Pathways Forward

A relationship-based approach to land securement, stewardship, and shared responsibility.

This work grew from a real land securement journey in King Township and has evolved into a broader framework for respectful, relationship-based land decisions.

Our Story

A Shared Beginning

In 2023, Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust and Mno Aki Land Trust began working together to explore how land securement along the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail could be approached through relationship, reciprocity, and shared learning.

Gathering connected to the story of relationship and shared learning

More Than Just A Transaction

As the work unfolded, it became clear that the project was about more than securing a property. It raised deeper questions about ownership, access, responsibility, legacy, and the relationships that shape land decisions.

The Quote

“When we approach land from a place of relations, it is not just a business transaction.” — Becky Big Canoe

Community gathering representing pathways forward

Pilot to Framework

Although the King land donation is not moving forward at this time, the work continues. The lessons from this experience became the foundation for the Pathways Forward Framework — a broader approach to future land securement, community engagement, and stewardship.

The Four Elements Model

The Four Elements Model is intentionally circular rather than linear. It reflects the understanding that relationships, responsibilities, knowledge, and intentions are interconnected and ongoing. Rather than moving through fixed steps, this model encourages participants to revisit and renew these relationships throughout the land securement journey. This approach is grounded in “Relationships form Indigenous perspectives — connections between Land, Water, People, Air and all Nature.”

A circular relationship model — not a step-by-step checklist

Land Opening

Gathering, ceremony, honouring stewardship, and shared story.

Building Relationships with the Land

Walking the land, observation, reflection, and learning through place.

Indigenous Knowledge Holders

Teachings, stories, context, and historical understanding shared through relationships.

Relationship Building through Worldview Differences

Working through differences in expectations, access, governance, and timing with care and patience.

Voices That Shaped This Work

Pathways Forward has been informed by the teachings, reflections, and leadership of people who helped guide the work through experience, relationship, and vision.

Becky Big Canoe

Reflecting on land access, Grandmother leadership, diplomacy over ownership, and the importance of moving beyond transactional approaches to land.

“If knowing the real story of what has taken place historically was taught from the beginning, we wouldn't be in the situation we are now.”

Mary Boyden

Helping shape the relational and circular foundations of the Pathways Framework.

“Relationships create Indigenous perspectives — connections with Land, Water, People, Air and Nature.”

Sonia Molodecky

Sharing why the King property matters — as a place of history, connection, and opportunity to tell the story of the Greenbelt through the voices of the original peoples of that place.

The framework was further informed through conversations with Elders, advisors, landowners,
project teams, and the Williams Treaties First Nations Champions Group.

What Lands and Why

Before decisions can be made about land securement, stewardship, or conservation, it is necessary to ask: What lands? Why these lands? The answers to these questions extend far beyond ecological value or development pressure alone. They are rooted in relationships, responsibilities, histories, and ongoing connections between people, land, waters, plants, animals, and spirit.
Within this framework, land is not viewed as an isolated asset or commodity, but as part of an interconnected system of relationships that must all be considered together.

Food & Medicines

Land that supports growing, harvesting, seed saving, and the continuation of food and medicine relationships.

Traditional Materials

Places connected to culturally important materials such as cedar, birch, spruce, berries, balsam, and other traditional resources.

Species & Ecosystems

Wetlands, forests, grasslands, waterways, migration corridors, and habitat for culturally significant species.

Ceremony & Gathering

Land connected to ceremony, teaching, storytelling, seasonal use, and intergenerational knowledge sharing.

A relationship-based rhythm of the work

Start

Walk

Learn

Decide

Steward

The Pathways Securement Process

The Pathways Securement Process is a three-stage summary of how land securement work may unfold. Unlike the Four Elements Model, which is circular and ongoing, this process provides a practical structure for engagement, land understanding, and collaborative decision-making. It is intended to remain adaptable to local community priorities, trust-building, and ongoing guidance.

Stage 1

Initial Engagement and Relationship Building

This stage focuses on creating the relationships needed before decisions are sought. It includes early conversations, identifying Elders, Knowledge Keepers, leadership, and local champions, understanding community priorities, following appropriate protocol for ceremony and invitations, and creating space for education, dialogue, and trust-building before formal requests are made.

Stage 2

Land Identification and Scoping

Once relationships are established, attention can shift to the land itself. This stage includes applying the What Lands and Why considerations, mapping ecological, cultural, community, and treaty contexts, conducting site visits and Walking the Land, identifying ecological, cultural, historical, and community values, and exploring opportunities, challenges, and stewardship possibilities.

Stage 3

Joint Assessment and Decision-Making

This stage focuses on collaborative review and choosing an approach. It includes applying the Four Elements Model, reviewing the seven securement scenarios, considering legal, archaeological, ecological, cultural, and community factors, and co-developing a recommended securement approach, stewardship plan, or relationship plan where appropriate.

