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Category: Fisheries

  • MIL-OSI Global: The biological marvels of the seabed are being mined to create commercial products – here are the risks

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Erik Zhivkoplias, Researcher in Marine Governance, Stockholm University

    Thousands of genes from deep-sea marine life are being used to create new commercial products ranging from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. Genes are segments of DNA that provide instructions for making other molecules that are essential for the structure and function of living organisms.

    In a paper we recently published with other colleagues, we investigated how bioprospecting – the search and discovery of potential products from animals, plants and microbes – could serve as a less destructive alternative to deep-sea mining.

    Notably, all of the largest companies using marine genes have sourced them from deep-sea organisms in some capacity. Deep-sea animals possess unique genes that allow them to live in an environment unlike anything else on Earth, with its intense cold, crushing pressure and total darkness.

    What are these organisms? Most are microbes that have evolved over millions of years to thrive in extreme conditions. Among the most uniquely adapted are those found around hydrothermal vents, where mineral-rich seawater, superheated by magma, erupts from cracks in the ocean floor.

    Deep-sea enzymes, a type of molecule encoded by the genes of organisms that live in extreme environments, are stable in conditions that other enzymes often cannot function. Their ability to catalyse chemical reactions under high pressure and a wide range of temperatures makes them commercially valuable for making industrial and consumer products, including drugs, food, detergents and biofuels.

    Bioprospecting in the deep sea

    One remarkable example involves the bacteria that live in very salty habitats. This microbe was isolated from marine sediments collected at a depth of 1,050 meters near the Iheya ridge, 130 kilometers offshore from Iheya Island, Japan.

    Deep-sea shrimp in the dark depths of the Pacific Ocean.
    NOAA

    One of its enzymes has been shown to enhance the conversion of farm waste into glucose by helping break down cellulose into easily degradable pulp. This is a crucial step for converting biomass into ethanol, a renewable biofuel.

    Another enzyme extracted from a bacterium that exists under extremely high temperatures has been found to be highly efficient in completely removing lactose from milk.

    Some organisms contribute to multiple inventions, like a deep-sea worm collected at a depth of 2,625 meters from a hydrothermal vent on the East Pacific Rise, about 600 km off the Mexican coast. The worm hosted a bacterium that produces a molecule that was used to develop a skin cream, as it helps make skin less susceptible to damage from the sun and pollution. The unusual ability of this bacterium to live at temperatures above 100°C also made it a model organism for overcoming overheating in small satellites in Earth’s orbit.

    This is just a few examples among over 16,000 proteins derived from deep-sea species and used in technology, catalogued in this database.

    The potential for innovation from deep-sea species has not been fully explored. As of 2024, only a quarter of the seabed has been mapped and most deep-sea species remain undiscovered.

    The dangers of mining

    But the essential role of deep-sea life in the functioning of Earth’s systems may be far greater than previously understood.

    Researchers recently discovered an unusually high concentration of oxygen on the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean, referred to as “dark oxygen”. This oxygen may be being produced by electrolysis – when an electric current separates water into hydrogen and oxygen.

    Where might an electrical charge be generated at the bottom of the ocean? Perhaps on the surfaces of polymetallic nodules, rock-like formations composed of lots of different metals which can create differences in electrical potential when interacting with seawater. The formation of these metals is influenced by the activity of microbes living on them, which in turn affects the chemical properties of the surrounding environment. The production of dark oxygen could be vital for the respiration of other species living in the ocean where there is no sunlight.

    Unfortunately, deep-sea ecosystems are under threat from seabed mining for minerals. Polymetallic nodules are considered potential resources for manganese, nickel, and rare earth elements – materials used to make electronics and computers. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a Pacific region where dark oxygen was recently discovered, has already been divided into 16 mining claims.

    Nodules on the seabed.
    Abramax/Wikipedia, CC BY-SA

    Researchers and campaigners have warned that deep-sea mining could severely damage marine ecosystems and have highlighted the lack of scientific consensus on the long-term consequences of these operations. Once disturbed, the evolutionary history these ecosystems represent could be lost forever.

    The International Seabed Authority oversees the management of mining activities in international waters. Although it has not yet authorised any commercial mining, it has faced criticism for allegedly dismissing environmental concerns. The recent election of the new ISA secretary-general, Leticia Carvalho, offers an opportunity to safeguard vital areas of the world’s oceans, crucial for both nature and human wellbeing.

    We must rethink the true value of the deep sea and consider what losing it may mean for the rest of the world.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Erik Zhivkoplias receives funding from Formas research grant 2020-01048.

    Robert Blasiak receives funding from Formas research grant 2020-01048.

    – ref. The biological marvels of the seabed are being mined to create commercial products – here are the risks – https://theconversation.com/the-biological-marvels-of-the-seabed-are-being-mined-to-create-commercial-products-here-are-the-risks-237174

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Indigenous Guardians projects 2024–2025

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, Jaimee Gaunce, Executive Director of the First Nations National Guardians Network (NGN), joined the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario; and Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River, to announce the investment of up to $27.6 million to support 80 First Nations Guardians initiatives.

    Alberta

    Project title: Mikisew Cree First Nation Guardian Program
    Recipient: Mikisew Cree First Nation – Government and Industry Relations
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year, ongoing initiative will study how oil sands development, particularly bitumen mining and hydroelectric projects, are affecting the health of the Peace-Athabasca Delta, the heart of Mikisew’s traditional territory. Guardians work year-round to monitor water quality, collect data, track flood events, and monitor the fish population.

    Project title: Ni Ho Ghe Di – ACFN Guardian Program Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
    Recipient: Dene Lands and Resource Management
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will monitor and report on activities that may cause harm to the ecology, traditional lands, or traditional resources of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), such as poaching and illegally hunting on the traditional territory, especially to protect Ronald Lake Buffalos. The initiative will also support youth to strengthen their cultural pride and connection to the land and develop on-the-land skills.

    Project title: Guardians of the Territory – Dene Tha’ First Nation
    Recipient: Dene Tha’ First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will engage in diverse activities, such as ecological restoration, supporting resource management plans, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. Guardians will protect and recover species at risk, manage land use in the proposed Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area at M’behcholia (Bistcho Lake, Alberta), and conduct environmental and wildlife monitoring.

    Project title: Alexis Nakota Sioux Nations Guardians Initiative
    Recipient: Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation
    Funding amount: $346,400
    Project description: This two-year initiative will involve conducting and analyzing aerial surveys, creating a geographic information system (GIS) data management and visualization system using R-Studio and ArcPY, and continue to develop the Stoney Land and Water Course.

    British Columbia

    Project title: Kitasoo Xai’xais Guardian Watchmen Program Enhancement
    Recipient: Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation
    Funding amount: $604,925
    Project description: This two-year initiative focuses on marine and terrestrial surveying, along with compliance and enforcement practices involving education, observation, and reporting. The Guardians also actively participate in the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary and undertake training for emergency response in search and rescue and oil spills.

    Project title: Coastal Stewardship Network
    Recipient: Great Bear Initiative Society
    Funding amount: $499,785
    Project description: This two-year initiative provides programming to the Coastal First Nations – Great Bear Initiative’s eight member nations, who work directly with communities to support Guardians along the North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii to track resource use and ecosystem health, provide training and professional development, raise awareness, and help establish a stewardship presence on the coast.

    Project title: Songhees Nation Guardians Program
    Recipient: Songhees Nation
    Funding amount: $50,000
    Project description: This one-year initiative continues work with community members, Band Council, and outside organizations to provide monitoring services, promote stewardship in the community, and restore habitat areas. This initiative helps establish stronger Indigenous presence on the water during fishing seasons, as it is critical in establishing more authority over fisheries and coastal resources on the land.

    Project title: Lower Nicola Indian Band – Indigenous Guardians Program – Tier 1
    Recipient: Lower Nicola Indian Band
    Funding amount: $49,450
    Project description: This one-year initiative aims to build capacity, skills, and knowledge for a new Guardians program in the community. This will involve mapping and indexing areas in the territory, engaging with Elders and knowledge keepers, engaging with the community, drafting a plan, and working with chief and council to ensure the vision aligns with the strategic plan.

    Project title: Mamalilikulla First Nation Guardian Program
    Recipient: Mamalilikulla First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative involves ongoing activities where Guardians spend time on the land to collect data, monitor cultural sites, manage Grizzly Bear populations, plant crab apple trees to provide food for the bears, and improve fisheries. This work helps the Chief and Council make informed decisions.

    Project title: Wet’suwet’en First Nation Guardian Initiative: A Holistic Approach
    Recipient: Wet’suwet’en First Nation
    Funding amount: $75,745
    Project description: This one-year initiative will monitor and collect data on moose population and mortality rates, assess wildlife habitats, setup wildlife cameras, and conduct riparian assessments. It will also explore starting a water-monitoring program in identified priority areas. These efforts will help the community observe and document activities or cumulative effects that impact their ability to practice traditional ways of life.

    Project title: Saulteau First Nations Indigenous Guardian Proposal
    Recipient: Saulteau First Nations
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will help the community take leadership in monitoring, protecting, and restoring the lands and waters, which is essential for the health and well-being of the community. Activities include supporting safe food harvesting and cultural activities, protecting Klinse-za Park, monitoring climate changes, and understanding how events like forest fires affect the community, fluctuations in weather patterns, and alterations in animal movements and water availability.

    Project title: Saik’uz Guardian Program
    Recipient: Saik’uz First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will build upon long-term monitoring efforts through a self-sustaining, community-based Saik’uz Guardians Initiative. The Guardians will be guided by the wisdom of both Indigenous Knowledge and western science, for the purposes of empowerment and self-determination of the Nation’s future connected to the water and land of the Territory.

    Project title: P’egp’ig’lha Guardians
    Recipient: P’egp’ig’lha Council / T’it’q’et First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will conduct patrols of the land to ensure territorial health and study wildlife and fisheries. Guardians play an essential role in protecting and restoring the Stein-Nahatlatch Grizzly Bear population, assisting with wildfire recovery, and strengthening collaboration with other nearby Guardian programs.

    Project title: Pauquachin First Nation Marine Department – Stewardship Initiative
    Recipient: Pauquachin First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative monitors one of the most heavily travelled and utilized waterways within British Columbia. Guardians review culturally sensitive archaeological sites, harvesting areas, recreational and commercial fisheries use, environmental threats (pollution sources, dumping, illegal activities, and poaching), and conduct restoration in specified areas of importance. This initiative represents the community’s interests, concerns, and objectives to ensure waterways, food, historical sites, and cultural practices continue for generations to come.

    Project title: Takla Nation’s Tier 2 Guardians Initiative
    Recipient: Takla Nation
    Funding amount: $499,959
    Project description: This ongoing initiative monitors more than 30 established sites across Takla’s lands and waters. This work is essential for Takla to implement environmental and cultural protections, including ensuring archaeological impact assessments are carried out by various proponents and government agencies align with Takla’s Archaeology Policy. Additionally, it builds capacity to monitor the caribou and moose populations and sustains the Guardians program by fostering engagement with youth in the community.

    Project title: Tsilhqot’in Guardian Network
    Recipient: Tsilhqot’in National Government
    Funding amount: $500,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative, led by the Tsilhqot’in National Government in collaboration with six Tsilhqot’in communities—Xeni Gwet’in, Tlesqox, Tletinqox, Tsi Del Del, ?Esdilagh, and Yunesit’in—aims to integrate and strengthen Tsilhqot’in values in the management of the region’s lands and waters. Working in partnership with provincial and federal land and water management agencies, the initiative will see Guardians will conducting patrols for hunting, fishing, and fire prevention, as well as wildlife- and water-monitoring research to ensure the sustainable stewardship of Tsilhqot’in territories.

    Project title: Quatsino Axsilaxa Ahwheatnagwusn Guardians Program
    Recipient: Quatsino First Nation
    Funding amount: $342,765
    Project description: This two-year initiative aims to support the implementation of the Quatsino Land Use Plan and the Marine Use Plan. This will be done through field-based work, such as data collection and monitoring. These efforts will be central to ecosystem restoration and establishing food security through the local harvesting of traditional foods.

    Project title: nłeʔképmx Guardians
    Recipient: Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will continue to establish presence on the land and provide public education and awareness about the nłeʔképmx territory, protocols, and cultural practices. Guardians will monitor and record activities on the land with a focus on priority areas determined by the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly. These priority areas include critical hunting, fishing, gathering, and other culturally important areas. nłeʔképmx Guardians will record, monitor, and manage for invasive species and will contribute to research regarding species at risk in the territory.

    Project title: Supporting and Maintaining a Strong and Efficient Heiltsuk Guardian Watchmen Program
    Recipient: Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council
    Funding amount: $349,499
    Project description: This two-year initiative will focus on capacity-building, monitoring local aquatics ecosystems and community fisheries for safe harvesting and to support and reestablish this life-sustaining relationship between the people and territory.

    Project title: Haa Aaní Tulatín – Taku River Tlingit First Nation Land Guardian Program
    Recipient: Taku River Tlingit First Nation
    Funding amount: $349,600
    Project description: This two-year initiative will respond to threats to the territory and monitor salmon populations. The Guardians will work to strengthen salmon stewardship by organizing multi-day camps that focus on traditional fishing, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and on-the-land monitoring.

    Project title: Spuzzum Nation Land Guardians Initiative
    Recipient: Spuzzum Indian Band
    Funding amount: $50,020
    Project description: This one-year initiative will focus on protecting important ecosystems by monitoring key territorial and cultural sites, collecting ecological data, and safeguarding species like the endangered Northern Spotted Owl. The Guardians will also help to develop a framework for stewardship policies.

    Project title: Kwadacha Nation Tier 2 Guardian Proposal
    Recipient: Kwadacha Nation
    Funding amount: $348,734
    Project description: This two-year initiative aims to provide long-term ecological and cultural monitoring to track changes on key wildlife habitats, traditional food sources, and water sources. This will aid in discussing how potential changes may impact the roles and responsibilities of being Dena on the land.

    Project title: Doig River First Nation Guardian Program
    Recipient: Doig River First Nation
    Funding amount: $349,188
    Project description: This two-year initiative will focus on improving monitoring of the lands and waters by combining cultural methods and western science. Doig River First Nation Guardians will continue to monitor the health of the land, guided by members, and will work collaboratively with the government to address any impacts.

    Project title: Nahnéhé Gegenı́hı / Kakinawetakwow Uski / FNFN Land Guardian Initiative
    Recipient: Fort Nelson First Nation
    Funding amount: $375,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative supports the Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) stewardship, land management, and on-the-land cultural activities. The Guardian is guided by western science monitoring and research while grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and understanding the health and condition of the lands and waters.

    Project title: Scianew Guardians Initiative
    Recipient: Beecher Bay First Nation
    Funding amount: $348,614
    Project description: This two-year initiative will work toward environmental conservation, monitoring, training for Guardians, impact assessments, land sovereignty, and marine safety. This will be done through partnerships with neighbouring nations, Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) and Kotug Canada.

    Project title: USIB Land Guardian Program
    Recipient: Upper Similkameen Indian Band
    Funding amount: $391,894
    Project description: This two-year initiative aims to address critical environmental challenges while deeply integrating Indigenous Knowledge, community engagement, and sustainable practices. The Guardians initiative emphasizes land conservation, sustainable resource management, and fostering ecosystem resilience.

    Project title: Establishing Boothroyd Guardians Program
    Recipient: Boothroyd Indian Band
    Funding amount: $50,000
    Project description: This one-year initiative will monitor environmental indicators within the territory, support restoration work in areas damaged by wildfire, and the subsequent erosion. Boothroyd Guardians will engage with land-user groups to increase understanding and respect for the environment.

