The NWT Project Financing For Permanence offers tangible benefits from putting reconciliation into action built on a foundation of honouring our shared responsibilities to the land and people of the NWT. Photograph courtesy of Dehcho First Nations February 26, 2024 By Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik, Gwich'in Tribal Council, and Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, Dehcho First Nations As leaders of Indigenous governments, we have experienced firsthand the legacy of colonialism and the impacts of imposed decisions and past developments that did not consider our governance, perspectives, knowledge, and n ..read more

December 20, 2023 The Indigenous leadership that generated international attention at last December’s COP15 Biodiversity Summit in Montreal continued to shine through 2023. The year brought challenges, including record-breaking wildfires that devastated communities across the country and sent smoke billowing for thousands of kilometres. But from the community level to the national stage, Indigenous Nations offered solutions for caring for lands and waters. Canadians welcomed these contributions: 75% of Canadians support the Guardians programs, for instance, according to a recent poll. Here ar ..read more

July 10, 2023 By Frank Brown Along the Pacific Coast, many salmon species are making their summer migration from ocean waters to rivers and streams. In First Nations culture, salmon is a symbol of regeneration and perseverance. In order for salmon to reproduce, they must sacrifice their own life to allow the next generation to prosper. Many creatures in the ecosystem including Bears, Eagles, and humans depend on Salmon for sustenance. From a creek of origin, a salmon egg hatches into salmon fry, grows into a smolt and goes out to sea where it matures and is ready to reproduce and go bac ..read more

June 22, 2023 By Valérie Courtois Something transformative took place at a feast in my home community of Mashteuiatsh, Quebec recently. Representatives from the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI) and the International Boreal Conservation Campaign (IBCC) traveled from across the continent to join Ilnu community members for a ceremony. We enjoyed the sound of the teueiikan (Innu drum) performed by respected Elder Alexandre McKenzie and a delicious super of foods from our lands and waters: moose, geese, beaver, and pickerel were on the menu. And then Steve Kallick, who founded (IBCC) at The ..read more

May 31, 2023 By Frank Brown The Heiltsuk Guardian Watchmen originate from ancient ethic of taking care of water and land because we know it takes care of us through meeting our sustenance needs. Within our aquatic environment guardians monitor various species such as herring, salmon, shellfish and other marine research. As place based coastal first people, our relationship with marine life is fundamental to our society and culture, and so our Guardian Watchmen devote much of their time to monitoring and protecting these salt waters. But after participating in the First Nations National Guardi ..read more

May 6, 2023 By Valérie Courtois In a few days, over 350 people will come together for the fourth National First Nations Guardians Gathering–the largest Guardians Gathering ever in Canada. In 2016 when we held the first Gathering, there were only about 30 Guardians programs operating in the country. Now more than 120 First Nations Guardians programs are thriving – caring for the lands and waters we all depend on. The exponential growth of Guardians programs in recent years has not only been inspiring to witness. It has also unleashed a host of benefits for lands, communities, and the country a ..read more

A member of the Nuxalk Guardian Watchmen, British Columbia. Photo credit: ’Qátuw̓as Brown Français April 4, 2023 By Frank Brown Indigenous Guardians care for lands and waters across British Columbia. In recognition of the broad benefits of Guardians programs, the Government of British Columbia and First Nations are launching a collaborative process to create more training opportunities for Guardians. Guardians’ stewardship is needed now more than ever. BC has experienced destructive flooding brought on atmospheric rivers and wildfires fueled by drought. Our salmon populations are crashing, an ..read more

Nuxalk Guardian Watchmen, British Columbia. Phot credit: ’Qátuw̓as Brown By Valérie Courtois November 17, 2022 Weeks after countries wrap up climate talks in Egypt, the international community will arrive in Montreal for once-in-a-decade deliberations about how to sustain global biodiversity—the animals, plants, food harvests, drinking water, clean air, and other natural systems we all depend on. It can be hard to remain optimistic in the face of grim scientific reports and political wrangling. But I know there is cause for hope. While the forces driving the destruction of nature are complex ..read more

Photo credit: ’Qátuw̓as Brown By Frank Brown November 16, 2022 First Nations along the Pacific Coast have been at the forefront of protecting lands and waters for decades. From Gwaii Haanas to the Great Bear Rainforest and Gitdisdzu Lugyeks, we have drawn from our Nations’ knowledge and laws to create protected areas and sustain salmon, herring, and other animals. We have also worked hard to ensure these new areas support our communities. We are building conservation-based economies that sustain people and the land. This model is becoming increasingly important. In December, countries of th ..read more

Français By Brady Highway October 12, 2022 As western Canada continues to burn into the late fall, some predict firefighters will be on the ground until the snow flies this year. Fires are nothing new, but the changing climate has intensified fires through longer and dryer summer months, leaving many of us working on the fire line wondering how to adapt to these new conditions. Indigenous knowledge can improve and strengthen firefighting efforts across the country. And Guardians are at the heart of Indigenous-led solutions. The fact of the matter is, there are many Indigenous people with a we ..read more