On a cold, crisp October evening in Anchorage, the room of over 100 people fell still as Mary Hostetter, Yup’ik, shared why she believed in the power of Guardians – and why she had invited everyone to join us in learning about that power. Hostetter is one of the founders of the Bristol Bay Guardians program in southwest Alaska. She is inspired by the model of Guardians that is flourishing across Canada and hopes to see a similar movement expand across Alaska

Today more than 160 First Nations Guardians programs care for lands and waters across the country. This growth confirms what we already knew: where there are Guardians, there are benefits—for lands and waters, for health and wellbeing, for communities and regional economies, for the country and for all of us.

I had one of my best days on the land this fall. As part of the Land Guardians training on ethical harvesting, I went out with three hunters. These guys are young but loaded with knowledge.

The emerging First Nations National Guardians Network is looking to hire an Executive Director to help build the network and ensure it supports Guardians programs for years to come.

In just two years, more than 75,000 people have joined the Land Needs Guardians campaign. At least ten new Guardians programs have been created and others funded. And Canada announced $340 million in new investment over 5 years to support Indigenous-led conservation, including over $173 million for Guardians programs.

Indigenous-led conservation generated new levels of recognition and support in 2021. People across the country and around the world increasingly understand that Indigenous Nations are at the forefront of tackling climate change, loss of biodiversity, and the ongoing effects of colonialism.

Elder Courchene was a champion for Guardians. He reminded us that the land is a living entity and called on us to take better care of our homelands. “The land wants to talk to us, to remind us of the original instructions we were given by our Great Creator,” he said.

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 represents a major increase from previous funding for Guardians—up from the $25 million over five years pilot investment in 2017.

Guardians programs help strengthen ourselves and our Nations after decades of colonization. “The mass graves opened up wounds in our own community and across the country,” said Chief Heidi Cook of the Misipawistik Cree Nation in Manitoba. “Maintaining our relationships with the land is healing for a lot of our people. Going back to those natural laws and feeling the love that the land has for us—feeling the belonging in our space—that's the important thing.”