    Project title: TTQ Guardians Program Initiation Project
    Recipient: TTQ Economic Development Corporation
    Funding amount: $62,533
    Project description: This one-year initiative aims to collect and organize Xa’xtsa’s previously recorded cultural knowledge data, map priority areas, and develop a monitoring plan. The goal is to observe changes in the supply of traditional herbs and plants, the frequency and impacts of foraging on the land, vitality of salmon spawning, changes in unauthorized camping, and invasive plants and animals.

    Project title: Wildfire Recovery Monitoring
    Recipient: Okanagan Indian Band
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will assess the conditions of the White Rock Lake watershed before and after wildfires for the Okanagan Indian Band. The Guardians will conduct site assessments, inventory culturally significant resources, monitor wildlife, and assess the severity of burn damage to guide restoration efforts.

    Project title: Nanwakolas – Stewarding Through Indigenous Scientific Knowledge
    Recipient: Nanwakolas Council Society
    Funding amount: $500,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will apply Kwakwaka’wakw values and Indigenous scientific knowledge on a variety of projects, including loxiwe (clam garden) restoration, canoe carving, hosting Guardian seasonal gathering events, as well as data collection on water, wildlife monitoring, climate change studies, and emergency response planning.

    Project title: Continuing to Build the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Guardians Programs Initiative
    Recipient: Squamish Nation – Squamish Indian Band 555
    Funding amount: $349,505
    Project description: This two-year initiative will conduct stewardship activities, respond to climate events and emergencies, and increase public safety. The Guardians will continue to be on the land engaging and learning from Elders, knowledge keepers, and youth, as well as collaborating with other Nations to share information and build capacity across the National Guardians Network.

    Project title: St’át’imc Land Guardians
    Recipient: St’at’imc Government Services
    Funding amount: $425,180
    Project description: This two-year initiative will focus on the implementation of the St’át’imc Water Accord. This includes collecting baseline data of three intact watersheds and three impacted watersheds to assess water quality. Other activities include capacity-building and reviewing stories and legends through workshops/collaborative research with the Indigenous Law Research Unit.

    Project title: Nak’azdli Whut’en Yinka Huwunline (Looking After/Taking Care) Guardians Program
    Recipient: Nak’azdli Whut’en
    Funding amount: $349,942
    Project description: This two-year initiative will build geospatial mapping technology for Guardians to use in monitoring. It will create open portals for communication while protecting internal data and cultural information. The project will use remote sensing technology to create “living maps” that track seasonal phenology, quantify impacts, and present informed engagements on stewardship with industry, government, consultants, and academics.

    Project title: Lake Babine Nation Yintah Guardians
    Recipient: Lake Babine Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will lead the collaborative stewardship of yintah Lake Babine Nation (LBN) territory and the resources of two cultural keystone species, talok (Sockeye Salmon) and khida (moose), to restore moose populations to culturally meaningful levels, and to support fish monitoring, habitat restoration, and collaborative management.

    Manitoba

    Project title: Seal River Watershed Alliance Land Guardians Network
    Recipient: Seal River Watershed Alliance
    Funding amount: $500,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will employ 14 youth and senior staff in Land Guardian positions across the four Nations of the Alliance. This initiative builds technical capacity and administers species and habitat identification, monitoring, and protection, and stewards the watershed.

    Project title: Askiy Okanawaynichikaywuk (Keepers of the Land)
    Recipient: York Factory First Nation
    Funding amount: $349,860
    Project description: This two-year initiative will maintain trails, monitor cultural and historic sites, observe changes in the land, and support respectful land use. Guardians will have a visible presence, doing community outreach, participating in land-based events, and helping to inform Council’s decisions about land use, stewardship, and protection.

    Project title: Pimachiowin Aki First Nations Guardians Network
    Recipient: Pimachiowin Aki Corporation
    Funding amount: $499,615
    Project description: This two-year initiative will focus on seasonal fishing monitoring of Pickerel (Walleye), all-season road alignment, wildfire management, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Guardians provide professional capacity and presence in Pimachiowin Aki, expressing Anishinaabe nationhood, as well as filling gaps in the Information Management System and provincial patrols and monitoring activities throughout the year.

    Project title: SCO First Nations Guardians Regional Network
    Recipient: Southern Chiefs’ Organization Inc.
    Funding amount: $500,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will focus on strengthening Indigenous jurisdiction over their traditional lands, capacity-building, training and skills development in environmental monitoring and management, and encouraging cooperation and collaboration between communities on stewardship and natural resource management issues.

    Project title: SLFN Land-Water-Nature Indigenous Guardianship Stewardship Initiative
    Recipient: Swan Lake First Nation
    Funding amount: $349,285
    Project description: This two-year initiative, together with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will continue to evaluate the revegetation terraces and re-seed as necessary, monitor water quality from the tile drainage structure, and monitor wildlife and pollinator populations. The data collected will assist in understanding the success rate of this project in reducing nutrient pollution and enhancing ecosystems.

    New Brunswick

    Project title: Amlamgog Earth Keepers
    Recipient: Fort Folly First Nation
    Funding amount: $321,411
    Project description: This two-year initiative will expand and enhance an existing salmon recovery initiative. This initiative will focus on flora and fauna monitoring, following the traditional guiding principle of Etuaptmumk (two-eyed seeing).

    Project title: Wotstak First Nation Guardians Initiative – Tier 1
    Recipient: Woodstock First Nation
    Funding amount: $50,000
    Project description: This one-year initiative will collect data and conduct ecosystem monitoring guided by Woodstock’s Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge for conservation, with the goal of developing a land use plan.

    Project title: Elugweieg Toqwe’gig ugjit Ugs’tqamu aq ugjit Sapo’nug (We Work Together for Earth and for Tomorrow)
    Recipient: Esgenoôpetitj Watershed Association
    Funding amount: $349,923
    Project description: This two-year initiative will expand Esgenoôpetitj aquatic monitoring and governance, led by Esgenoôpetitj First Nation (EFN) Fishery Guardians in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada enforcement personnel in the management, conservation, and protection of the fisheries in the areas most utilized by the community.

    Newfoundland and Labrador

    Project title: Innu Nation Guardian Program
    Recipient: Innu Nation – Environment and Parks Offices
    Funding amount: $700,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will integrate the Sheshatshiu and Mushuau Innu (Natuashish) communities through environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. The initiative will focus on five objectives: creating additional Guardian positions, providing technical and safety training, hosting youth workshops for knowledge transfer, purchasing necessary equipment, and developing cultural initiatives to uphold and promote Innu traditions and ecological knowledge.

    Nova Scotia

    Project title: Re-Connecting Our People with the Land
    Recipient: Eskasoni Fish & Wildlife Commission Inc.
    Funding amount: $375,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will help protect the Eskasoni Watershed and the bio-cultural diversity within the Nation for future generations, as well as reconnecting the people with the land by supporting community-led research and conducting surveys to monitor the changes in the fisheries and ecosystems. The Guardians will be responsible for monitoring activities within the watershed that could impact fish habitat, fish passage, and other species at risk or culturally significant species. This initiative will also support designation of an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area.

    Project title: Nova Scotia Earth Keepers / Nuji kelo’toqatijik Network
    Recipient: Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources Society
    Funding amount: $500,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative includes gathering and sharing of Indigenous Knowledge, promoting Netukulimk hunting practices, and monitoring and data collection, including identifying areas suitable for cultural activities, harvesting of medical plants, monitoring species at risk, and education and outreach about culturally important species.

    Northwest Territories

    Project title: Ni hat’ni Dene (Watchers of the Land)
    Recipient: Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation
    Funding amount: $349,600
    Project description: This two-year initiative maintains a long-term mandate to promote stewardship of Thaidene Nene, working full-time as caretakers of the land, water, and animals, ambassadors of the Dene way of life, and hosting visitors. Initiatives include protecting the Bathurst Caribou, passing on cultural knowledge to youth, and ensuring food security.

    Project title: DKFN Guardians
    Recipient: Deninu Kue First Nation
    Funding amount: $333,055
    Project description: This two-year initiative will monitor the lands and water. Guardians will patrol the land to ensure it is kept clean and will conduct water-quality sampling and clean fish monitoring.

    Project title: LKFN Guardians and Climate Change Monitoring Project
    Recipient: Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ First Nation
    Funding amount: $349,961
    Project description: This two-year initiative aims to monitor the environmental impacts of climate change in the Dehcho Region of Northwest Territories. The initiative will include monitoring of various indicators, such as permafrost melt, riverbank slumping/erosion, and shifting species populations. Guardians will be equipped with specialized training to monitor erosion, permafrost conditions, observe melt patterns, and assess the depth of thaw. This crucial data collection is important to assess the changing landscape.

    Project title: Sahtu K’aowe Guardians Project in Support of the Tsá Tué Biosphere Reserve
    Recipient: Délįnę Got’įnę Government
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative supports monitoring of the Great Bear Lake and its watershed using two-eyed seeing methods (bridging western science and Indigenous Knowledge) for the conservation of biodiversity, ecological integrity, climate change adaptation, sustenance of local wildlife, and food security, as well as for cultural continuity and revitalization.

    Ontario

    Project title: Environmental Stewardship on Air Quality Issues for Aamjiwnaang First Nation
    Recipient: Aamjiwnaang First Nation
    Funding amount: $48,732
    Project description: This one-year initiative will monitor the air, water, and land surrounding Aamjiwnaang First Nation (AFN) that has been impacted by industry development. Guardians will identify environmental monitoring gaps (for example, soil, water, air, fish, plants, and species at risk), develop plans for data collection, improve emergency notification, as well as community responses to petroleum refineries, chemical plants, and other industrial facilities in proximity to AFN.

    Project title: Temagami First Nation Guardians
    Recipient: Temagami First Nation
    Funding amount: $451,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative prioritizes water quality, species, and habitat protection; preservation of Indigenous wisdom; and data collection and monitoring. Guardians will be engaged in monitoring, recording, and reporting activities related to land use and environmental protection. Specific attention will be given to Lake Temagami, including monitoring ice huts, houseboats, shores, and more.

    Project title: Atikameksheng Anishnawbek – Phase 2 – Monitoring of Atikameksheng Traditional Land
    Recipient: Atikameksheng Anishnawbek
    Funding amount: $347,263
    Project description: This two-year initiative will help with the collection of maple sap during Sugar Moon and other food harvestings, which is provided to Elders and the Nations’ food bank. Guardians will monitor the lands, conduct field site inspections for proposed forestry cuts to ensure grandmother trees are protected, and complete daily field work sheets and site inspections that will provide important environmental information on spills, violations, and forestry cuts.

    Project title: Anishinabek Traditional Ecological Guardians of Georgian Bay
    Recipient: Magnetawan First Nation
    Funding amount: $500,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative supports land-based learning, knowledge transfer, and technical skills training on species at risk, species monitoring, data collections, and other land-management activities using the two-eyed seeing approach. The initiative will also help to strengthen capacity and sustainable management for other First Nation groups.

    Project title: Charting the Path Ahead – Anishinaabe Aki Shkabewisag (Niiwin Wendaanimok Anishinaabe Guardians Network)
    Recipient: Niiwin Wendaanimok Limited Partnership
    Funding amount: $500,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will support four Anishinaabe Nations to mitigate and monitor compliance on development in the territory; increase capacity to care for lands, water, plants, and animals; and work collaboratively to identify individual needs and create personalized coaching and mentorship programs. The Anishinaabe Guardians will identify and protect areas of significance by interviewing Elders and knowledge keepers.

    Project title: Ketegaunseebee Aki Guardians
    Recipient: Garden River First Nation
    Funding amount: $301,400
    Project description: This two-year initiative will assist Garden River First Nation in monitoring and protecting the St. Marys River and the lands to uphold a treaty made with neighbouring Indigenous Nations. The initiative will focus on capacity-building, community engagement, and fieldwork including patrolling, monitoring species at risk and invasive species, and forestry.

    Project title: Four Rivers Regional Guardians Network
    Recipient: Matawa First Nations Management
    Funding amount: $389,771
    Project description: This two-year initiative focuses on environmental stewardship and capacity-building in nine Matawa First Nations. The Four Rivers Regional Guardian Network will engage in virtual and in-person networking to expand its knowledge and capacity, including cultural exchanges within the network.

    Project title: Biinjitawaabik Zaaging Anishnaabek Community Guardians
    Recipient: Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishnaabek Rocky Bay First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will implement sturgeon and mining site protocols, conduct environmental monitoring analysis, map the Lake Nipigon basin, and integrate the data into a geographic information system database.

    Project title: The Height of Land Wakohtowin Guardian Program – Treaty No.9
    Recipient: Wahkohtowin Development General Partnership Inc.
    Funding amount: $499,300
    Project description: This two-year initiative is designed to enhance traditional knowledge, practices, and way of life within the communities. Guardians will have first-hand experience in how ecosystem services and the conservation economy work.

    Project title: The Neya Waban Guardian Program – Caretakers of the Land
    Recipient: Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation
    Funding amount: $349,650
    Project description: This two-year initiative will gather crucial information that will support decision-making, identify quality habitat areas for wildlife, and develop management plans and protocols. The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation will continue to conduct Algonquin knowledge-based data collection to further protect the lands, water, animals, and air for the eleven communities across Ontario and Quebec.

    Project title: Mnisinoog (Warriors for the Bay): Shawanaga First Nation’s Guardians Program
    Recipient: Shawanaga First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative focuses on improving aquatic life by using river monitors to sustain and protect the health of the river ecosystem. Aquatic stewardship takes precedence with creel surveys, wide-scale monitoring of waterbodies, and a detailed study on fish consumption.

    Project title: Caldwell First Nation Land Guardian Program
    Recipient: Caldwell First Nation
    Funding amount: $345,840
    Project description: This two-year initiative will focus on education, training, on-the-land learning with technical experts and knowledge holders, and listening sessions with the community. The Guardians will review class environmental assessments on behalf of Caldwell First Nation, monitor and participate in environmental projects in the Territory, and build multi-year capacity initiatives with emphasis on supporting the creation, development, and management of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas within traditional territory.

    Prince Edward Island

    Project title: Lennox Island First Nation Guardians Program
    Recipient: Lennox Island First Nation
    Funding amount: $346,800
    Project description: This two-year initiative will help better manage, protect, and utilize the marine resources the community relies on. It will allow the Lennox Island watershed conservation group to participate in coastal erosion studies, take part in fisheries workshops (lobster-handling practices), a Black Ash reforestation project, and the development of a modernized solid-waste management plan.

    Project title: Abegweit Guardians
    Recipient: Abegweit First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative embodies a cultural and traditional approach to natural resource management. The initiative also includes data collection and monitoring, and focusing on the use of lands, waters, and resources on traditional territories, including cultural sites.

    Quebec

    Project title: Gardiens du Ndakina
    Recipient: W8banaki
    Funding amount: $500,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will support the sustainability of traditional practices of members of the Nation, protect their rights to access ancestral territory, and preserve cultural heritage. This initiative will create conservation spaces, share and transfer Indigenous Knowledge, mentor youth, engage with the community, and promote food sovereignty, as well as many other activities.

    Project title: Pushing Forth: Taking the Pessamit Land Guardians to the Next Level
    Recipient: Conseil des Innus de Pessamit
    Funding amount: $349,550
    Project description: This two-year initiative includes a team of six territorial agents, specializing in data collection, surveillance of the lands, and comprehensive inventories of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. The initiative will focus on monitoring and assessments, conducting an inventory of cultural sites, developing expertise in sampling, and community engagement and visibility.

