MOOSE CREE FIRST NATION
Advancing Territorial Land Governance for a Six-Million Hectare Homeland (Territorial Land Use Plan Project) Project Management Advisory & Support, 2023
WHO THEY ARE?
Moose Cree First Nation is an Omushkegowuk Cree Nation on the south
edge of James Bay, with the community centred at Moose Factory on
Moose Factory Island near the mouth of the Moose River, within Treaty 9
territory. Their homeland is vast—over six million hectares (about 60,000
km²)—and defined by river and coastal systems that anchor community
life.
Grounded in intergenerational knowledge and rights-based stewardship,
Moose Cree has built formal capacity to govern lands and waters on the
Nation’s terms through a dedicated Lands & Resources department. In
recent years, the Nation has advanced a territory-wide planning process
—using community information sessions and focus groups—to guide
future land use across the homeland and has reaffirmed its intent to
permanently protect the North French River watershed through an
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area. Together, these efforts centre
community priorities in decisions that will shape the territory for
generations.
WHAT THEY NEEDED
WHAT THEY NEEDED
Moose Cree’s territory-wide planning work was in motion, but it needed
a stronger framework to carry it forward on the Nation’s terms. The
plan’s identity and purpose required clarification so that community
meaning—not external labels—anchored decisions. Leadership also
needed a shared, organization-wide understanding of how the plan
would guide the use of the lands and waters across their traditional
territory.
To move with confidence, the Nation required a coherent, sequenced
approach that brought governance, community engagement, and
technical work into one system. That meant clear roles and forums for
decision-making, defined touchpoints across internal teams and external
partners, and deliberate milestones that protected alignment with
community values while ensuring decisions guided interactions with
other governments and agencies.
Finally, the work needed to culminate in an implementation-ready
roadmap—phased steps, clear checkpoints, and clear communications
and education—so everyday decisions were guided, and lessons were
captured and carried forward to strengthen future land-governance.
WHAT WE DID
Developed a territory-wide plan grounded in Moose Cree values and priorities.
Prioritized early governance and engagement while aligning policy and land-use directions with Moose Cree context and Crown-land requirements.
Built a planning framework linking governance, community engagement, and technical work.
Mapped roles and touchpoints across leadership, senior management, internal teams, community, and external partners.
Clarified roles, operating guidelines, and decision checkpoints between the Lands and Resources Secretariat and the Technical Planning Team.
Embedded communications and education, including a community video series, to ensure participation.
Created a summary deliverables structure and detailed work structure from preparation through implementation.
Consolidated lessons from previous efforts to maintain consistency as decisions advanced.
RESULTS WE GOT
A single, unified planning system on Moose Cree terms, purpose, scope, governance, and sequencing in one place.
Governance and coordination clarified, with defined reporting lines between the Secretariat and the Technical Planning Team.
A phased approach with decision checkpoints and a shared schedule for key choices.
Visible roles and communication pathways within the organization and with external partners, reducing uncertainty on engagement.
Lessons from earlier attempts integrated to provide continuity and institutional memory.
A connected planning system with a shared timeline and clear pathways for roles and responsibilities, ready for the next phase.
IN NUMBERS
1 Territory-Wide Land Use Plan Was Established
Purpose, scope, governance, and a phased sequence unified in one decision-ready framework on Moose Cree terms.
31 Top-Level Work Areas Sequenced Across 3 Phases
Governance, community engagement, and policy direction through implementation.
10+ Stakeholder Groups Identified And Mapped
Clear strategies and reporting routes across leadership, senior management, internal teams, and external partner
