Land Needs Guardians

🌿 The work that Guardians do in protecting our lands and waters has clear benefits. But those benefits don’t just stay on the land – they grow and ripple out into communities and across the country. With widespread public support behind Guardians programs, there’s a growing need for long-term investment to ensure that every First Nation that wants one can sustain and expand this work. Join us in advocating for lasting support—because when the work that Guardians do can thrive, we all thrive. ✊ You can also check out this great blog to read more about the highlights and impacts of Guardians 👉 https://bit.ly/3HOiY89  #LandNeedsGuardians

“This is why I moved back to my community. I believe with my whole heart that Guardians are what will help pull us out of this chaos we are all experiencing.” 🦅 Recently at the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference in Anchorage, we joined partners and Guardians from across the state for a powerful event that showcased how Indigenous-led stewardship is healing lands and empowering communities. Leaders in the region have been inspired by the Guardians movement in Canada, and are excited to see similar momentum in the region.🌿 Read the latest to see how this growing movement is making an impact for Alaska Native communities and beyond.✊ #LandNeedsGuardians https://bit.ly/3YnIjO7

🎉A huge shoutout to the Seal River Guardians heading to #COP16! With only 10 Guardians protecting 50 sq km of land, they’re making their voices heard on the world stage.🌎 Good luck to these inspiring leaders as they raise awareness about protecting their homelands in the Seal River Watershed.🌿 We’re rooting for you all and know that you’ll make an impact! 👏 https://bit.ly/3NJ5bTe

“We need a large-scale approach to mobilizing an untapped resource: Indigenous Guardians.”  🤎 Indigenous fire crews have the knowledge and skills to protect their lands, but are often sidelined due to bureaucratic barriers. By investing in Indigenous Guardians, we can reduce wildfire risks, build resilience, and create jobs—offering a sustainable, cost-effective solution to our growing wildfire crisis. 🔥 Read the full article here 👉 https://tgam.ca/4ezUI8E

“I mean we’re still doing the same thing as our ancestors did before contact. It was a staple food for us. We’re still going to harvest herring roe.”  For the Heiltsuk Nation, herring roe has always been more than food—it’s a connection to the ancestors and a symbol of our responsibility to care for the land, the waters, and each other. 💚 Coastal Guardian Watchmen are on the frontlines, working to help herring populations thrive, protecting this sacred bond, and preserving the teachings that guide us in how to care for our families, from children to Elders. #LandNeedsGuardians

“When I think of the word Guardian, I think of Nihogel’ni, and in Dene, Nihoghel’ni means to care for the Earth.”🌎 If you haven’t heard of the Seal River Watershed Guardians – we think you should! Guardians from the Watershed are from Four First Nations who are leading the way in establishing an Indigenous Protected Area that would protect the largest watershed left on the planet. The Guardians here, just like across the country, view this work as more than just a job—it’s about standing up for our culture, our history, and all our relations. ✊ It’s a responsibility, passed down from our ancestors, to care for the land. Take a minute to learn about this important work and why having Guardians on the land protecting the Seal River Watershed is important! 🤎

“Sometimes you don’t see these things happening in real time, but this–it was just immediate success.” In honour of #NationalMigratoryBirdDay, check out the work that the Kahnawake Guardians’ are doing to protect Bank Swallows, a species at risk in Canada. 🐦 These little birds are shoreline nesters, meaning that they burrow into the sandy sides of banks to nest. Due to development, their nesting habitat has been significantly reduced. But thanks to a little ingenuity and the vision of Guardians, a new structure was built to mimic natural sandbanks. Within weeks, hundreds of swallows made it their home! 🤎 This habitat is vital for their recovery, offering safe nesting and nearby wetlands for foraging. Shoutout to the Kahnawake Guardians and ALL of the Guardians across Canada who are working to preserve bird habitats, protect threatened species, and support the health and wellbeing of all our relations into the future.🙌 #LandNeedsGuardians

Did you know that good fire can promote biodiversity and restore traditional food sources?! 🔥 Once a thriving ricing lake, now overgrown—Michela Carriere shares how cultural burning in the Saskatchewan River Delta is bringing it back to life. By setting smaller, cooler fires at the right times, the land is healing, restoring balance, boosting biodiversity, and reviving plants like wild rice and fresh willow for moose.🌱 Want to learn more? Watch the video and discover how cultural burns are making a difference! #LandNeedsGuardians

“The network is reinventing the system for distributing federal funds to make a process that is easier for guardians, that gets them in the field faster.” A new era of Indigenous-led stewardship is here. 🎉 The NGN - National Guardians Network is now managing the funding process for Guardians programs – a shift that signifies a new kind of partnership, one built on equality that will strengthen the hands-on work needed to protect our lands and waters. 🤎 The latest round of funding means more Guardians in the field and more Indigenous leadership on the land. Click here to read about the announcement from The Narwhal and learn more about what Canada’s first Indigenous-led national stewardship network means for this work. #LandNeedsGuardians 👉 https://bit.ly/3TW4Ks8

“Get your Guardians trained up, because one day we’re gonna need it.” Wildfires are growing increasingly hotter, moving faster, and threatening communities across the country. 🔥 The people of Fort Good Hope have experienced that firsthand. Their takeaway? Being prepared is key, and fire training for Guardians is a game-changer.✊ Check out this powerful story of how Kasho Got’ine Guardians were on the frontlines of a massive fire, stepping up to evacuate the town and fight on the front lines. 👏 Wildfires are costly, dangerous, and unpredictable—but with trained Guardians, we can help save lives and better protect our communities. #LandNeedsGuardians