    Project title: Gardiens de territoire Abitibiwinnik
    Recipient: Première Nation Abitibiwinni
    Funding amount: $195,931
    Project description: This two-year initiative will continue to train community members to conduct land surveillance and acquire new skills and knowledge from field work, utilizing both Indigenous Knowledge and western science. The initiative aims to document information acquired from Guardians’ activities, community members, and Elders.

    Project title: Cumulative Effects Assessment of Chisasibi’s Intertidal Zones: Integrating Science, Tradition, and Stewardship
    Recipient: Cree Nation of Chisasibi
    Funding amount: $348,468
    Project description: This two-year initiative will focus on integrating western science, Indigenous Knowledge, and stewardship to address key challenges in the Chisasibi community. The initiative will study the impact of development by reviewing existing research, mapping the community, analyzing vegetation, and collecting environmental samples. Additionally, it will build capacity through workshops and a mentorship initiative involving Kinwhapmaakins (Trapline Managers/Guardians). All data will be collected and combined into a detailed report on cumulative effects.

    Project title: Gardiens Atikamekw de Manawan
    Recipient: Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative will enhance the role of the Guardians in working with non-Indigenous land users and partners within the heart of the Nation and the community. This next phase focuses on being active on the land, collecting data, establishing an official community-recognized mandate, and increasing capacity and training, as well as strengthening the role of the Guardians within the community.

    Project title: Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Nagadjitòdjig Guardian Initiative
    Recipient: Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation
    Funding amount: $594,020
    Project description: This two-year initiative will monitor and inventory cultural keystone species, wild foods, and trees. The Guardians will provide water quality studies, identify culturally significant sites, and record videos to document traditional practices and activities.

    Project title: Protection et participation à la mise en valeur de l’héritage Pekuakamiulnuatsh sur Nitassinan
    Recipient: Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan
    Funding amount: $49,995
    Project description: This one-year initiative aims to ensure the protection and preservation of the territory while maintaining the well-being of the Nation’s community members as they conduct their Nation’s traditional activities. The Guardians play a crucial role in supporting the Nation’s community, in land surveillance, and accompanying community members onto the Nation’s land.

    Project title: Essipiu Assinu Nakatuenitamu (celui qui prend soin du territoire d’Essipit)
    Recipient: Conseil de la Première Nation des Innus Essipit
    Funding amount: $246,308
    Project description: This two-year initiative supports responsible governance and occupation of the Nation’s territory, land surveillance, and participation in community events, as well as collaboration on a variety of projects that encourage learning and skill development for Guardians and community members.

    Project title: Nutshimiunnuat d’ITUM (gardiens du Nitassinan d’ITUM)
    Recipient: Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-Utenam
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative consists of monitoring, protecting, and carrying out stewardship activities in the traditional territory of the Nation. Its objective is to ensure surveillance on the land and protection of the Nation, as well as contribute to studies and inventories on the impacts of climate change and industrial development within the territory.

    Project title: Iakwatonhontsanónhnha (We All Mind Her, the Earth)
    Recipient: Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
    Funding amount: $256,416
    Project description: This two-year initiative will develop an Environmental Charter for the community, helping to define roles and responsibilities of Conservation Officers. It will also consult on a Rights of Nature approach to protect the St. Lawrence River.

    Saskatchewan

    Project title: File Hills Qu’Appelle Guardian Initiative
    Recipient: File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council
    Funding amount: $354,180
    Project description: This two-year initiative will monitor and document the health of waterways, including water quality, medicines, and the condition of riverbanks, focusing specifically on the Lower Qu’Appelle River and Chain of Lakes. It will also work to revitalize language and land stewardship practices.

    Project title: Monitoring and Protection of Athabasca Denesųłiné Nuhenéné in Saskatchewan
    Recipient: Ya’thi Néné Land and Resource Office
    Funding amount: $498,916
    Project description: This two-year initiative will monitor lands and waters in Nuhenéné including Indigenous Protected Areas, caribou harvest areas, mineral exploration, and extraction activities. Guided by Elders, a focus of the Ya’thi Néné Lands and Resources’ Guardians is to connect youth back to the land and build future leaders in sustainable management practices.

    Project title: The Birch Narrows Dene Nation Nuh Nene Strategic Plan
    Recipient: Birch Narrows Dene Nation
    Funding amount: $49,917
    Project description: This one-year initiative will monitor the land, combining ancestral wisdom with modern ecological approaches. Strategic partnerships with neighbouring First Nations and partners, such as Tamarack Environmental Associates, NexGen Energy Ltd., and Fission Uranium Corp. will amplify the impact of conservation efforts. Through training, mentorship, and community engagement, the initiative will help the Nuh Nene Department in its goal of safeguarding cultural identity and the natural environment.

    Project title: Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation Community-Based Guardians Initiative
    Recipient: Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative aims to enhance capacity-building by training and employing youth to collect and analyze data about climate change and industrial impacts in the territory. Data will be used to draft a Land Use Management Plan to inform the Chief and Council’s decision-making on stewardship initiatives and habitat management to ensure sustainable sources of traditional food for the community.

    Project title: Muskowekwan First Nation Community-Based Guardians Initiative
    Recipient: Muskowekwan First Nation
    Funding amount: $350,000
    Project description: This two-year initiative aims to enhance capacity-building for community members to monitor and understand the impacts of climate change. This will provide youth with an opportunity to be trained in Indigenous Knowledge, western science, and climate and environmental monitoring practices, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, participatory mapping, and knowledge gathering.

    Yukon

    Project title: Teechik Land Guardians: Nanh gwiinzii vik’ite’tri’giikhii (We Read the Land Well)
    Recipient: Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
    Funding amount: $349,333
    Project description: This two-year initiative will operate a network of camera traps to monitor predator–prey interactions on the Old Crow winter road and conduct baseline fish and water sampling at the headwaters of the Porcupine River. The Guardian Coordinator will be tasked with organizing patrols, analyzing monitoring data, and preparing communication material for community members and leaders. This capacity-building will strengthen monitoring efforts by enabling the initiative to process more samples, improve use of camera data, and allow Guardians to establish an annual trapping camp to expand into furbearer monitoring.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Indigenous Guardian Projects 2024-2025

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 2

    Today, Jaimee Gaunce, Executive Director of the First Nations National Guardians Network (FNGN), joined the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay–Rainy River, to announce an investment of up to $27.6 million to support 80 First Nations Guardians initiatives.

    Alberta

    Project Title: Mikisew Cree First Nation Guardians ProgramRecipient: Mikisew Cree First Nation – Government and Industry RelationsFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This ongoing, two-year initiative will study how oil sands development, specifically bitumen extraction and hydroelectric projects, is affecting the health of the Peace-Athabasca Delta, the heart of the Mikisew’s traditional territory. Guardians work throughout the year to monitor water quality, collect data, detect flooding and monitor fish populations.

    Project Title: Ni Ho Ghe Di – Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Guardians ProgramRecipient: Dene Land and Resource ManagementFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will monitor and report activities that may harm the ecology, traditional lands or traditional resources of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, such as poaching and illegal hunting on traditional territory, particularly to protect the Ronald Lake bison. The initiative will also help youth build cultural pride and connection to the land, as well as develop on-the-land skills.

    Project Title: Guardians of the Land – Dene Tha’ First NationRecipient: Dene Tha’ First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will include activities such as ecological restoration, support for resource management plans, and compliance with laws and regulations. Guardians will contribute to the protection and recovery of species at risk, manage land use in the proposed M’behcholia Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (Bistcho Lake, Alberta), and provide environmental and wildlife monitoring.

    Project Title: Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation Guardians InitiativeRecipient: Alexis Nakota Sioux NationFunding Amount: $346,400Project Description: This two-year initiative will include conducting and analyzing aerial surveys, creating a Geographic Information System (GIS) data management and visualization system using RStudio and ArcPY, and continuing to develop the Stoney Lands and Waters course.

    British Columbia

    Project Title: Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation Guardian Program EnhancementRecipient: Kitasoo Xai’xais NationFunding Amount: $604,925Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on marine and terrestrial surveys, as well as compliance and enforcement practices that include education, observation and reporting. In addition, guardians participate in Coastal First Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary activities and receive training on emergency response to search and rescue and oil spills.

    Project Title: Coastal Stewardship NetworkRecipient: Great Bear Initiative SocietyFunding Amount: $499,785Project Description: This two-year initiative provides programming to the eight member nations of the Great Bear Initiative of Coastal First Nations, who work directly with communities to support Guardians along the North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii to monitor resource use and ecosystem health, provide training and professional development opportunities, raise awareness, and foster coastal stewardship.

    Project Title: Songhees Nation Guardians ProgramRecipient: Songhees NationFunding Amount: $50,000Project Description: This one-year initiative continues work already begun with community members, band council and outside organizations to provide monitoring services, promote community stewardship and restore habitat areas. This initiative helps strengthen Indigenous presence on the water during fishing seasons as it is essential to establishing greater authority over fisheries and coastal resources on the land.

    Project Title: Lower Nicola Indian Band – Indigenous Guardians Program – Tier 1Recipient: Lower Nicola Indian BandFunding Amount: $49,450Project Description: This one-year initiative aims to build capacity, skills and knowledge to implement a new Guardians Program in the community. This program will include mapping and indexing areas of the territory, consulting with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, community engagement, developing a plan and working with Chief and Council to ensure alignment of the vision and strategic plan.

    Project Title: Mamalilikulla First Nation Guardian ProgramRecipient: Mamalilikulla First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative includes ongoing activities where guardians will spend time in the field collecting data, monitoring cultural sites, managing grizzly bear populations, planting crabapple trees to feed the bears, and improving fisheries. This work will help Chief and Council make informed decisions.

    Project Title: Wet’suwet’en First Nation Guardians Initiative: A Holistic ApproachRecipient: Wet’suwet’en First NationFunding Amount: $75,745Project Description: This one-year initiative will monitor and collect data on moose populations and mortality rates, assess wildlife habitat, install camera traps, and assess riparian areas. It will also explore the possibility of launching a water monitoring program in identified priority areas. These efforts will help the community observe and document activities or cumulative effects that impact their ability to practice their traditional way of life.

    Project Title: Indigenous Guardians Proposal for Saulteau First NationsRecipient: Saulteau First NationsFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will support the community in taking the lead in monitoring, protecting and restoring lands and waters, which is essential to the health and well-being of the community. Activities include supporting healthy food harvesting, cultural activities, protecting Klinse-za Park, monitoring climate change and understanding how events such as wildfires affect the community, changes in weather patterns, and changes in animal movements and water availability.

    Project Title: Saik’uz Guardians ProgramRecipient: Saik’uz First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will build on the long-term monitoring efforts of the Saik’uz Guardians community-based initiative. Guardians will be guided by the wisdom of Indigenous knowledge and Western science, with the goal of empowering the Nation with respect to the water and land of the territory.

    Project Title: P’egp’ig’lha GuardiansRecipient: P’egp’ig’lha Council/T’it’q’et First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will conduct land patrols to monitor the health of the land and study wildlife and fisheries. Guardians play a vital role in protecting and restoring the Stein-Nahatlatch grizzly bear population, supporting wildfire recovery efforts, and strengthening collaboration with other guardian programs in the area.

    Project Title: Pauquachin First Nation Marine Department – Stewardship InitiativeRecipient: Pauquachin First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will monitor one of British Columbia’s busiest and most heavily used waterways. Guardians monitor culturally sensitive archaeological sites, harvest areas, recreational and commercial fisheries use, environmental threats (pollution sources, marine waste disposal, illegal activities and poaching), and conduct restoration work in designated areas of significance. This initiative represents the interests, concerns and goals of the community to ensure that waterways, foods, historic sites and cultural practices are sustained for generations to come.

    Project Title: Takla Nation Guardians Initiative – Tier 2Recipient: Takla NationFunding Amount: $499,959Project Description: This ongoing initiative is monitoring over 30 sites on Takla lands and waters. This work is critical to the Takla’s ability to implement environmental and cultural protections, including ensuring that archaeological impact assessments conducted by various developers and government agencies are consistent with the Takla Archaeology Policy. It also builds capacity to monitor caribou and moose populations and supports the Guardians program by encouraging youth engagement in the community.

    Project Title: Tsilhqot’in Guardians NetworkRecipient: Tsilhqot’in National GovernmentFunding Amount: $500,000Project Description: This two-year initiative, led by the Tsilhqot’in National Government in collaboration with six Tsilhqot’in communities – Xeni Gwet’in, Tlesqox, Tletinqox, Tsi Del Del, ?Esdilagh and Yunesit’in – aims to integrate and strengthen Tsilhqot’in values into the management of lands and waters in the region. In partnership with provincial and federal land and water management agencies, the Guardians will conduct hunting, fishing and fire prevention patrols, as well as wildlife and water monitoring research to ensure sustainable management of Tsilhqot’in territories.

    Project Title: Quatsino Axsilaxa Ahwheatnagwusn Guardians ProgramRecipient: Quatsino First NationFunding Amount: $342,765Project Description: This two-year initiative will support the implementation of the Quatsino Land Use and Marine Resource Use Plan. This will be done through field work such as data collection and monitoring. These efforts will be critical to ecosystem restoration and food security through local harvesting of traditional foods.

    Project Title: Nłeʔképmx GuardiansRecipient: Citxw Nlaka’pamux AssemblyFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will continue to build on-the-ground presence and awareness of Nłeʔképmx territory, protocols and cultural practices. Guardians will monitor and record activities on the land, focusing on priority areas identified by the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly. These priority areas include hunting, fishing, gathering and other culturally significant areas. Nłeʔképmx Guardians will record, monitor and manage invasive species and contribute to research on species at risk on the territory.

    Project Title: Supporting and Maintaining a Strong and Effective Heiltsuk Guardian ProgramRecipient: Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department of the Heiltsuk Tribal CouncilFunding Amount: $349,499Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on building capacity, monitoring local aquatic ecosystems and community fisheries for safe operations, and supporting and restoring the vital relationship between people and the land.

    Project Title: Haa Aaní Tulatín – Taku River Tlingit First Nation Land Guardians ProgramRecipient: Taku River Tlingit First NationFunding Amount: $349,600Project Description: This two-year initiative will address threats to the land and monitor salmon populations. The guardians will work to strengthen salmon stewardship by hosting multi-day camps that focus on traditional fishing, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and land monitoring.

    Project Title: Spuzzum First Nation Land Guardians InitiativeRecipient: Spuzzum Indian BandFunding Amount: $50,020Project Description: This one-year initiative will focus on protecting important ecosystems by monitoring key territorial and cultural sites, collecting ecological data, and saving endangered species such as the Northern Spotted Owl. The guardians will also contribute to the development of a stewardship policy framework.

    Project Title: Kwadacha First Nation Guardians Project – Level 2Recipient: Kwadacha First NationFunding Amount: $348,734Project Description: This two-year initiative will provide long-term ecological and cultural monitoring to track changes in key wildlife habitats, traditional food sources and water sources. This will provide an opportunity to discuss how potential changes may impact Dene roles and responsibilities on the land.

    Project Title: Doig River First Nation Guardians ProgramRecipient: Doig River First NationFunding Amount: $349,188Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on improving land and water monitoring by combining cultural methods and western science. Doig River First Nation Guardians will continue to monitor the health of the land, guided by their members, and will work collaboratively with government to address any impacts.

    Project Title: Nahnéhé Gegenı́hı/Kakinawetakwow Uski/Fort Nelson First Nation Land Guardians InitiativeRecipient: Fort Nelson First NationFunding Amount: $375,000Project Description: This two-year initiative supports stewardship, land management and cultural activities on Fort Nelson First Nation territory. The initiative is informed by Western scientific monitoring and research, while drawing on Indigenous ways of knowing and understanding the health and condition of lands and waters.

