The Indigenous-led conservation movement in Canada has been growing over the last 40 years as Indigenous communities across the country are taking back our rightful places as land protectors and stewards. Across Canada, there are approximately 90 Indigenous Guardian programs, with early efforts dating back to 1981 with the establishment of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen off the west coast of British Columbia. Indigenous Guardians programs build capacity, strengthen nationhood and employ Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Guardians perform a variety of duties including species and harvest monitoring, patrolling protected areas, providing cultural interpretation, educating land users about cultural values and proper land use, developing land use plans, monitoring resource development projects, responding to climate change impacts, restoring forests, streams and other landscapes, training youth, working with Crown forestry and fisheries representatives and identifying areas for conservation and sustainable economic development. They are the “eyes and ears” on the Land.
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