Thunder Bay – Indigenous peoples are at the forefront of the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change. Across the country, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis are on the ground managing land, water, and helping communities thrive while safeguarding the natural spaces we all depend on for current and future generations.
Jaimee Gaunce, Executive Director of the First Nations National Guardians Network (NGN), joined Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario; and Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River, to announce the investment of up to $27.6 million to support 80 First Nations Guardians initiatives.
This investment will support 18 new and 62 existing initiatives to safeguard the land, water, and wildlife within First Nation territories while also creating meaningful employment opportunities in remote areas.
Executive Director Gaunce, Minister Guilbeault, Minister Hajdu, and Member of Parliament Powlowski were also joined by Valérie Courtois, Executive Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative; Bertha Sutherland of Constance Lake First Nation; and Dr. Robert Stewart of BZA-Rocky Bay First Nation. This announcement marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time First Nations Guardians’ funding has been independently managed by the National Guardians Network, the world’s first Indigenous-led national stewardship network.
Longstanding initiatives, such as the Matawa First Nations’ Four Rivers Regional Guardians Network are concrete examples of Guardians’ initiatives in action—acting as the “eyes and ears” on the ground by monitoring ecological health and working to preserve and pass on Indigenous knowledge and nature-based learning to inspire future Guardians.
For over a decade, Four Rivers Regional Guardians Network has led environmental stewardship and capacity-building for nine Matawa member First Nations in Northern Ontario. With this new investment, Four Rivers will strengthen its support for land, water, and wildlife stewardship within these communities; acquire vital monitoring equipment and other resources; deliver support and training; and standardize monitoring approaches, methods, and data collection and organization.
The Indigenous Guardians initiative is an important pathway for Indigenous peoples to continue to exercise their rights and responsibilities in stewardship of their traditional lands, and a key component of Canada’s commitment to and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“Indigenous-led stewardship offers profound and transformative benefits for communities and the environment and Guardians are a cornerstone of these efforts. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the First Nations National Guardians Network for their dedication and success in administering this year’s program. This achievement will ensure that future generations benefit from healthy land and water and stands as a powerful testament to self determination in action.” – Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change