    Project Title: Scianew Guardians InitiativeRecipient: Beecher Bay First NationFunding Amount: $348,614Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on environmental conservation and monitoring, guardian training, impact assessments, territorial sovereignty and maritime safety. This will be accomplished through partnerships with neighbouring nations, the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) and Kotug Canada.

    Project Title: Upper Similkameen Indian Band Land Guardians ProgramRecipient: Upper Similkameen Indian BandFunding Amount: $391,894Project Description: This two-year initiative aims to address critical environmental challenges while deeply integrating Indigenous knowledge, community engagement and sustainable practices. The Guardians initiative focuses on land conservation, sustainable resource management and building ecosystem resilience.

    Project Title: Boothroyd Guardians Program ImplementationRecipient: Boothroyd Indian BandFunding Amount: $50,000Project Description: This one-year initiative will monitor environmental indicators on the land and support restoration work in areas damaged by wildfires and subsequent erosion. Boothroyd Guardians will work with land user groups to improve understanding and respect for the environment.

    Project Title: TTQ Guardian Program Initiation ProjectRecipient: TTQ Economic Development CorporationFunding Amount: $62,533Project Description: This one-year initiative will collect and interpret previously recorded Xa’xtsa cultural knowledge data, map priority areas, and develop a monitoring plan. The goal is to observe changes in the supply of traditional herbs and plants, the frequency and impact of foraging on the territory, the vitality of salmon spawning, changes in unauthorized camping, and invasive plant and animal species.

    Project Title: Wildfire Recovery MonitoringRecipient: Okanagan Indian BandFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will assess the condition of the White Rock Lake watershed before and after the wildfires on behalf of the Okanagan Indian Band. Guardians will conduct site assessments, inventory significant cultural resources, monitor wildlife, and assess the severity of fire damage to guide restoration efforts.

    Project Title: Nanwakolas – Stewardship through Indigenous Scientific KnowledgeRecipient: Nanwakolas Council CorporationFunding Amount: $500,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will apply Kwakwaka’wakw values and Indigenous scientific knowledge to a variety of projects including loxiwe (clam garden) restoration, canoe carving, seasonal Guardian Gathering events, and data collection on water, wildlife monitoring, climate change studies, and emergency response planning.

    Project Title: Continuing Implementation of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Guardian Program InitiativeRecipient: Squamish Nation – Squamish Indian Band 555Funding Amount: $349,505Project Description: This two-year initiative will provide stewardship activities, respond to climate events and emergencies, and enhance public safety. Guardians will continue to be present on the land and learn from Elders, Knowledge Keepers and youth; and collaborate with other Nations to share information and build capacity across the national Guardian network.

    Project Title: Guardians of the St’át’imc LandRecipient: St’at’imc Government ServicesFunding Amount: $425,180Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on implementing the St’át’imc Water Agreement. It includes collecting baseline data on three intact watersheds and three impacted watersheds to assess water quality. Other activities include capacity building and examining stories and legends through workshops and research in collaboration with the Indigenous Law Research Unit.

    Project Title: Nak’azdli Whut’en Yinka Huwunline (Caring) Guardian ProgramRecipient: Nak’azdli Whut’enFunding Amount: $349,942Project Description: This two-year initiative will develop geospatial mapping technology for Guardians to use in their monitoring activities. This will create open portals for communication while protecting internal data and cultural information. The project will use remote sensing technology to create “living maps” that will track seasonal phenology, quantify impacts, and provide informed stewardship engagements with industry, government, consultants, and academia.

    Project Title: Yintah Guardians of Lake Babine NationRecipient: Lake Babine NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will lead the collaborative management of the Yintahs of Lake Babine Nation territory and resources of two key cultural species, talok (sockeye) and khida (moose), to restore moose populations to culturally significant levels, and support fish monitoring, habitat restoration and cooperative management.

    Manitoba

    Project Title: Seal River Watershed Alliance Land Guardian NetworkRecipient: Seal River Watershed AllianceFunding Amount: $500,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will hire 14 youth and Elders as Land Guardians across the four Alliance Nations. This initiative builds technical capacity and manages species and habitat identification, monitoring, protection, and watershed stewardship.

    Project Title: Askiy Okanawaynichikaywuk – Guardians of the LandRecipient: York Factory First Nation Funding Amount: $349,860Project Description: This two-year initiative will maintain trails, monitor cultural and historical sites, observe changes in the land, and support respectful land use. Guardians will provide a visible presence, conduct community outreach, participate in on-the-ground activities, and help guide Council decisions on land use, stewardship, and protection.

    Project Title: Pimachiowin Aki First Nations Guardians NetworkRecipient: Pimachiowin Aki CorporationFunding Amount: $499,615Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on monitoring the seasonal walleye fishery, all-season road design, wildfire management, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Guardians provide a professional presence and expertise in Pimachiowin Aki, expressing their belonging to the Anishinaabe Nation, filling gaps in the provincial information management system and patrols, and conducting year-round monitoring activities.

    Project Title: SCOB Regional First Nations Guardians NetworkRecipient: Southern Chiefs’ Organization Inc.Funding Amount: $500,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on strengthening Indigenous jurisdiction over their traditional lands, developing capacity, training and skills in environmental monitoring and management, and promoting cooperation and collaboration among communities on natural resource stewardship and management issues.

    Project Title: Swan Lake First Nation Indigenous Guardians Land, Water and Nature Stewardship InitiativeRecipient: Swan Lake First NationFunding Amount: $349,285Project Description: This two-year initiative, in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will continue to assess and reseed revegetation terraces if necessary, monitor water quality from the tile drainage structure, and monitor animal and pollinator populations. The data collected will help understand the success of this project in reducing nutrient pollution and improving ecosystems.

    New Brunswick

    Project Title: Amlamgog Earth GuardiansRecipient: Fort Folly First NationFunding Amount: $321,411Project Description: This two-year initiative will expand and enhance an existing salmon recovery initiative. This initiative will focus on monitoring flora and fauna, in accordance with the traditional guiding principle of “Etuaptmumk” (two-eyed vision).

    Project Title: Wotstak First Nation Guardians Initiative – Tier 1Recipient: Woodstock First NationFunding Amount: $50,000Project Description: This one-year initiative will collect data and monitor the ecosystem, drawing on the knowledge of Woodstock First Nation’s Indigenous traditions of conservation, with the goal of developing a land use plan.

    Project Title: Elugweieg Toqwe’gig ugjit Ugs’tqamu aq ugjit Sapo’nug (We work together for the land and for tomorrow)Recipient: Esgenoôpetitj Watershed AssociationFunding Amount: $349,923Project Description: This two-year initiative will expand monitoring and governance of the Esgenoôpetitj aquatic environment, led by Esgenoôpetitj First Nation Fishery Guardians, in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada enforcement staff, as part of the management, conservation and protection of fisheries in areas most frequented by the community.

    Newfoundland and Labrador

    Project Title: Innu Nation Guardians ProgramRecipient: Innu Nation – Environment and Parks OfficesFunding Amount: $700,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will integrate the Innu (Natuashish) communities of Sheshatshiu and Mushuau Innu through environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. The initiative will focus on five objectives: the creation of additional guardian positions, technical and safety training, the organization of youth workshops on knowledge transfer, the purchase of necessary equipment, and the development of cultural initiatives to maintain and promote Innu traditions and ecological knowledge.

    Nova Scotia

    Project Title: Reconnecting Our People with the LandBeneficiary: Eskasoni Fish

    Project Title: Nova Scotia Land Guardians Network/Nuji kelo’toqatijikRecipient: Unama’ki Institute of the Natural Resources SocietyFunding Amount: $500,000Project Description: This two-year initiative involves collecting and sharing Indigenous knowledge, promoting Netukulimk hunting practices, monitoring and data collection including designating areas suitable for cultural activities, harvesting medicinal plants, monitoring species at risk, and education and awareness of culturally significant species.

    Northwest Territories

    Project Title: Ni hat’ni Dene (“Keepers of the Land”)Recipient: Lutsel K’e Dene First NationFunding Amount: $349,600Project Description: This two-year initiative is part of a long-term mandate to promote Thaidene Nene stewardship, working full-time as guardians of the land, water and animals, and as ambassadors of the Dene way of life, and welcoming visitors. Initiatives include protecting Bathurst caribou, sharing cultural knowledge with youth, and protecting food security.

    Project Title: Deninu Kue First Nation GuardiansRecipient: Deninu Kue First NationFunding Amount: $333,055Project Description: This two-year initiative will monitor the land and waters. Guardians will patrol the territory to ensure it remains clean and will conduct water quality sampling and fish cleanliness monitoring.

    Project Title: Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ First Nation Guardians and Climate Change Monitoring ProjectRecipient: Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ First NationFunding Amount: $349,961Project Description: This two-year initiative aims to monitor the impacts of climate change on the environment in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories. The initiative will include monitoring a variety of indicators such as permafrost thaw, streambank subsidence/erosion, and species population shifts. Guardians will receive specialized training in monitoring erosion and permafrost conditions, observing thaw patterns, and assessing thaw depth. This data collection is essential to assess the evolution of the landscape.

    Project Title: Sahtu K’aowe Guardians Project for Tsá Tué Biosphere ReserveRecipient: Délįnę Got’įnę GovernmentFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative supports monitoring of Great Bear Lake and its watershed using the “Two-Eyed Seeing Approach” (uniting Western science and Indigenous knowledge) to ensure biodiversity conservation, ecological integrity, climate change adaptation, local wildlife subsistence, food security, and the continuity and revitalization of cultural practices.

    Ontario

    Project Title: Environmental Stewardship of Air Quality Issues for Aamjiwnaang First NationRecipient: Aamjiwnaang First NationFunding Amount: $48,732Project Description: This one-year initiative will monitor the air, water and lands surrounding Aamjiwnaang First Nation that have been impacted by industrial development. Guardians will identify environmental monitoring gaps (soil, water, air, fish, plants and endangered species), develop data collection plans, and improve emergency notifications and community responses to oil refineries, chemical plants and other industrial facilities located near Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

    Project Title: Temagami First Nation GuardiansRecipient: Temagami First NationFunding Amount: $451,000Project Description: This two-year initiative focuses on water quality, species and habitat protection, preserving Indigenous wisdom, data collection and monitoring. Guardians will participate in tracking, recording and reporting activities related to land use and environmental protection. Special attention will be paid to Lake Temagami, including monitoring ice fishing huts, houseboats, shorelines and more.

    Project Title: Atikameksheng Anishnawbek – Phase 2 – Monitoring the Atikameksheng Traditional TerritoryRecipient: Atikameksheng AnishnawbekFunding Amount: $347,263Project Description: This two-year initiative will collect maple sap during the sugar moon and harvest other food items, which will be distributed to Elders and the Nations Food Bank. Guardians will monitor the land, conduct field inspections for proposed logging operations to ensure that Grandmother Trees are protected, and complete daily field worksheets and site inspections that will provide important environmental information on spills, violations, and logging operations.

    Project Title: Anishinabek Traditional Ecological Guardians of Georgian BayRecipient: Magnetawan First NationFunding Amount: $500,000Project Description: This two-year initiative supports on-the-ground learning, knowledge transfer and technical skills training on species at risk, species monitoring, data collection and other land management activities using the “Two-Eyed Seeing Approach”. The initiative will also help build sustainable management capacity in other First Nations groups.

    Project Title: Charting the Path Ahead – Anishinaabe Aki Shkabewisag (Niiwin Wendaanimok Anishinaabe Guardians Network)Recipient: Niiwin Wendaanimok Limited PartnershipFunding Amount: $500,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will support four Anishinaabe Nations to mitigate and monitor development compliance on the land, increase their capacity to care for land, water, plants and animals, and collaborate to identify individual needs and create customized support and mentorship programs. Anishinaabe Guardians will identify and protect important areas through consultation with Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

    Project Title: Ketegaunseebee Aki GuardiansRecipient: Garden River First NationFunding Amount: $301,400Project Description: This two-year initiative will help Garden River First Nation monitor and protect the St. Mary’s River and lands in fulfillment of a treaty with neighbouring Indigenous nations. The initiative will focus on capacity building, community engagement and on-the-ground work, including species at risk, invasive species and logging monitoring patrols.

    Project Title: Four Rivers Regional Guardians NetworkRecipient: Matawa First Nations ManagementFunding Amount: $389,771Project Description: This two-year initiative focuses on environmental stewardship and capacity building in nine Matawa First Nations. The Four Rivers Regional Guardians Network will participate in virtual and in-person networking events to expand their knowledge and capacity, including cultural exchanges within the network.

    Project Title: Biinjitawaabik Zaaging Anishnaabek Community GuardiansRecipient: Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishnaabek First Nation of Rocky BayFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will implement sturgeon and mine site protocols, conduct environmental monitoring analyses, map the Lake Nipigon basin and compile the data into a geographic information system database.

    Project Title: The Height Of Land Wakohtowin Guardians Program – Treaty 9Recipient: Wahkohtowin Development General Partnership INC.Funding Amount: $499,300Project Description: This two-year initiative aims to strengthen traditional knowledge, practices and lifestyles within communities. Guardians will have first-hand experience in the functioning of ecosystem services and the economics of conservation.

    Project Title: Neya Waban Guardians Program – Guardians of the LandRecipient: Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First NationFunding Amount: $349,650Project Description: This two-year initiative will gather critical information for decision-making, identify areas of quality wildlife habitat, and develop management plans and protocols. The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation will continue to collect data based on Algonquin knowledge to better protect the land, water, animals and air of the eleven communities in Ontario and Quebec.

    Project Title: Mnisinoog (Warriors for the Bay): Shawanaga First Nation Guardians ProgramRecipient: Shawanaga First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative focuses on enhancing aquatic life, using river monitors to maintain and protect the health of the river ecosystem. Aquatic stewardship is a priority, through catch surveys, large-scale monitoring of water bodies, and a detailed study of fish consumption.

    Project Title: Caldwell First Nation Land Guardians ProgramRecipient: Caldwell First NationFunding Amount: $345,840Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on education, training, on-the-ground learning with technical experts and knowledge holders, and listening sessions with the community. The Guardians will review classroom environmental assessments on behalf of Caldwell First Nation, monitor and participate in environmental projects on the land, and implement multi-year capacity building initiatives, with a focus on supporting the creation, development and management of Indigenous protected and conserved areas on their traditional territory.

    Prince Edward Island

    Project Title: Lennox Island First Nation Guardians ProgramRecipient: Lennox Island First NationFunding Amount: $346,800Project Description: This two-year initiative will help better manage, protect and utilize the marine resources that the community relies on. It will allow the Lennox Island Watershed Conservation Group to participate in coastal erosion studies, fisheries workshops (lobster handling practices), a black ash reforestation project and the development of a modernized solid waste management plan.

    Project Title: Guardians of AbegweitRecipient: Abegweit First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative embodies a cultural and traditional approach to natural resource management. The initiative also includes data collection and monitoring, with a focus on land, water and resource use on traditional territories, including cultural sites.

    Quebec

    Project Title: Guardians of the NdakinaRecipient: W8banakiFunding Amount: $500,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will support the sustainability of traditional practices of members of the Nation, protect their rights of access to ancestral territories and preserve cultural heritage. This initiative will create conservation spaces, share and transmit Indigenous knowledge, mentor youth, consult the community, promote food sovereignty and many other activities.

    Project Title: Moving Forward: Taking Pessamit’s Land Guardians to the Next LevelRecipient: Conseil des Innus de PessamitFunding Amount: $349,550Project Description: This two-year initiative involves a team of six territorial agents specializing in data collection, land monitoring, and comprehensive inventories of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. The initiative will focus on monitoring and assessments, conducting an inventory of cultural sites, developing sampling expertise, and community engagement and visibility.

