Indigenous Land Stewardship and Guardian Programs

Introduction

• The land is central to Indigenous identity.
• Indigenous peoples view themselves as part of the land and waters along with animals and plants.
• There is a spiritual connection and duty to care for the land, passed down from ancestors.

Environmental Challenges

• Climate change impacts, decline of caribou, and pressures on fish and waterways necessitate urgent action.

Indigenous Leadership Initiative

• Supports Indigenous Peoples in land stewardship, blending ancestral knowledge with modern tools.
• Focuses on being guardians of traditional lands and educating the world about human-earth relationships.

The Role of Guardians

• Indigenous guardians are responsible for protecting land, water, animals, and sharing knowledge.
• Over 40 guardian programs exist across Canada.
• Coastal Guardian Watchmen Network protects Pacific coasts.

Haida Nation Guardian Program

• Longest running modern guardian program in Canada.
• Emphasizes youth and elder collaboration for knowledge exchange.
• Reinforces Haida nationhood by managing human activity on ancestral lands.

Guardian Responsibilities

• Guardians test water quality, restore wildlife, monitor development, and act as ambassadors.
• Programs integrate traditional knowledge with Western science.
• Collaboration with universities and institutions for research and land management planning.

Community and Cultural Benefits

• Guardianship connects communities to the land, strengthening cultural identity.
• Programs provide training opportunities and employment.
• Aim to create a strong cultural foundation for future generations.

Indigenous Protected Areas

• Managed by many guardian programs for conservation.
• Dehcho First Nation's new Indigenous Protected Area signifies evolving relationships between Indigenous Peoples and Canada.

Conclusion

• Indigenous guardians are leading a growing movement for leadership on land stewardship.
• This movement is supported by elders, youth, and women leaders.
• Caring for the land strengthens Indigenous nations and communities.