Celebrating 5 years: Revisiting the Top Five posts from 2020-2025
2025 marks five years of the Land Needs Guardians campaign! In that time, so much has changed — and the movement supporting Guardians — has grown significantly.
In honour of this milestone, we’re revisiting five of our most popular stories from the past five years—things that you loved, shared, and that convey a glimpse into the heart of this movement.
The Original Join The Movement Video
The first-ever Land Needs Guardians video went live in January 2020 — and we weren’t the only ones to be inspired by the work of Guardians. And it’s no wonder: An analysis shows that every $1 invested in Guardians programs generates at least $3 in health, social, and economic benefits. Some studies estimate a return of $20 to $1.
The video earned over 2 million views and was seen worldwide.
K’ahsho Got’ine Guardians Fight Wildfire, Support Emergency Response in NWT
Recently a wildfire threatened the community of Fort Good Hope in the NWT – and as the people with boots on the ground, Guardians were on the front lines protecting their community from the wildfire and executing multiple emergency response roles.
In addition to reading about this incredible story, be sure to check out this video which also highlights the work of the K’ashsho Got’ine Guardians and their wildfire training.
How to be an Ally
Indigenous Peoples across Canada are leading the way in conservation — for the health of the land, its wildlife, our Peoples and everyone that relies on Mother Earth.
But we can’t do it alone. Indigenous Peoples need allies and support.
We created a resource ‘How to be an Ally of Indigenous-led Conservation’ that shares some perspective on how Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can work together in a new approach to conservation—one rooted in Indigenous laws, science and relationships with the land which has been shared far and wide. We encourage you to keep using it as a resource.
Bookmark the page link or download the PDF below.
Highlighting US Guardians Work: The Blackfeet Shield Keepers
As the Guardians movement grew, Land Needs Guardians produced its first story featuring Guardians from what is now known as the United States. The Aawoohtakaaks (Shield Keepers) are protecting their land, animals, and ecosystems on Blackfeet territory—just like Guardians all across Canada.
After facing near annihilation from colonization, the Blackfeet held onto their culture and the iinnii, and now they’re ensuring the Blackfeet way of life lives on by revitalizing iinnii populations, strengthening traditions, sharing knowledge, and teaching others, including federal government workers, about their history and relationship with the land.
Watch the video to be inspired by their vision and leadership, and to be inspired by how the Guardians movement is growing across Turtle Island.
Dustin Milligan Shares His Support
In 2022, fellow Canadian and actor Dustin Milligan joined the movement by sharing his message of support. He joined the ranks of other celebrities like Harrison Ford, James Cameron, and Nainoa Thompson who have also lent their voice to call for more Guardians on the ground.
Thanks to these videos — several thousand people took action to sign the statement of support, one of the best ways that YOU can use your voice to call on Canada to continue to invest in these life-changing programs.