    Project Title: Abitibiwinnik Land GuardiansRecipient: Abitibiwinni First NationFunding Amount: $195,931Project Description: This two-year initiative will continue to train community members in land monitoring and develop new skills and knowledge through fieldwork that uses both Indigenous knowledge and Western science. The initiative aims to document information gathered through the activities of guardians, community members and elders.

    Project Title: Chisasibi Intertidal Cumulative Impact Assessment: Integrating Science, Tradition and StewardshipRecipient: Chisasibi Cree NationFunding Amount: $348,468Project Description: This two-year initiative will focus on integrating western science, Indigenous knowledge and stewardship to address key challenges in the Chisasibi community. The initiative will study the impact of land use planning by reviewing existing research, mapping the community, analyzing vegetation and collecting environmental samples. In addition, it will build capacity through workshops and a mentoring initiative involving the Kinwhapmaakins (trapkeepers/managers). All data will be collected and combined into a detailed cumulative effects report.

    Project Title: Atikamekw Guardians of ManawanRecipient: Atikamekw Council of ManawanFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative will strengthen the role of Guardians in working with non-Indigenous land users and partners within the Nation and community. The next phase will focus on field activity, data collection, establishing a formal mandate recognized by the community, capacity building and training, and strengthening the role of Guardians within the community.

    Project Title: Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Nagadjitòdjig Guardians InitiativeRecipient: Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First NationFunding Amount: $594,020Project Description: This two-year initiative will monitor and inventory key cultural species, wild foods and trees. Guardians will conduct water quality studies, identify sites of cultural significance and record videos to document traditional practices and activities.

    Project Title: Protection and Participation in the Development of Pekuakamiulnuatsh Heritage on NitassinanRecipient: Pekuakamiulnuatsh TakuhikanFunding Amount: $49,995Project Description: This one-year initiative aims to ensure the protection and preservation of the territory, while maintaining the well-being of the members of the Nation community, as they carry out the traditional activities of their Nation. Guardians play a crucial role in supporting the Nation community, monitoring the lands and accompanying community members on Nation lands.

    Project Title: Essipiu Assinu Nakatuenitamu (He who takes care of the territory of Essipit)Recipient: Council of the Innu Essipit First NationFunding Amount: $246,308Project Description: This two-year initiative supports responsible governance and occupation of the Nation’s territory, land monitoring, participation in community events, and collaboration on various projects that encourage learning and skills development for guardians and community members.

    Project Title: Nutshimiunnuat d’ITUM (Guardians of the Nitassinan d’ITUM)Beneficiary: Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-UtenamFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative involves monitoring, protection and stewardship activities on the Nation’s traditional territory. Its objective is to ensure monitoring of the territory and protection of the Nation, as well as to contribute to studies and inventories on the impacts of climate change and industrial development on the territory.

    Project Title: Iakwatonhontsanónhnha – We all mind her, the EarthRecipient: Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:keFunding Amount: $256,416Project Description: This two-year initiative will develop a community environmental charter that will help define the roles and responsibilities of conservation officers. It will also provide an opportunity to consult on a “Rights of Nature” approach to protecting the St. Lawrence River.

    Saskatchewan

    Project Title: File Hills Qu’Appelle Guardians InitiativeRecipient: File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal CouncilFunding Amount: $354,180Project Description: This two-year initiative will monitor and document stream health, including water quality, medicinal plants, and bank conditions, particularly on the lower Qu’Appelle River and its chain of lakes. It will also revitalize language and land stewardship practices.

    Project Title: Monitoring and Protection of Athabasca Denesųłiné Nuhenéné in SaskatchewanRecipient: Ya’thi Néné Lands and Resources OfficeFunding Amount: $498,916Project Description: This two-year initiative will monitor the lands and waters of Nuhenéné, including Indigenous protected areas, caribou hunting areas, and mining and prospecting activities. Guided by Elders, Ya’thi Néné Land and Resource Guardians are working to reconnect youth to the land and train future leaders in sustainable management practices.

    Project Title: Birch Narrows Dene Nation Nuh Nene Strategic PlanRecipient: Birch Narrows Dene NationFunding Amount: $49,917Project Description: This one-year initiative will monitor the land, combining ancestral wisdom and modern ecological approaches. Strategic partnerships with neighbouring First Nations and partners such as Tamarack Environmental Associates, Nexgen Energy Ltd. and Fission Uranium Corp. will amplify the impact of conservation efforts. Through training, mentoring and community engagement, the initiative will help the Nuh Nene Department achieve its goal of safeguarding cultural identity and the natural environment.

    Project Title: Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation Community Guardians InitiativeRecipient: Pheasant Rump Nakota First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative aims to build capacity by training and employing youth to collect and analyze data on climate change and industry impacts on the land. The data will be used to develop a land use plan to inform Chief and Council decision-making on stewardship and habitat management initiatives to ensure sustainable sources of traditional foods for the community.

    Project Title: Muskowekwan First Nation Community Guardians InitiativeRecipient: Muskowekwan First NationFunding Amount: $350,000Project Description: This two-year initiative aims to build the capacity of community members to monitor and understand the impacts of climate change. Youth will have the opportunity to receive training in Indigenous knowledge, Western science, climate and environmental monitoring practices including geographic information systems and remote sensing, participatory mapping and knowledge gathering.

    Yukon

    Project Title: Teechik Land Guardians: Nanh gwiinzii vik’ite’tri’giikhii/We read the land wellRecipient: Vuntut Gwitchin First NationFunding Amount: $349,333Project Description: This two-year initiative will operate a camera trap network to monitor predator-prey interactions on the Old Crow Winter Road and conduct baseline fish and water sampling at the headwaters of the Porcupine River. The Guardian Coordinator will be responsible for organizing patrols, analyzing monitoring data, and preparing communications materials for community members and leaders. This capacity building will strengthen monitoring efforts by enabling the initiative to process more samples, improve the use of camera data, and enable keepers to establish an annual trapping camp to extend monitoring to furbearers.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gross Domestic Product by State and Personal Income by State, 2nd Quarter 2024

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Real gross domestic product increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia in the second quarter of 2024, with the percent change ranging from 5.9 percent at an annual rate in Idaho to –1.1 percent in Alaska, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (table 1).

    Current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the percent change ranging from 8.0 percent at an annual rate in Idaho to 3.0 percent in Alaska (table 1).

    Personal income, in current dollars, increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the percent change ranging from 6.9 percent at an annual rate in South Carolina to 2.3 percent in North Dakota (table 3).

    Real GDP

    In the second quarter of 2024, real GDP for the nation grew at an annual rate of 3.0 percent. Real GDP increased in 16 of the 23 industry groups for which BEA prepares quarterly state estimates (table 2). Nondurable-goods manufacturing, finance and insurance, and health care and social assistance were the leading contributors to growth in real GDP nationally (table 2).

    • Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting, which increased in 29 states, was the leading contributor to growth in 11 states including Idaho, Kansas, and Nebraska, the states with the fastest increases in real GDP. In contrast, this industry was the leading offset to growth in 10 states including North Dakota, the slowest growing state.
    • Nondurable-goods manufacturing, which increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, was the leading contributor to growth in 12 states including Utah, the state with the fourth-fastest increase in real GDP.
    • Mining, which declined in 33 states, was the leading contributor to the decrease in real GDP in Alaska, the only state with a decline in real GDP.

    Personal income

    In the second quarter of 2024, current-dollar personal income increased $315.6 billion, or 5.3 percent at an annual rate (table 3). Nationally, earnings, transfer receipts, and property income (dividends, interest, and rent) all contributed to the increase in personal income (chart 1).

    Earnings increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, while growing 6.3 percent nationally. The percent change in earnings ranged from 8.3 percent in Idaho to 2.1 percent in North Dakota. Earnings increased in 22 of the 24 industries for which BEA prepares quarterly estimates and was the largest contributor to growth in personal income in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (tables 4 and 5).

    • In South Carolina, the state with the fastest growth in personal income, durable-goods manufacturing was the leading contributor to the increase in earnings.
    • In Utah, the state with the second-fastest growth in personal income, professional, scientific, and technical services was the leading contributor to the increase in earnings.
    • In Nebraska, the state with the third-fastest growth in personal income, farm earnings was the leading contributor to the increase. In contrast, farm earnings was the leading contributor to the decline in earnings in North Dakota, the state with the slowest growth in personal income.

    Transfer receipts increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia, while growing 6.1 percent nationally. The percent change in transfer receipts ranged from 14.9 percent in California to –0.5 percent in Massachusetts (table 4).

    • The increase in transfer receipts in California was due in part to an increase in Medicaid benefits, which increased 47.8 percent due to program expansion.

    Property income increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, while growing 1.5 percent nationally. The percent change ranged from 2.4 percent in Wyoming to 1.0 percent in Nebraska and Mississippi (table 4).

    Update of state statistics

    The estimates for the second quarter of 2024 incorporate the results of BEA’s annual updates of GDP and personal income by state that are also being released today. The annual estimates of GDP and personal income by state from 2019 to 2023 and quarterly estimates of GDP and personal income by state from the first quarter of 2019 through the first quarter of 2024 were revised. This update incorporates new and revised source data that are more complete and more detailed than previously available, updates to seasonal factors, and aligns the states with the annual update of the National Income and Product Accounts and the GDP by industry statistics released on September 26, 2024. Our online journal, the Survey of Current Business, will publish an article in November describing the results.

    BEA released new estimates of per capita personal income for the second quarter of 2024, along with revised estimates for the first quarter of 2019 through the first quarter of 2024. BEA used U.S. Census Bureau population figures to calculate per capita personal income estimates for the first quarter of 2020 through the second quarter of 2024. For earlier estimates, BEA continues to use intercensal population statistics that it developed based on Census Bureau methodology. See “Note on Per Capita Personal Income and Population.”

    Starting in September 2025, BEA will begin to regularly publish quarterly GDP and personal income by state along with annual personal consumption expenditures by state together in a single news release, providing a fuller picture of the economies of all states and the District of Columbia. The combined news release will replace the publication of two separate releases issued on different days.

    *          *          *

    Next release: December 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. EST
    Gross Domestic Product by State and Personal Income by State, 3rd Quarter 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Annual Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Begins Oct. 4 to Help Protect North Carolinians and Their Pets

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Annual Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Begins Oct. 4 to Help Protect North Carolinians and Their Pets

    Annual Wildlife Oral Rabies Vaccination Program Begins Oct. 4 to Help Protect North Carolinians and Their Pets
    hejones1

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to prevent and eliminate the spread of rabies. Beginning next week, Wildlife Services will be distributing the annual oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons in Western North Carolina. 

    To ensure the public can safely enjoy the outdoors, NCDHHS and Wildlife Services are using the latest science and technology to vaccinate the raccoon population. Starting Oct. 4, baits containing the oral rabies vaccine will be distributed by both aerial operations and by vehicles in Alleghany, Ashe, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, Macon, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Wilkes and Yancey counties.  

    “We encourage people to maintain safe distances from wild animals and ensure their pets are vaccinated against rabies,” said NCDHHS State Public Health Veterinarian Emily Herring, DVM. “Through both the oral rabies vaccination program and the vigilance of pet owners, we can work to prevent the spread of this deadly infection.”

    The baits — consisting of a sachet or plastic packet — contain an oral vaccine that vaccinates animals against the rabies virus when consumed. To attract raccoons, the packets are sprinkled with a fishmeal coating or encased inside hard fishmeal–polymer blocks about the size of a matchbox. When the raccoon bites into a bait, the vaccine packet is punctured, allowing the vaccine to enter the animal’s mouth, stimulating the raccoon’s immune system to produce antibodies to fight the disease. This protects the animal from becoming infected with rabies. 

    Intact baits will not harm people, pets or wildlife. The following precautions have been issued by USDA Wildlife Services if you or your pets encounter a bait: 

    • If you or your pet find a bait, leave it where you found it unless it is on your lawn, driveway or other area unlikely to attract raccoons in which case you can move the bait to an area of thicker cover where raccoons are more likely to find it and pets are less likely to encounter it. 
    • Wear gloves or use a towel when you pick up bait. While there is no harm in touching undamaged baits, they have a strong fishmeal smell.  
    • Eating the baits won’t harm your pet but consuming several baits might temporarily upset your pet’s stomach. 
    • Do not try to remove an oral rabies vaccine packet from your pet’s mouth, as you could be bitten. 
    • Instruct children to leave baits alone. If a bait is ingested by a child or adult, call 1-866-4-USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297). NCDHHS has never received a report of a human ingesting a bait packet.
    • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if there is any chance the vaccine packet has ruptured.
    • A warning label on each bait advises people not to touch the bait and contains the rabies information line telephone number.
    • Broken or ruptured baits are ineffective and should be disposed of by using gloves to place the bait in a bag and then into a regular trash bin. Anyone who comes in contact with the bait’s liquid vaccine should thoroughly wash their hands using soap and water and call the phone number listed on the bait or their local health department for further instructions and referral. 

    Sept. 28 is World Rabies Day, which aims to raise awareness about this viral disease. In North Carolina rabies is most commonly found in wild animals, which poses a threat to both people and their domestic animals that may encounter wildlife. This disease is almost always fatal in mammals, including people, once symptoms develop. Increasing the number of vaccinated animals in the population helps establish a buffer to stop the spread of the disease to other wildlife, pets and people.

    While the oral rabies vaccine is safe for domestic dogs and cats, it is only approved for use in vaccinating wildlife. Annual rabies vaccinations for your pets should be administered by a veterinarian. In North Carolina, domestic pets must be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age and routinely thereafter in accordance with state law. 

    Wildlife Services appreciates the assistance of the public by reporting strange acting animals to local animal control offices or to Wildlife Services toll-free at 1-866-4-USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297). 

    The distribution of these vaccines is expected to be completed by late October, depending on weather and other extenuating factors. Once the vaccines have been distributed, Wildlife Services will continue to monitor the status of raccoons and locations of rabies-positive animals. The most current positive raccoon rabies cases have been located along the eastern edge of the vaccination zone.  

    Information about the National Rabies Management Program can be found on the USDA website.  

    For additional general information on rabies, visit the CDC rabies webpage. 

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte está trabajando con los Servicios de Vida Silvestre (Wildlife Services en inglés) del Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos para ayudar a prevenir la propagación de la rabia. A partir de la próxima semana, los Servicios de Flora y Fauna Silvestre distribuirán una vacuna oral contra la rabia para mapaches libres en el oeste de Carolina del Norte.

    Para garantizar que el público pueda disfrutar del aire libre de manera segura, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) y los Servicios de Vida Silvestre están utilizando la última ciencia y tecnología para vacunar a la población de mapaches. A partir del 4 de octubre , los cebos que contienen la vacuna oral contra la rabia serán distribuidos por operaciones aéreas y por vehículos en los condados de Alleghany, Ashe, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, Macon, Mitchell, Swain, Transilvania, Wilkes y Yancey.

    “Motivamos a las personas a mantener distancias seguras de los animales salvajes y garantizar que sus mascotas estén vacunadas contra la rabia”, dijo la veterinaria de Salud Pública estatal del NCDHHS, Emily Herring, DVM. “A través del programa de vacunación oral contra la rabia y la vigilancia de los dueños de mascotas, podemos trabajar para prevenir la propagación de esta infección mortal”.

    Los cebos, que consisten en un sobre o un paquete de plástico, contienen una vacuna oral que vacuna a los animales contra el virus de la rabia cuando se consumen. Para atraer a los mapaches, los paquetes se espolvorean con un recubrimiento de harina de pescado o se encierran dentro de bloques duros de polímero de harina de pescado del tamaño de una caja de fósforos. Cuando el mapache muerde un cebo, el paquete de vacunas se perfora, permitiendo que la vacuna entre en la boca del animal, estimulando el sistema inmunológico del mapache para producir anticuerpos para combatir la enfermedad. Esto protege al animal de infectarse con la rabia.

