As the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) continues to celebrate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), the August and September themes highlight the essential role that people, knowledge and culture play in sustaining healthy rangelands.

August centres on Indigenous and local knowledge, the lived experience and land‑based understanding that guide stewardship across generations. September complements this focus by recognizing how pastoralist traditions and rangeland products contribute to society, shaping cultural identity, nutrition and resilient food systems. Together, these themes reflect the CFGA’s commitment to honouring the communities who care for Canada’s grasslands and acknowledging the lasting benefits their knowledge and traditions bring to our world.

August theme

August’s IYRP theme, Indigenous and local knowledge, culture and innovation, invites us to pause, listen and learn from the people whose knowledge has shaped rangeland stewardship for generations. Across Canada, Indigenous communities and local producers hold deep understandings of grasslands – how they function, how they respond to change and how they can be cared for in ways that support both ecological health and community well‑being.

This month, the CFGA celebrates the importance of recognising, valuing and equally respecting Indigenous and local knowledge in rangeland management. These ways of knowing are not just historical; they are living, evolving systems of observation, practice and innovation. They guide decisions about grazing, water, wildlife, fire and land use in ways that strengthen resilience and honour relationships with the land.

August also reminds us of the responsibility to help preserve this knowledge and ensure it is passed down through generations. When communities have the space and support to share teachings, whether through storytelling, mentorship, ceremony or hands‑on learning, rangeland stewardship becomes stronger, more connected and more durable.

September theme

September’s theme, benefits to society, shifts the focus to the many ways pastoralist traditions and rangeland systems enrich our world. For thousands of years, pastoralists have shaped value systems, cultural identities and community relationships that continue to influence how societies understand land, food and resilience today. Their traditions reflect a deep connection to place and a commitment to living in balance with nature.

Rangeland products, from meat and milk to fibres, botanicals and cultural foods, contribute to nutrition, health and hygiene across diverse communities. This month encourages us to celebrate the diversity of these products and the people who produce them.

Pastoralist production also plays a meaningful role in meeting global protein needs. As demand for healthy, sustainably produced food continues to rise, well‑managed rangeland systems offer an important pathway for supplying nutritious protein while supporting ecological function and community livelihoods.

The August and September IYRP themes share a common thread: rangelands flourish when the people who steward them, such as Indigenous communities, pastoralists and local producers, are recognized, valued and supported. Traditional and local knowledge forms the foundation of rangeland management and the cultural identities, practices and innovations tied to these landscapes continue to shape our world today. Together, these themes remind us that rangelands are living cultural and ecological systems whose benefits extend far beyond the land itself, contributing to nutrition, health, livelihoods and community resilience.

Join us! 

The CFGA is hosting bi-weekly Zoom meetings to bring together people and organizations interested in doing activities to celebrate the IYRP. If you would like to join the meetings, please email [email protected].

To learn more about IYRP in Canada, visit the Canadian Rangelands webpage.