“And that’s what’s fun about being a Guardian: saving the planet, little bit by bit.” Guardians are the eyes and ears on the ground, protecting the lands and waters we all rely on for a healthy planet, building understanding about threats from climate change, and restoring wildlife populations.

Looking for the bright spots of 2020? We’ve got one for you: since January, over 50,000 people have joined the Land Needs Guardians campaign. That’s a lot of support for Guardians.

🦀 need Guardians too. Faced with population declines from overfishing, the Heiltsuk Nation is creating new protected areas to sustain Dungeness crab, which are deeply connected to their way of life.

First Nations know their land. And when Guardians combine this traditional knowledge with additional training, it can provide a more encompassing and holistic view of what’s happening on the land. Here's a first hand look at what some of that training involves, and how it's helping First Nation's better manage impacts on their territories.

What do Guardians do, in their own words? In this video produced by Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh, Tanya Ball gives a quick peek into the daily work of the Kaska Land Guardians: monitoring water quality, educating land users, and learning from Elders about traditional knowledge and the cultural importance of their territory.

How can we build a better, more sustainable economy with people and the land at its center? It starts with respecting and supporting Indigenous-led conservation.

How can we build a better, more sustainable economy with people and the land at its center? It starts with respecting and supporting Indigenous-led conservation.

Brady Highway, who’s seen over 200 fires in his career, explains how Indigenous Guardians are uniquely positioned to provide emergency response and fire management across the boreal. 

How do traditional medicines relate to being a Guardian? For Dakota, it’s about preserving the land that provides everything we need. But it’s also about preserving the knowledge that is passed down through generations.

What’s it like to be an Indigenous Guardian? It’s about more than conservation. It’s about connecting with the land, with culture, and protecting the places that matter most.

What does an Indigenous Guardian do? It varies from season to season, but patrolling, managing protected areas, collecting data, running species at risk programs, and performing search and rescue are just a few activities that Guardians are trained to carry out.

For the Taku River Tlingit, giving life to love of land means not just putting lines on a map — that’s just the beginning of the work.

Canada’s Guardians are in good company: Indigenous Rangers programs in Australia have shown that for every $1 invested there is a $3 return in social and economic benefits. Last year, a group of Senior Rangers visited Canada, giving Indigenous leaders and Guardians the chance to exchange ideas and share knowledge that will continue building on these successes.

Goldfish make fine pets, but when people release them into pristine lakes and wetlands, they can threaten the health of native fish populations—which is exactly what happened in the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. Now, Guardians are working to clear the goldfish population before they can make their way to Atlin Lake and cause more damage.

For Jerry Jack, Land Guardian for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, the salmon found in the Nakina River are more than personal — they are at “the soul of who we are” as people. During the summer months, his daily desk is the tacking platform where he collects salmon samples (alongside the local grizzly bears), assessing the health of the fish population headed to spawn. But the salmon numbers are dwindling, which is why we need Guardians out on the land. They are our eyes and ears, telling us about the changes underway and the threats facing our environment.

Across the country, Indigenous Guardians are working to protect and care for the lands, waters, and resources that we all depend on. This work is already delivering proven results, transforming communities, and building momentum. Join the Land Needs Guardians movement to call on Canada to invest in more Indigenous Guardians!

From 40 degrees to -40 degrees! Indigenous land managers from Australia traveled to Canada in February of 2019. While in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, they took some time to learn about and enjoy Indigenous cultural practices of the North, including dogsledding.

Meet the First Nations communities across Canada who are leading the way in conservation by creating guardian programs and serving as the eyes and ears on the ground. To date, more than 60 guardians programs have launched.

From the Haida Nation off the Pacific Coast to the Innu Nation in Labrador, more than 40 Indigenous Guardians programs are managing traditional territories. They test water quality, restore wildlife, monitor mines and other development and serve as ambassadors when tourists visit.

Indigenous Guardians help communities manage traditional territories. They draft land use plans, study wildlife and monitor development projects. They also honour Elders’ knowledge and connect youth to the land. In this short video, Indigenous Guardians talk about their work. They describe what it means for their communities—better conserved lands, stronger ties to culture, healthier people—and for planet.