    Los cebos intactos no dañarán a las personas, las mascotas o la vida silvestre. Los Servicios de Vida Silvestre del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos han emitido las siguientes precauciones si usted o sus mascotas encuentran un cebo:

    • Si usted o su mascota encuentran un cebo, déjelo donde lo encontró a menos que esté en su césped, camino de entrada u otra área donde es poco probable que atraiga a los mapaches, en cuyo caso puede mover el cebo a un área de cobertura más gruesa donde es más probable que los mapaches lo encuentren y es menos probable que las mascotas lo encuentren.
    • Use guantes o use una toalla cuando recoja el cebo. Si bien no hay nada malo en tocar cebos intactos, tienen un fuerte olor a harina de pescado.
    • Comer los cebos no dañará a su mascota, pero consumir varios cebos podría afectar temporalmente el estómago de su mascota.
    • No intente quitar un paquete de vacuna oral contra la rabia de la boca de su mascota, ya que podría ser mordido.
    • Indique a los niños que dejen los cebos en paz. Si un niño o un adulto ingiere un cebo, llame al 1-866-4-USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297). El NCDHHS nunca ha recibido un informe de un ser humano que ingiera un paquete de cebo.
    • Lávese bien las manos con agua y jabón si hay alguna posibilidad de que el paquete de vacunas se haya roto.
    • Una etiqueta de advertencia en cada cebo aconseja a las personas que no toquen el cebo y contiene el número de teléfono de la línea de información sobre la rabia.
    • Los cebos rotos o perforados son ineficaces y deben desecharse usando guantes para colocar el cebo en una bolsa y luego en un bote de basura regular. Cualquier persona que entre en contacto con la vacuna líquida del cebo debe lavarse bien las manos con agua y jabón y llamar al número de teléfono que figura en el cebo o a su departamento de salud local para obtener más instrucciones y referencias.

    El 28 de septiembre es el Día Mundial de la Rabia, cuyo objetivo es concientizar sobre esta enfermedad viral. En Carolina del Norte, la rabia se encuentra con mayor frecuencia en animales salvajes, lo que representa una amenaza tanto para las personas como para sus animales domésticos que pueden encontrarse con la vida silvestre. Esta enfermedad casi siempre es mortal en los mamíferos, incluidas las personas, una vez que se desarrollan los síntomas. El aumento del número de animales vacunados en la población ayuda a establecer una barrera para detener la propagación de la enfermedad a otras especies silvestres, mascotas y personas.

    Si bien la vacuna oral contra la rabia es segura para perros y gatos domésticos, solo está aprobada para su uso en la vacunación de la vida silvestre. Las vacunas anuales contra la rabia para sus mascotas deben ser administradas por un veterinario. En Carolina del Norte, las mascotas domésticas deben vacunarse contra la rabia a los cuatro meses de edad y de forma rutinaria a partir de entonces de acuerdo con la ley estatal.

    Los Servicios de Vida Silvestre agradecen la asistencia del público al informar sobre animales de comportamiento extraño a las oficinas locales de control de animales o al número gratuito de los Servicios de Vida Silvestre al 1-866-4-USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297).

    Se espera que la distribución de estas vacunas se complete a fines de octubre, dependiendo del clima y otros factores atenuantes. Una vez que se hayan distribuido las vacunas, los Servicios de Vida Silvestre continuarán monitoreando el estado de los mapaches y las ubicaciones de los casos de animales positivos para la rabia. Los casos positivos más actuales de rabia del mapache se han localizado a lo largo del borde del este de la zona de vacunación.

    Puede encontrar información sobre el Programa Nacional de Manejo de la Rabia en el sitio web del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés).

    Para obtener información general adicional sobre la rabia, visite la página web de los CDC sobre la rabia.

    Sep 27, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Results for the Period Ended 30 June 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Octopus Future Generations VCT plc

    Results for the Period Ended 30 June 2024

    Octopus Future Generations VCT plc (‘Future Generations VCT’ or the ‘Company’) is backing businesses that aim to address society’s biggest challenges, providing an opportunity for investors to share in the growth of ambitious, purpose‑driven companies.

    The Company is managed by Octopus AIF Management Limited (the ‘Manager’), who has delegated investment management to Octopus Investments Limited (‘Octopus’ or ‘Portfolio Manager’) via its investment team Octopus Ventures.

    The Company today announces the unaudited financial report for the twelve months ended 30 June 2024.

    Chair’s statement

    Highlights

    • £46.1m in total net assets
    • 86.8p Net Asset Value (NAV) per share
    • 36 portfolio companies 

    I am pleased to present the unaudited financial report and accounts for the Company for the twelve months to 30 June 2024.

    I would like to welcome all new shareholders to the Company. Future Generations VCT invests in exciting early-stage companies which aspire to address current environmental and societal issues.

    The NAV per share at 30 June 2024 was 86.8p, which represents a net decrease of 6.9p per share from 31 December 2023, the latest released NAV. In the twelve months to 30 June 2024, we utilised £8.3 million of our cash resources, including £7.2 million which was invested into 13 new portfolio companies. The cash balance of £17.5 million as at 30 June 2024 represents 37.8% of net assets at that date. The loss made in the period to 30 June 2024 was £4.0 million. This decline is mainly caused by the downward movements in some portfolio company valuations. It is reflective of some company specific performance challenges and the difficult funding conditions in the early stage space. Given the Company is still a new VCT, many of its portfolio companies are at the beginning of their journey and will likely require further funding to succeed, so it is to be expected to see under performance or even failures before any growth in value of companies which are ultimately successful.

    Fundraise
    On 31 January 2024 we launched a new offer to raise up to £15 million, and to date we have raised £3.2 million. The offer will close for new applications on 27 January 2025, or earlier at the Board’s discretion. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all shareholders for their continued support.

    As investors will be aware, the intention is to invest in businesses which meet one of three key themes, which we believe demonstrate good investment prospects as well as having the potential to transform the world we live in for the better.

    VCT qualification
    I am pleased to report that in April 2024, the Company met the requirement for 80% of the Company’s funds to be invested in VCT qualifying holdings by 1 July 2024 (for funds raised up to 30 June 2022). The remainder will be invested in permitted non-VCT qualifying investments or cash.

    In November 2023, a ten-year extension was announced to the ‘sunset clause’ (a retirement date for the VCT scheme), meaning VCT tax reliefs will be available until 5 April 2035. This extension passed through Parliament in February 2024 and on 3 September the Treasury brought into effect the extension through The Finance Act 2024.

    Principal risks and uncertainties
    The Board continues to review the risk environment in which the Company operates on a regular basis. The principal risks as described on pages 32 to 34 of the Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2023 remain, however there is increased exposure to investment performance and loss of key people These will be reported on in detail in the annual report to 31 December 2024.

    Change to year end
    In 2023, the Board reviewed and approved a proposal to move the Company’s year-end from 30 June to 31 December. This change is largely being driven by operational efficiency gains by aligning year-end periods with other funds with which the Company co-invests. As a result, shareholders will receive an annual report for 31 December 2024 covering an extended 18-month period. After this, the normal cadence of reporting will resume.

    Board of Directors
    As announced in our half-yearly report to 31 December 2023, Ajay Chowdhury was appointed as an independent Non-Executive Director on 1 March 2024. Ajay is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist and author, and recently retired from his role as senior partner at the Boston Consulting Group. We look forward to benefitting from his wealth of experience in the early-stage venture ecosystem.

    AGM
    The AGM will take place on 10 December 2024 from 10:00am and will be held at the offices of Octopus Investments Limited, 33 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT. Full details of the business to be conducted at the AGM are given in the Notice of AGM.

    Shareholders’ views are important, and the Board encourages shareholders to vote on the resolutions within the Notice of AGM using the proxy form, or electronically at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy. The Board has carefully considered the business to be approved at the AGM and recommends shareholders to vote in favour of all the resolutions being proposed, as the Board will be doing.

    Outlook
    The decline in the NAV is disappointing, with some of the portfolio companies struggling to scale, secure customer wins and successfully fundraise meaning they are not achieving the milestones set at the time the Company invested. With companies not able to prove their business models, we will unfortunately see companies fail. The Board is mindful that it is not an unusual outcome for a Company at this stage of its investment life cycle, with any failures likely preceding valuation growth which is expected once the portfolio matures. While the Company continues to add to its portfolio, there is also currently a greater concentration of value in fewer companies, so performance will be more sensitive to valuation movements in the underlying holdings than if the portfolio was larger.

    The decline has been amplified by challenging global economic conditions which have characterised the last few years particularly impacting on growth and early-stage businesses. We are hopeful that there are signs of recovery on the horizon, with the Bank of England cutting interest rates for the first time since 2020 and the conclusion of the UK General Election bringing more political certainty and stability. The exit environment is also starting to show signs of recovery, with Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) having their strongest start to the year since the peak of 2021, bringing renewed optimism in the market1. Together, this gives us some confidence that the challenging environment our portfolio companies are operating in will start to improve, and with diversification across the three investment themes, it should mean the Company is well positioned to generate long-term value for shareholders.

    I would like to conclude by thanking both my Board colleagues and the Octopus team on behalf of all shareholders for their hard work. The Board’s long-term view of early-stage venture capital remains positive, and I am looking forward to seeing what the remainder of the year brings for your Company.

    Helen Sinclair
    Chair
    27 September 2024

    1 Pitchbook, European Venture Report Q2 2024 https://pitchbook.com/news/reports/q2-2024-european-venture-report#:~:text=Our%20Q2%202024%20European%20Venture,most%2Dactive%20vertical%20after%20SaaS.

    Portfolio Manager’s review

    Focus on Future Generations VCT’s investments
    Below is a breakdown of the 36 investments held as at 30 June 2024, showing the proportion and value of the portfolio in each investment theme:

    Proportion by number of portfolio companies in each theme
    Revitalising healthcare: 50%
    Empowering people: 31%
    Building a sustainable planet: 19%

    Value of the portfolio in each theme
    Revitalising healthcare: £12.3m
    Empowering people: £10.4m
    Building a sustainable planet: £5.9m

    Overview of investments
    The Company completed 7 new investments in the six months to 30 June 2024 (comprising a total of £5.2 million) and 2 further investments after the reporting date totalling £0.5 million. More information on three of these businesses can be found below:

    A selection of our completed investments

    Empowering people
    Swiipr
    Swiipr has developed a digital payments platform specifically for the airline industry. The platform enables airlines to instantly compensate passengers in cases of disrupted or cancelled flights, using virtual or pre-paid cards. Swiipr aims to streamline payment processing for airlines and improve the reimbursement experience for affected passengers.

    Building a sustainable planet
    Drift
    Drift Energy is designing sailing vessels and the routing algorithms required to capture deep water wind energy and convert it into onboard hydrogen gas. This would then be transported back to shore using a fully integrated desalination, electrolysis and storage system.

    Revitalising healthcare
    Manual
    Manual is looking to become the go-to global platform to increase healthy lifespan and build a series of direct-to-consumer health brands for high importance, non-critical areas of health. To achieve this, it will provide easy to access advice and medical support for diagnosis, custom treatment plans and holistic care to induce long-term behaviour change.

    Top ten investments

    Portfolio company Cost Valuation at
    30 June 2024    		 Investment theme
    1. Perk Finance, S.L. (t/a* Cobee) £2.6m £3.7m Empowering people
    2. HelloSelf Limited £2.6m £2.6m Revitalising healthcare
    3. Neat SAS £0.8m £2.2m Building a sustainable planet
    4. Infinitopes Ltd £1.6m £1.6m Revitalising healthcare
    5. TYTN Ltd (t/a TitanML) £0.5m £1.5m Building a sustainable planet
    6. Mr & Mrs Oliver Ltd (t/a Skin + Me) £1.0m £1.4m Revitalising healthcare
    7. Apheris AI GmbH £1.2m £1.2m Empowering people
    8. Remofirst, Inc. £1.2m £1.2m Empowering people
    9. Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies Ltd £0.9m £1.0m Empowering people
    10. Inflow Holdings Inc. £1.0m £1.0m Revitalising healthcare

    * Trading as
      

    Portfolio engagement – D&I and carbon emission measurement
    As part of our strategy, we require portfolio companies to put in place a Diversity and Inclusion policy (D&I) and an Anti-Harassment policy. We also engage with each company to help them understand their greenhouse gas emissions and support them to take action to minimise them. You can see how we are progressing with these goals below, as at the date of this report:

    D&I policy status
    Policy in place: 36
    In progress: 0

    Engaged in monitoring 2023 greenhouse gas emissions
    Signed up: 12
    Introduced: 22
    In progress: 2

    Focus on performance
    The NAV of 86.8p per share at 30 June 2024 represents a decrease of 6.9p per share versus a NAV of 93.7p per share as at 31 December 2023. The decline in valuation over the six-month period has been driven by the downward valuation movements across 13 companies which saw a collective decrease in valuation of £6.5 million. The businesses that contributed most significantly to this were Tympa Health, Pear Bio and Elo Health. In the six months, the Company further invested into Tympa Health as this was the committed second tranche of the original investment case from 2023. During the investment period, Tympa Health over-invested in growth and has now had to make significant cost cuts and changes to senior management whilst running a fundraise process. It has successfully secured an external lead investor, but at a reduced valuation and the Company now sits behind a large preference stack, meaning that other investors get paid back first before the Company would see any returns. Pear Bio has also had to significantly reduced its cash burn but has limited runway and needs to further fundraise, so the valuation has been reduced to reflect this risk. Elo Health has struggled to find a market fit and execute on the investment thesis, so to extend its cash runway it has had to raise an investment round at a reduced valuation. These three valuation movements account for 87.6% of the total decline in the six months.

    Octopus Ventures believes that some of the companies which have seen decreased valuations in the year have the potential to overcome the issues they face and get their growth plans back on track. Octopus Ventures will continue to work with them to help them realise their ambitions. In some cases, if a company is achieving
    its performance milestones, the support offered could include further funding, to ensure a business has the capital it needs to execute on its strategy.

    Conversely, 6 companies saw an increase in valuation in the period, delivering a collective increase in valuation of £2.9 million. These valuation increases reflect businesses which have successfully concluded further funding rounds, grown revenues or met certain important milestones. Notable strong performers in the portfolio include Neat and TitanML, both of which have shown impressive capital efficient growth. These strong performers demonstrate that there are opportunities available for companies to scale.

    At this early stage of the Company’s life cycle, it is to be anticipated that failures will likely precede valuation growth, which takes longer as the portfolio companies have to achieve their agreed milestones and mature.

    The gain on Future Generation’s uninvested cash reserves was £0.9 million in the twelve months to 30 June 2024 (31 December 2023: gain of £0.5 million), driven by returns on money market funds. The Board’s objective for these investments is to generate sufficient returns through the cycle to cover costs, at limited risk to capital.

    Outlook
    We are pleased to report the Company’s first disposal as it was agreed that Cobee (an employee benefits and engagement platform) will be acquired by Pluxee Group as part of its strategic growth plan. The transaction is subject to approval by the Spanish regulatory authorities over the coming months, so we look forward to reporting further after completion has taken place. The transaction is a great result for the Company at such an early point in its investment lifecycle and a good proof point of the investment strategy.

    The decline in NAV over the six-month period is disappointing but attributable to both the stage of the Company and the headwinds the portfolio companies have been facing. We continue to closely monitor the portfolio to ensure support and resources are being directed in the most impactful way, both through Octopus-appointed non-executive directors or monitors on the Boards and our in-house People and Talent team. This team works directly with the portfolio company management teams, offering training and recruitment support to ensure the best talent pool is being explored to help drive success in this more challenging climate.