These stages provide structure, while the Four Elements Model remains an ongoing circle of relationship, reflection, and responsibility.

Opportunities for Land Securement

The Pathways Framework includes seven possible approaches to securing land for trail connection, conservation, stewardship, and relationship-based access. Each pathway offers different opportunities, responsibilities, and long-term considerations.

1. Full Land Donation through the Ecological Gifts Program

A landowner donates the entire property through the Ecological Gifts Program, transferring full ownership to a land trust for permanent protection, stewardship, and trail securement.

Permanent protection Strong tax incentives Co-stewardship potential

2. Trail Section Donation (Non-Ecological Gifts Program)

A landowner donates only the portion of land needed for the trail corridor, allowing permanent public access while retaining the rest of the property.

Focused trail access More flexibility Smaller land footprint

3. Full Property Purchase

A land trust purchases an entire property outright, creating the highest level of control over land use, stewardship, conservation, and future planning.

Highest control High upfront cost Future shared governance potential

4. Trail Section Purchase

A land trust purchases only the land needed for the trail corridor, securing continuity and access while reducing overall acquisition costs.

Lower acquisition cost Permanent corridor access Limited broader land use

5. Whole-Property Conservation Easement through the Ecological Gifts Program

The landowner keeps ownership, but a conservation easement is registered on title through the Ecological Gifts Program to protect natural features and allow trail use.

Ownership retained Permanent conservation Ongoing monitoring required

6. Trail Conservation Easement Purchase

A land trust purchases a conservation easement for the trail corridor while the landowner keeps ownership, creating long-term protection without full land transfer.

Relationship-based agreement Lower cost than ownership Depends on strong drafting

7. Buy, Sever, and Sell

A land trust purchases a larger parcel, keeps the portion needed for the trail and conservation, then sells the remaining parcel to recover part of the acquisition cost.

Strategic cost recovery More complex approvals Can support land return pathways

Each pathway has different legal, financial, stewardship, and relationship implications. The most appropriate option depends on the land itself, the goals of the parties involved, and the relationships being built around long-term care and access.

Community Review and Feedback

Community review helped strengthen the Pathways Framework through feedback on the seven securement scenarios, the What Lands and Why considerations, and approaches to engagement. A key message that emerged was the need to move beyond one-time consultation toward deeper, relationship-based engagement.

Review of the 7 Pathways

Feedback helped test and refine the seven land securement scenarios, with attention to how each pathway may support stewardship, access, governance, and long-term relationship building.

Combined Land Considerations

Community reflections helped deepen the What Lands and Why criteria by reinforcing the importance of cultural relationships, land use, history, stewardship, and future responsibilities.

Stronger Engagement Approaches

A clear distinction was made between consultation and meaningful engagement. Trust-building, time, reciprocity, and understanding who needs to be involved were identified as essential.

Meaningful engagement is not a single step in the process — it is an ongoing responsibility that must continue before, during, and after land securement work begins.

The Responsibility of Leadership

The Pathways Framework recognizes that decisions made today will shape future relationships with land, stewardship, access, and conservation well beyond a single project. Along the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail and across the Greenbelt, leadership means acting with foresight, humility, and accountability for future generations.

Access

Across much of Southern Ontario, access to land for ceremony, medicines, harvesting, and cultural practice has already been reduced by development, fragmentation, and urban growth.

Responsibility

The perspectives of Indigenous Champions, Knowledge Keepers, Elders, and communities are essential in guiding a stronger and more responsible path forward for land securement and stewardship.

Future Generations

The approaches, relationships, and tools developed today may influence how conservation, access, and Indigenous land relationships are understood across Ontario and beyond in the years to come.

Protecting land in the present moment also means taking responsibility for the generations and landscapes still to come.

Resources and References

The Pathways Framework is supported by practical tools, background materials, and reference documents that provide more detailed guidance on securement pathways, archaeology, ecological gifts, and framework development.

Pathways Forward Framework (Full PDF) The complete framework, including appendices, tools, and supporting documents. Pathways Forward Framework (No Appendix) A shorter version of the framework for easier reading and sharing. 7 Land Securement Scenarios A visual summary of the seven pathways for trail and land securement. Planning for Archaeology Archaeology planning guidance for the Oak Ridges Moraine Planning Area and Trail. Ecological Gifts Program Handbook Tax credits, incentives, and practical guidance for ecological gift land donations.

Additional supporting tools referenced in the framework include sample agreements, OCAP language and data-sharing templates, interview guides, and archaeology planning materials.

Supporting This Work

Relationship-based land securement takes time, trust, shared learning, and long-term care. Support helps continue engagement, stewardship planning, and future land-based opportunities.

Support the Project