New $340 Million Investment Will Put More Guardians on the Land
By Dahti Tsetso
August 19, 2021
Ni hat’ni Dene Guardians, Łutsël K’e Dene First Nation. Photo: Pat Kane
A young Guardian from my community named William Alger recently shared his hopes for the future by saying: “My vision for Canada is that Guardians can be recognized nationwide. And that people know we are here to stay and it's our time to shine.” Many people share this vision, and we are working to make it a reality. Our efforts just took a major leap forward.
The federal government has announced $340 million in new funding over five years to support Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship. This includes more than $173 million for Guardians programs. And it includes over $166 million for Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs).
This is the largest federal investment in Indigenous-led conservation to date. It represents a major increase from previous funding for Guardians—up from the $25 million over five years pilot investment in 2017.
The Land Needs Guardians campaign helped make this transformation possible. Guardians themselves, program managers, leaders, allies, and friends have called for long-term investment in Guardianship. With over 60,000 supporters, the Land Needs Guardians campaign is being heard in the halls of power.
The work of Guardians is being recognized and valued at the national level. Guardians work on behalf of their Nations, but the jobs they do—responding to wildfires, restoring caribou and salmon, monitoring for climate impacts—benefit the whole country. That’s why we need to support more Guardians on the ground.
With this new federal investment, more Nations will be able to expand or launch Guardians programs. And more young people—young people like William—will have opportunities for professional training, learning from their Elders, and caring for the land on behalf of their Nations.
A member of the Dane nan yḗ dāh Network (Kaska Land Guardians) monitoring water quality. Photo: Tanya Ball
The new investment also includes funds for establishing the First Nations National Guardians Network. Regional hubs already help Guardians from different Nations come together training, sharing data, and exchanging knowledge. A national network will support Guardianship across the country to connect, learn and support each other.
The Network is also a powerful expression of Indigenous Nationhood. It will build upon the partnership with the Government of Canada established under the pilot process to enable Indigenous leadership and facilitate Nation-to-Nation relationships on stewardship across the country. It will also support sharing and partnerships with other sectors, including philanthropy and industry.
The Government of Canada’s new investment in Guardians and IPCAs is significant, and we celebrate these important and significant strides, but we know it doesn’t take us all the way. So, the ILI will continue to advocate for permanent funding for Indigenous-led conservation that meets our needs and ambitions to take care of the land and water and ensures that every First Nation that desires a Guardians program is seen and supported.
That is the future we envision, and with our partners and supporters, we will work to create it together.
Dahti Tsetso is the deputy director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative. She is Tłı̨chǫ Dene and played a leading role in the launch and operation of the Dehcho K'éhodi Stewardship and Guardians Program and the establishment of the Edéhzhíe Dehcho Protected Area and National Wildlife Area.