    We are excited to have the opportunity to continue to scale the Company, support its ambition to make the world a better place for future generations, and hope to deliver attractive returns to shareholders.

    Directors’ responsibilities statement

    The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:

    • the financial statements for the twelve months ended 30 June 2024 have been prepared in accordance with ‘Financial Reporting Standard 104: Interim Financial Reporting’ issued by the Financial Reporting Council;
    • the financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company;
    • the report includes a fair review of the information required by the Financial Conduct Authority Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, being:
      • we have disclosed an indication of the important events that have occurred during the twelve months of the period and their impact on the set of financial statements;
      • we have disclosed a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the period; and
      • we have disclosed a description of related party transactions that have taken place in the twelve months of the current financial period, that may have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Company during that period and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.

    By order of the Board

    Helen Sinclair
    Chair
    27 September 2024

    Income statement

      Unaudited Unaudited Audited
      Twelve months to 30 June 2024 Six months to 31 December 2023 Year to 30 June 2023
      Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Net loss on valuation of fixed asset
    investments    		 — (3,495) (3,495) — (136) (136) — (6) (6)
    Investment management fees (238) (712) (950) (117) (350) (467) (174) (522) (696)
    Investment income 973 — 973 515 — 515 424 — 424
    Other expenses (535) — (535) (246) — (246) (500) — (500)
    Profit/ (loss) before tax 200 (4,207) (4,007) 152 (486) (334) (250) (528) (778)
    Tax — — — — — — — — —
    Profit/ (loss) after tax 200 (4,207) (4,007) 152 (486) (334) (250) (528) (778)
    Earnings per share – basic and diluted 0.4p (8.4)p (8.0)p 0.3p (1.0)p (0.7)p (0.6)p (1.3)p (1.9)p
    • The ‘Total’ column of this statement is the profit and loss account of Future Generations VCT; the supplementary revenue return and capital return columns have been prepared under guidance published by the Association of Investment Companies.
    • All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.
    • Future Generations VCT has only one class of business and derives its income from investments made in shares and securities and from bank and money market funds. Future Generations VCT has no other comprehensive income for the period.

    The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

    Balance sheet

      Unaudited Unaudited Audited
      As at 30 June 2024 As at 31 December 2023 As at 30 June 2023
      £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
    Fixed asset investments   28,566   26,729   24,895
    Current assets:            
    Applications cash* 153   100   370  
    Debtors 212   240   379  
    Cash at bank 192   107   152  
    Money market funds 17,265   19,998   20,140  
        17,822   20,445   21,041
    Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (256)   (177)   (518)  
    Net current assets   17,566   20,268   20,523
                 
    Net assets   46,132   46,997   45,418
                 
    Share capital   53   50   48
    Share premium   51,177   48,372   46,461
    Capital reserve realised   (1,352)   (990)   (640)
    Capital reserve unrealised   (3,492)   (133)   3
    Revenue reserve   (254)   (302)   (454)
    Total equity shareholders’ funds   46,132   46,997   45,418
    Net asset value per share   86.8p   93.7p   94.3p

    * Cash received from investors but not yet allotted.

    The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

    The statements were approved by the Directors and authorised for issue on 27 September 2024 and are signed on their behalf by:

    Helen Sinclair
    Chair
    Company Number: 13750143

    Statement of changes in equity

      Share capital £’000 Share premium £’000 Capital reserve realised
    £’000    		 Capital reserve unrealised
    £’000    		 Revenue reserve
    £’000    		 Total
    £’000
    As at 1 July 2023 48 46,461 (640) 3 (454) 45,418
    Comprehensive income for the year:            
    Management fees allocated as capital expenditure — — (712) — — (712)
    Net loss on fair value of fixed asset investments — — — (3,495) — (3,495)
    Profit after tax — — — — 200 200
    Total comprehensive income for the year — — (712) (3,495) 200 (4,007)
    Contributions by and distributions to owners:            
    Shares issued 5 4,814 — — — 4,819
    Share issue costs — (98) — — — (98)
    Total contributions by and distributions to owners 5 4,716 — — — 4,721
    Balance as at 30 June 2024 53 51,177 (1,352) (3,492) (254) 46,132

    The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

      Share capital £’000 Share premium £’000 Capital reserve realised
    £’000    		 Capital reserve unrealised
    £’000    		 Revenue reserve
    £’000    		 Total
    £’000
    As at 1 July 2023 48 46,461 (640) 3 (454) 45,418
    Comprehensive income for the year:            
    Management fees allocated as capital expenditure — — (350) — — (350)
    Net loss on fair value of fixed asset investments — — — (136) — (136)
    Profit after tax — — — — 152 152
    Total comprehensive income for the year — — (350) (136) 152 (334)
    Contributions by and distributions to owners:            
    Shares issued 2 1,971 — — — 1,973
    Share issue costs — (60) — — — (60)
    Total contributions by and distributions to owners 2 1,911 — — — 1,913
    Balance as at 31 December 2023 50 48,372 (990) (133) (302) 46,997

    The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

      Share capital £’000 Share premium £’000 Capital reserve realised
    £’000    		 Capital reserve unrealised
    £’000    		 Revenue reserve
    £’000    		 Total
    £’000
    As at 1 July 2022 33 31,572 (118) 9 (204) 31,292
    Comprehensive income for the year:            
    Management fees allocated as capital expenditure — — (522) — — (522)
    Net loss on fair value of fixed asset investments — — — (6) — (6)
    Loss after tax — — — — (250) (250)
    Total comprehensive income for the year — — (522) (6) (250) (778)
    Contributions by and distributions to owners:            
    Shares issued 15 15,164 — — — 15,179
    Share issue costs — (275) — — — (275)
    Total contributions by and distributions to owners 15 14,889 — — — 14,904
    Balance as at 30 June 2023 48 46,461 (640) 3 (454) 45,418

    The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

    Cash flow statement

      Unaudited Unaudited Audited
      Twelve months to Six months
    to    		 Year
    to
      30 June 31 December 30 June
      2024 2023 2023
      £’000 £’000 £’000
    Cash flows from operating activities      
    Loss before tax (4,007) (334) (778)
    Loss on valuation of fixed asset investments 3,495 136 6
    Decrease/(increase) in debtors 167 138 (103)
    Decrease in creditors (45) (71) (325)
    Outflow from operating activities (390) (131) (1,200)
    Cash flows from investing activities      
    Purchase of fixed asset investments (7,166) (1,970) (23,238)
    Outflow from investing activities (7,166) (1,970) (23,238)
    Cash flows from financing activities      
    Application account inflow 4,602 1,685 13,634
    Application account outflow
    Proceed from share issues    		 (4,819)
    4,819    		 (1,955)
    1,955    		 (15,179)
    15,179
    Share issue costs (98) (41) (275)
    Inflow from financing activities 4,504 1,644 13,359
    Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (3,052) (456) (11,079)
    Opening cash and cash equivalents 20,662 20,662 31,741
    Closing cash and cash equivalents 17,610 20,206 20,662
    Cash and cash equivalents comprise      
    Money Market Funds 17,265 19,998 20,140
    Cash at Bank
    Applications cash    		 192
    153    		 107
            100    		 152
    370
    Closing cash and cash equivalents 17,610 20,205 20,662

    The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

    Condensed notes to the financial report

    1. Basis of preparation
    The unaudited results which cover the twelve months to 30 June 2024 have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) Financial Reporting Standard 104 Interim Financial Reporting (January 2022) and the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for Investment Companies re-issued by the Association of Investment Companies in July 2022.

    The Directors consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting. The Directors have not identified any material uncertainties to the Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis over a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements. In reaching this conclusion, the Directors have taken into account the potential impact on the economy including inflation and the recession.

    The principal accounting policies have remained unchanged from those set out in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report and Accounts.

    2. Publication of non-statutory accounts
    The unaudited financial report for the twelve months ended 30 June 2024 does not constitute Statutory Accounts within the meaning of s.415 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The comparative figures for the year ended 30 June 2023 have been extracted from the audited financial statements for that year, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The independent auditor’s report on those financial statements, in accordance with Chapter 3, Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006, was unqualified. This financial report has not been reviewed by the Company’s auditor.

    3. Earnings per share
    The loss per share is based on 50,107,452 Ordinary shares (30 June 2023: 40,987,288, 31 December 2023: 48,725,532) being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. There are no potentially dilutive capital instruments in issue and so no diluted returns per share figures are relevant. The basic and diluted earnings per share are therefore identical.

    4. Net asset value per share

      30 June 2024 31 December 2023 30 June 2023
    Net assets (£’000) 46,132 46,997 45,418
    Shares in issue 53,160,670 50,165,822 48,138,337
    Net asset value per share (p) 86.8 93.7 94.3

    5. Allotments
    During the twelve months to 30 June 2024, 5,022,333 shares were issued at a weighted average price of 95.2p (30 June 2023: 15,569,169 shares at a weighted average price of 98.6p, 31 December 2023: 2,027,485 shares at a weighted average price of 97.3p per share).

    6. Transactions with the Manager and Portfolio Manager
    Future Generations VCT is classified as a full-scope Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) under the Alternative Investment Fund Management Directive (the ‘AIFM Directive’). Future Generations VCT has appointed Octopus AIF Management Limited to provide the services of an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) of a full scope AIF. In accordance with its power to do so under AIFMD, Octopus AIF Management Limited has delegated portfolio management to Octopus Investments Limited, whilst retaining the obligations of a risk manager.

    Future Generations VCT paid Octopus AIF Management Limited £950,000 in the period as a management fee (30 June 2023: £696,000, 31 December 2023: £467,000). The annual management charge (AMC) is based on 2% of Future Generations VCT’s NAV. The AMC is payable quarterly in advance and calculated using the latest published NAV of Future Generations VCT and the number of shares in issue at each quarter end. Once the quarter has ended, an adjustment will be made if the NAV at the end of the current quarter is calculated and which differs from the NAV as at the end of the previous quarter.

    Octopus also provides Non-Investment Services to Future Generations VCT, payable quarterly in advance. The fee is 0.3% of Future Generations VCT’s NAV, calculated at quarterly intervals. The Non-Investment Services Agreement (NISA) fee is calculated using the latest published NAV of Future Generations VCT and the number of shares in issue at each quarter end. As with the AMC, an adjustment will be made once the quarter has ended if the NAV at the end of the current quarter is calculated and which differs from the NAV as at the end of the previous quarter. During the period £143,000 was paid to Octopus for Non-Investment Services (30 June 2023: £122,000, 31 December 2023: £70,000).

    In addition, Octopus is entitled to performance-related incentive fees, subject to Future Generations VCT’s total return at year end exceeding the total return at the previous year end when an incentive fee was paid or 97p if the first incentive fee has not yet been paid (the ‘Excess’), equal to 20% of the Excess. Future Generations VCT’s total return at year end exceeded the total return at the previous year end when an incentive fee was paid or 97p if the first incentive fee has not yet been paid (the ‘Excess’), equal to 20% of the Excess. No performance fee will be paid prior to the financial period ending 30 June 2025, dividends (paid or declared) being equal to or greater than 10p per Ordinary share and the total return exceeding 120p.

    The cap relating to Future Generations VCT’s total expense ratio, that is the regular, recurring costs of Future Generations VCT expressed as a percentage of its NAV, above which Octopus have agreed to pay, is 3.0%, and is calculated in accordance with the AIC Guidelines.

    7. Related party transactions
    Several members of the Octopus investment team hold non-executive directorships as part of their monitoring roles in Future Generations VCT’s portfolio companies, but they have no controlling interests in those companies.

    Emma Davies, a former Non-Executive Director of Future Generations VCT, previously held the role of co-CEO of Octopus Ventures. On 24 March 2023, Emma Davies ceased to be employed by Octopus Capital Limited and therefore she is no longer considered a related party. Emma retired as a Non-Executive Director of Future Generations VCT on 31 March 2024.

    No dividends have been paid to the Directors of Future Generations VCT.

    8. Voting rights and equity management
    The following table shows the percentage voting rights held by Future Generations VCT in each of the top ten investments, on a fully diluted basis.
                                                            

     

    Investments

    		 30 June 2024
    % voting rights held by
    Future Generations VCT
    Perk Finance, S.L. t/a Cobee 2.8%
    HelloSelf Limited 4.1%
    Neat SAS 3.2%
    Infinitopes Ltd 4.4%
    TYTN Ltd (t/a TitanML) 4.2%
    Mr & Mrs Oliver Ltd (t/a Skin + Me) 0.6%
    Apheris AI GmbH 3.2%
    Remofirst, Inc. 1.4%
    Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies Ltd 5.1%
    Inflow Holdings Inc. 1.9%

    9. Post balance sheet events
    The following events occurred between the balance sheet date and the signing of this financial report:
    ● 2 new investments completed totalling £0.5 million.
      

    10. Financial Report
    The unaudited results which cover the twelve months to 30 June 2024 will shortly be available to view at https://octopusinvestments.com/our-products/venture-capital-trusts/octopus-future-generations-vct/ . 
    A copy of the report will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism

    For further information please contact:

    Rachel Peat  
    Octopus Company Secretarial Services Limited
    Tel: +44 (0)80 0316 2067

    LEI: 213800AL71Z7N2O58N66

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scalise Sends Letter to Colleagues Touting Republican Wins in 118th Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) sent the following letter to his colleagues as we head into the October district work period:

    Dear Colleagues,
     
    It’s hard to believe, but only two years ago the Democrats were signing their deceptively named “Inflation Reduction Act” into law. That capped four years of unified Democrat control of Washington, where they jammed their radical agenda through Congress, spending $10 trillion and causing runaway inflation the American people still struggle with today.
     
    Thankfully, in November 2022, the American people had enough of the destruction caused by the Democrats’ radical agenda and voted us into a narrow House majority. House Republicans were a small beacon of hope in an otherwise desolate Washington landscape controlled by the Democrat Party, their army of bureaucrats, and a media propaganda machine.
     
    It’s been a David versus Goliath fight over the last 21 months of our House majority, and I’m so proud to fight alongside all of you. As we head into the final stretch before this pivotal election, we have a lot to be proud of and important accomplishments we can talk about at home.
     
    While we do not control the Senate or White House, we should be encouraged by the fact that we, as House Republicans, unified around an ambitious agenda that addressed the real concerns American families face every day. From inflation and energy costs to historic illegal immigration and crime to national security and holding those in power accountable, we put on full display the contrast of our vision for the country versus the vision of chaos and economic distress of radical Democrats. Here are some of the highlights:
     
    H.R. 1, the     Lower Energy Costs Act:
    Our conference fought back against the Biden-Harris Administration’s war on American energy by passing the     Lower Energy Costs Act to cut burdensome red tape and boost energy production here at home, instead of relying on hostile foreign dictators that put our energy security at risk. In addition to making America energy independent again, H.R. 1 lowers costs for families who are struggling every day thanks to skyrocketing prices at the gas pump, in the grocery store, and elsewhere.
     
    H.R. 2, the     Secure the Border Act:
    It’s no secret that, even in larger Republican majorities, we have historically struggled to unify around one comprehensive border bill. It was an uphill battle that required painstaking deliberations with all members of our diverse conference. The result was the most comprehensive border security bill in history, H.R. 2, the     Secure the Border Act, to address the worst border crisis in history. Over 8.2 million illegal immigrants have entered the U.S. and more than 2 million gotaways under President Biden and “Border Czar” V.P. Harris’ open border policies, which cost American lives every day, like Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, and Rachel Morin. H.R. 2 increases the number of border patrol agents, resumes construction of the border wall, ends catch-and-release, reinstates ‘Remain in Mexico’, cracks down on the flow of fentanyl, and keeps our communities safe.
     
