Indigenous Guardian Capacity Building – Guardian Training Research Draft Report
Press Release
This summary report makes a case for investing in systematic Indigenous Guardian training systems. It draws on four detailed research reports to provide an evidence base for informed decision-making and the advocacy efforts of BC-based Senior Advisors to the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI). The report highlights the critical and evolving role of Indigenous Guardians in Canada, and it makes the case for systematic commitments to institutional and human capacity-building to enhance Guardianship for future generations.
Sustaining the key role of Indigenous Guardians for future generations
Indigenous rights, title, and responsibilities are rooted in an interdependent relationship with lands, waters, and resources. Indigenous Guardians and conservation models like Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are contemporary expressions of these stewardship responsibilities. Despite colonial attempts to sever this connection, inherent stewardship rights persist. Indigenous peoples are re-asserting these rights, which has contributed to the growth of Guardian programs.
Investing further in sustainable Guardianship remains an urgent need for current and future generations. Canada and British Columbia have committed to uphold the principles contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Guardianship is a place-based expression of Indigenous rights that must be supported for Canada and BC to upholding their commitments. It is time to move beyond short-term funding models to invest in institutional and human capacity-building models that sustain Guardianship beyond political terms for multiple generations to come.
Guardians uphold Indigenous-led regenerative stewardship economies for the benefit of all
Indigenous regenerative stewardship economies are built on the value of conserving, restoring, managing, and protecting ecosystems and cultural heritage. They are founded on Indigenous culture, rights, and title, focusing on building strong communities, providing meaningful work, and conserving the environment through traditional stewardship practices. Indigenous Guardians are instrumental in advancing these economies, contributing through Indigenous-led conservation and protected area management, supporting market mechanisms like carbon offsets, diversifying economies (e.g., sustainable tourism, Indigenous enterprise development), and providing essential data for informed decision-making and innovative governance partnerships.
The report provides details on these contributions by synthesizing literature and drawing on the experience of Indigenous leaders. The examples documented in the report demonstrate
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