The federal government has provided more than $27 million in funding for 80 Indigenous-led environmental stewardship initiatives.

The funding was announced Friday at a media event in Thunder Bay. It will be independently controlled and allocated by the First Nations National Guardians Network (NGN).

"It is unusual for the federal government not to be in control," said Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault. "But I think if there's one area where we should, and we have a respons…