    H.R. 5, the     Parents Bill of Rights:
     When the Administration and school boards tried to silence parents and remove them from their child’s education while using taxpayer dollars to promote woke agendas in classrooms, House Republicans stood up for parents’ right to be involved in their child’s education by passing H.R. 5, the     Parents Bill of Rights Act. Parents have the right to transparency when it comes to their child’s education, to know how their taxpayer dollars are being used by schools, and to express their concerns to school boards without being silenced by the federal government.
     
    H.R. 7521, the     Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act:
    TikTok, which is controlled by ByteDance and tied to the Chinese Communist Party, poses a significant national security threat to the United States by allowing the CCP to spy on Americans and dictate what we see. House Republicans passed H.R. 7521, the     Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, and placed the choice in TikTok’s hands: either they can sever their ties with the CCP or no longer be available in the United States. The Senate and President Biden followed our lead, signing our TikTok bill into law.
     
    Standing with Our Ally Israel:
    After the horrific attack of October 7th, House Republicans stood by our commitment to provide Israel with the tools it needs to defend itself and defeat terror. We passed H.R. 6126, the     Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, to quickly provide additional military equipment for our ally Israel, and in the face of Biden-Harris Administration efforts to pressure Israel by withholding critical weapons, we passed H.R. 8369, the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, to force the delivery of congressionally approved military aid. We have also taken on Iran and its terrorist proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis through legislation like H.R. 5961, the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act, to freeze the Biden-Harris Administration’s $6 billion payday for Iran, H.R. 6046, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, and H.R. 340, the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act.
     
    Taking on the Chinese Communist Party:
    The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses a generational threat to America, and dealing with it requires working across committee jurisdictions to develop a comprehensive approach. Since beginning this Congress with the establishment of the China Select Committee, that is exactly what we have done, culminating in this month’s China Week. We passed H.R. 9456, the     Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act, to prevent foreign adversaries from gaining control of our American farmland, H.R. 1398, the Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act, to defend American research and intellectual property, and H.R. 8333, the BIOSECURE Act, to kick the CCP out of our biotechnology supply chains, among many other strong bills.
     
    H.R. 277, the     REINS Act of 2023:
    Under the Biden-Harris Administration, federal agencies continue to expand their authority by assuming the powers of the legislative and judicial branches, allowing unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats to make laws behind closed doors that will have serious impacts on the American way-of-life. House Republicans stepped up to rein in executive overreach by passing H.R. 277, the     REINS Act of 2023, which requires congressional approval before major rules can take effect. 
      
    Ending the COVID National and Public Health Emergencies:
    Long after schools reopened and the majority of workers returned to the office, President Biden delayed terminating the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies because he didn’t want to give up the powers it gave his Administration. The National Emergencies Act was never intended to give the president unlimited authority over the American people’s lives – we passed H.J. Res. 7 and H.R. 382, the     Pandemic is Over Act, to end the COVID national and public health emergencies and get America back to normal.
     
    H.R. 8281, the     SAVE Act:
    With the over 8.2 million illegal immigrants that have come across our southern border thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ open border policies, it is vital we shore up our election security and ensure that only American citizens are voting in American elections. House Republicans came together in strong support of H.R. 8281, the     SAVE Act
    , which would require individuals to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
     
    H.J. Res 26:
    Last year, Washington, D.C. tried to implement Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies, including weakening criminal penalties for violent offenses, such as carjacking, robberies, and burglary. To keep our nation’s capital safe, House Republicans passed H.J. Res. 29 to reverse the D.C. Council’s misguided crime bill, which all present Republicans voted for and more than 170 Democrats voted against. Thanks to our work in forcing this issue, President Biden eventually caved, and the measure passed the Senate and was signed into law.
     
    H.R. 7024, the     Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024:
    In 2017, under President Trump’s leadership, Republicans passed the     Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a pro-family, pro-worker, and pro-growth tax reform package. Because of constraints associated with reconciliation, some temporary provisions of TCJA have begun to expire, and substantially more will expire at the end of 2025. House Republicans are working to support American families and the economy by extending expiring provisions of TCJA. This Congress, we passed H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, which allows working families to keep more of their paycheck and also restores important tax incentivizes that drive investment in the American economy.
     
    Digital Assets:
    Despite hostility from the Biden-Harris Administration, the digital asset ecosystem continues to grow. To foster continued growth by providing regulatory certainty and appropriate consumer protections, House Republicans passed three trailblazing bills in the digital asset space: H.J. Res. 109, a congressional resolution of disapproval against the SEC’s misguided “Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121”; H.R. 4763, the     Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act; and, H.R. 5403, the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act. Taken together, these bills set a clear path for the future of digital assets and their regulation.
     
    H.R. 26, the     Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act:
    To protect the sanctity of life, House Republicans passed H.R. 26, the     Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which secures medical protections for babies that survive an attempted abortion. This comes after four years of Democrats refusing to hold a vote on the life-saving legislation. Newborn babies deserve protection and care regardless of the circumstances under which they are born – this should not be a partisan issue, but common sense and basic morality.
     
    Attempted Assassinations of President Trump:
    The House quickly acted after the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump on July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania, and formed a task force to investigate the series of failures by the U.S. Secret Service that day. The Task Force is also investigating the subsequent assassination attempt that occurred on September 15th in Florida, as it works to deliver answers to the American people and ensure their choice of president is never again threatened by a deranged, radical individual.
     
    Antisemitism on Campuses:
    After Hamas’ horrific October 7th attacks on Israel, and the subsequent military actions taken by Israel to defend itself, the U.S. has seen a disturbing uptick in antisemitism on college campuses. Led by the Committee on Education and the Workforce, House Republicans discovered a troubling culture on campuses, where administrators fail to implement protections for Jewish students and even mock Jewish students, and has demanded answers from these universities about student safety and funding of pro-Hamas groups and propaganda. As a result, the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia resigned in disgrace.
     
    The Biden-Harris Border Crisis Report:
    The Committee on Homeland Security released a report exposing the many ways the Biden-Harris Administration knowingly and intentionally undermined U.S. border security to create the crisis we currently see at the border. The report revealed that even before taking office, the Administration was warned by experienced border security professionals about the dangers of their plan to open our borders and dismantle our border security. The Biden-Harris border crisis was not some inevitable phenomenon – it was directly caused by the actions taken by President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. Earlier this year, House Republicans impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for violating border security laws enacted by Congress and threatening the safety of the American people – unfortunately, Senate Democrats refuse to hold him accountable for his failures.
     
    The Biden-Harris Failed Afghanistan Withdrawal Report:
    The Foreign Affairs Committee’s investigation into the Biden-Harris Administration’s catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan revealed that the Administration disregarded the advice of military and security professionals, ignored the facts on the ground, and indulged in wishful thinking and endless deliberation that left American troops and diplomats in-country dangerously exposed – ultimately resulting in the tragic and unnecessary deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers. This week, House Republicans passed legislation to condemn key figures and officials in the Administration, including President Biden, Vice President Harris, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby, State Department Secretary Antony Blinken, and others, for their part in this historic disaster.
     
    President Biden’s Influence Peddling and Classified Documents:
    On December 13, 2023, the House voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Biden allowing the Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means Committees to continue developing compelling evidence revealing how President Biden knew, was involved, and benefited directly from his family’s influence peddling schemes. The committees took key actions to bring in significant witnesses, including Hunter Biden and James Biden, both of whom had lied during their appearances, and the committees sent criminal referrals to the Department of Justice recommending they be charged with making false statements.
     
    In February, the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees subpoenaed Attorney General Merrick Garland for records, including transcripts, notes, video, and audio files, related to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation of President Biden’s willful mishandling of classified information, after Hur declined to recommend charges against Biden citing his memory problems. A.G. Garland refused to produce the audio recordings of Special Counsel Hur’s interviews with President Biden and his ghostwriter, and on June 12, 2024, House Republicans voted to hold A.G. Garland in contempt for failing to comply with the subpoena. On July 2, 2024, the House Judiciary Committee filed a lawsuit in D.C. federal court to obtain these recordings. We remain committed to obtaining this critically important evidence in our investigation into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents.
     
    Regulatory Burdens:
    In the wake of the Supreme Court overruling     Chevron, to assure the Biden-Harris Administration respects the limits placed on its authority, our House committees sent oversight letters to nearly every agency in the Executive branch requesting information on legislative rules, agency adjudications, enforcement actions, and agency guidance documents. Additionally, the House Oversight Committee issued a thorough report on the Biden-Harris Administration’s regulatory overreach
    , concluding that it has imposed an estimated $1.7 trillion in regulatory costs, with EPA counting for $1.3 trillion.
     
    This Congress hasn’t been easy, but nothing worth fighting for is. The future of our country is at stake, and it is critical that we make our case across the country of what we’ve accomplished so far and how much more we have left to do to save our country from the chaos and destruction that we have seen under the Biden-Harris Administration and their far-left partners in Congress. We are a team, and I am proud of all of you for the work you have done to help us keep our promises and unite to fulfill the agenda we set out to achieve on behalf of the American people. It’s an honor to serve as your Majority Leader.
     
    -Steve

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Valadao Introduces Supplemental Appropriations Bill to Assist Ag Producers Impacted by Natural Disasters

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. David G. Valadao (CA-22) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. The bill provides an additional $14 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist agriculture producers impacted by losses caused by natural disasters in 2023.

    “Natural disasters like drought and flooding have caused devastating losses for Central Valley producers over the last two years,” said Congressman Valadao. “These extreme weather events negatively affect the security of our nation’s food supply, prices for consumers, and jobs throughout our community. My legislation provides USDA with the funding necessary to assist farmers in California and across the country who have been impacted by natural disasters. Producers in the Central Valley have had a difficult and uncertain couple of years, and I’ll continue working to ensure they have the resources and support they need to grow the food that feeds the world.”

    “Our farmers and ranchers have been getting hammered with severe weather, significant flooding, smoke damage, and steep prices, which have all led to serious setbacks this season,” said Rep. Panetta.  “The bipartisan Agriculture Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act would allow the federal government to provide reasonable assistance as necessary for those in our agricultural industry to recover and continue moving forward.  This bill is the least that Congress can do to ensure that the federal government plays its part to help those who help put food on our tables.”

    Reps. Valadao and Panetta were joined in introduction by Reps. John Duarte (R-CA), Jim Costa, (D-CA), Vince Fong (R-CA), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Marc Molinaro (R-NY), Mike Thompson, and Josh Harder (D-CA).

    The legislation is supported by American Farm Bureau, California Farm Bureau, Western Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, Milk Producers Council, California Dairies, Inc., Napa Valley Vinters, California Tomato Growers Association, Almond Alliance, and the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.

    “Californians have faced a unique and broad range of disasters across the state in recent years—including floods, drought and wildfires. Unfortunately, only a quarter of the roughly 400 commodities grown in California are covered by a direct crop insurance program, meaning thousands of farmers are unable to access critical risk management tools to recover from disasters. This has led to our reliance on resources such as the Emergency Relief Program, which is currently oversubscribed and underfunded. We are appreciative of the attention and leadership Rep. Valadao, Rep. Panetta and others have shown in addressing this shortfall by introducing this supplemental appropriations bill,” said California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass.

    “California dairy farm families suffered last year from major storms and flooding that displaced families and their cows while also damaging feed supplies farmers had worked hard to store. We are grateful to Rep. Valadao for consistently championing the needs of California’s dairy farmers. His bipartisan agricultural disaster supplemental funding package, cosponsored by Reps. Panetta, Fong, and Costa, will ensure that Central Valley dairy families finally recover what they lost well over a year ago,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation

    “It has been nearly two years since California growers suffered major losses due to flooding and related natural disasters, which affected many rural communities,” said Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers. “This bipartisan bill ensures sufficient funding and a strong delivery program to finally address all those impacted in 2023. Western Growers supports the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and we urge Congress to pass this bill to deliver relief to our farmers and their communities as soon as possible.”

    “On behalf of California’s almond industry, the Almond Alliance strongly supports the bipartisan Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act introduced by Congressman David G. Valadao and Congressman Jimmy Panetta. Farmers across the nation, including our almond growers, faced significant losses in 2023 due to floods, droughts, wildfires, and other natural disasters that threaten the agricultural sector and the economic stability of rural communities, and our nation’s food security. This bill provides $14 billion in disaster relief, ensuring farmers can recover and continue feeding domestic and global markets. We urge swift passage of this legislation to protect American agriculture and the communities that depend on it,” said Blake Vann, Chairman, Almond Alliance.

    “The board of Directors at Milk Producers Council appreciates the bipartisan support of well needed assistance due to substantial losses encountered due to climate variability,” said Kevin Abernathy, General Manager, Milk Producers Council.

    Congressman Valadao has worked to ensure producers impacted by the 2023 atmospheric rivers and flooding in California have the resources they need to recoup losses. Last year, he introduced the Emergency Assistance for Dairy Producers Act to make Commodity Credit Corporation emergency assistance funds available for dairy producers. He also questioned Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack on disaster relief for Central Valley dairy producers during a House Appropriations Committee hearing this year to raise concerns over the distribution of disaster assistance for dairy producers.

    Background:

    In 2023, farmers and producers across the United States experienced significant agricultural losses due to natural disasters including floods, hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, wildfires, and weather-related pest damages. These disasters have severely affected crop and livestock production and continue to jeopardize our nation’s food security and the economic stability of our rural communities.

    The Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act:

    • Appropriates $14 billion to the Office of the Secretary for Agriculture for necessary expenses related to 2023 disasters.
    • Includes a $1.5 billion carveout for livestock losses and provides expanded assistance to livestock producers, including relocation of livestock, feed crop losses, and shelter-in-place procedures. 
    • Covers quality loss from smoke-tainted wine grapes due to wildfire.
    • Includes additional provisions modeled after the 2021 Emergency Relief Program and the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022 covering the definition of drought, direct payments to producers, payment limitations, crop insurance requirements, etc.
    • Includes a new provision to ensure payments are administered simultaneously for all producers, regardless of type of qualified loss.

    Read the full text of the bill here.

    Read a one page summary of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Recognizes MST Awareness Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – This week, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) joined Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Don Bacon (NE-02), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) to introduce a bipartisan resolution (H.Res. 1510) recognizing September 25 as military sexual trauma (MST) Awareness Day. 

    On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Young Kim joined Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) at a Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus event recognizing Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Awareness Day and this bipartisan resolution.

    1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men experience MST during service as a member, whether active duty, Reserve, or National Guard. 

    This bipartisan resolution reaffirms Congress’s commitment to supporting MST survivors and encourages the Departments of Defense and of Veterans Affairs to expand MST-related services. 

    “Our service members are heroes who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms we hold dear. We must do more to support those who have unfortunately faced military sexual trauma during their time in service,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I am proud to help introduce this resolution to shine light on military sexual trauma survivors as we work on bipartisan solutions to expand access to services, uplift survivors, and eradicate MST once and for all.” 

    “Sexual assault has no place in our armed forces. The burden of fear — of assault, harassment, or exploitation — should never be a part of military service. We must work together to create an atmosphere where all service members can serve without this dread,” said Rep. Houlahan. “As a veteran who served in the military in the 1990s, I experienced firsthand the unique challenges many servicewomen face. I care deeply about this issue because everyone who puts on a uniform deserves to serve in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. Bringing awareness is important, but this is the first step. We still have lots of work left to do.”    

    In July, Rep. Kim introduced the Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma Claims Act (H.R. 8879), a bipartisan bill with Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) to improve the standards and quality of training for contracted disability compensation examiners handling MST claims so that MST veterans filing a claim are not retraumatized during the medical disability examination process.

    Read the resolution HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –