The mission of David’s Wild Gift Project – Earth Justice Initiative (EJI) - is to use grassroots organizing and coalition building to support indigenous First Nations of Canada who are protecting their traditional territories in North America’s largest wild forest ecosystem. Globally, only 20% of the world’s original forests remain intact. The largest wild forest in North America is the boreal forest – the world’s greatest reservoir of fresh water, and the biggest storehouse of carbon beyond the ocean. Canada’s vast boreal forests, which remain legally unprotected, are being rapidly exploited for extraction of timber, energy and mineral resources. EJI believes the most strategic and responsible way to advance human rights and protect the boreal forest is to partner with First Nation communities who are working to protect their traditional territories. The boreal’s largest roadless area, an area the size of California, falls within the traditional territories of 49 Ontario First Nations. EJI will build a coalition of 15 organizations to work toward its goals including legislated recognition for the right of First Nations to say ‘no’ to industrial projects - as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - and legislated protection for Ontario’s Boreal Forest.