada for her lifelong commitment to the responsible and sustainable management of Indigenous lands.

Leona has worked in the field of First Nation Land Management for over 40 years building land management capacity and advocating for the land management profession. As an employee in Lands at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Peterborough Ontario District Office, and as a First Nation Land Manager for Hiawatha First Nation and her own community, Curve Lake First Nation, Leona realized the necessity for professional development and networking for the betterment of First Nation Land Management.

Leona has always envisioned the need for a National Association for First Nation Land Managers across Canada. In April 2000, under the direction of the founding Board of Directors, Leona Irons, as Executive Director, established and managed the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA). The Association celebrated 23 years of operation in April 2023. Over those 23 years, she assisted in the establishment of eight Regional Lands Associations (RLA) across Canada

As Executive Director of the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association, and with the support of 11 staff, Leona has raised the organizational profile and funding for NALMA and RLA’s with her leadership and expertise in the field of First Nation Land Management.

The Order of Canada is one of our country’s highest honours. It recognizes people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to our nation.

https://www.gg.ca/…/new-appointments-order-canada-and…

August 30, 2018

To the Various Land Managers across Canada:

In 2015, the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS), in partnership with the Surveyor General Branch (SGB) of Natural Resources Canada and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) conducted a “Survey Cost Study” to consider the assertion made by ISC that “the costs of surveys on Canada Lands is 2 to 3 times more expensive then on non-Canada Lands”.

The “Survey Cost Study Working Group” was formed, comprising of members/personnel from the above-mentioned organizations/departments. The Working Group contracted out the research and preparation of a Report to a third party, to investigate the validity of the assertion related to costs of surveys.

It had to be an “Apples to Apples” comparative study of the survey projects between those surveys on First Nations lands, and those done under the Provincial system. For example, a subdivision survey done on First Nation Reserve lands, compared to a subdivision survey done on neighbouring Provincial lands.

It would not be practical, nor be a meaningful collection and analyzation of the data, to compare two surveys prepared for different purposes on the different lands.

There were 3 parts to the Data Collection:
A. Interviews with First Nations
B. Surveys Research and Land Surveyor Interviews
C. Comparison of Surveys

The Cost Study Report has been prepared, reviewed and finalized. As you can imagine, the volume of data collected from 76 First Nation responses, 73 sample survey projects and a few dozen follow up interviews, was immense and highly technical. In reviewing the Report, it contained a wealth of data, but being at a decidedly technical level, the ACLS felt that it could be a challenge and a time-consuming effort for those trying to extract useful information from, when wanting to obtain a survey on First Nation Reserve lands.

Therefore, the ACLS created a sub-committee of their Members and have prepared this DRAFT version of a Toolkit, that pulls out the applicable information that Land Managers may find useful when looking to have a survey conducted on their Reserve lands.

Please note the following terms referenced, may be interchanged in the Cost Study Report and the following pages:
• Survey(s), land survey(s) – are both intended to have the same meaning;
• Surveyor, land surveyor, Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS) – they are intended to have the same meaning, unless otherwise specifically referencing surveys conducted on Provincial lands;
• Surveyor General Branch (SGB), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- they are intended to reference the same Federal Government Department;
• Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) – they are intended to reference the same Federal Government Department
In reading through the Report, the cost drivers relating to surveys seemed to relate to 1 of 4 categories:
1. Project Initiation and Preliminary Planning and Research
2. Fieldwork
3. Plan Preparation and Office Work
4. Approvals and Registration of Survey Plans

We encourage you to read through the following documents as they relate to these 4 sections. The intent of these documents is to provide clarity and information on the cost drivers and potential ways to mitigate the cost drivers, while referring to the data collected and analyzed in the Report.

As these are only in a DRAFT format, we encourage any feedback you may have on these documents. Please contact Jean-Claude Tétreault (contact information is on the attached business card) with your questions or comments by November 30, 2018.

The intent is to have this document evolve and provide further information on surveys on Canada Lands. The Indigenous Relations Steering Committee od ACLS is already working on additional documents to add to the Toolkit. With your feedback, we are confident that we can create a useful resource tool for surveys.

Thank you for your time taken to review the documents,

Tania Bigstone, CLS, PEILS(np)
Chair, Survey Cost Working Group

Combined Tool Kit (FINAL Draft)

The National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA) is requesting proposals from experienced consultants or firms for the development of two dispute resolution models.  These models would be for use by First Nations wishing to provide on-reserve spouses and common-law partners with a mechanism to resolve matrimonial real property disputes on separation or survivorship. Additional deliverables include training materials to be used to introduce the models and provide instruction on the use, customization and implementation of the model and a work-book to guide the First Nation technicians or committee tasked with the development, customization and implementation of the dispute resolution process.

Proposals will be received by the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association located at 1024 Mississauga Street, Curve Lake, Ontario K0L 1R0 until 4:30 pm on August 24, 2018. Proposals can also be emailed to Leona Irons – Executive Director at lirons@nalma.ca with the subject line COEMRP Dispute Resolution Proposal. Proposals received after the closing date will not be considered.

QUERIES AND CLARIFICATONS:

The RFP Contacts are Kathy McCue, MRP Specialist West– kmccue@coemrp.ca  (available now until August 17th) and Chris Angeconeb, MRP Specialist East – cangeconeb@coemrp.ca (available August 17 – August 24).

The proponent is responsible for obtaining any needed clarification. Questions should be directed in writing to the RFP contact.

RFP COEMRP Dispute Resolution project