Indigenous Guardians

Overview

Indigenous Guardians funding provides Indigenous Peoples with a greater opportunity to exercise responsibility in stewardship of their traditional lands, waters, and ice.

Funding for Guardians initiatives supports Indigenous rights and responsibilities in protecting and conserving ecosystems, developing and maintaining sustainable economies, and continuing the profound connections between natural landscapes and Indigenous cultures.

Indigenous Guardians launched in 2017, with the Government of Canada’s investment of $25 million over four years to support an Indigenous Guardians Pilot. From 2018-2022, funding for the Pilot supported over 80 Indigenous-led Guardians initiatives across Canada.

In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada announced up to $100 million over five years (2021-2026) to extend the work of the Pilot to support new and existing Indigenous Guardians initiatives and to support the development of Indigenous Guardians networks for First Nations, Inuit and Métis through a distinctions-based governance structure.

The Indigenous Guardians Secretariat is also delivering funding for Indigenous-led Natural Climate Solutions (ILNCS) collaboratively with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners using the existing distinctions-based governance structures in place for Indigenous Guardians.

Map of funded initiatives

See the Indigenous Guardians map for more information on the funded initiatives.

Governance structures for First Nations, Inuit and Métis

Funding and decision making is being implemented jointly with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis using a distinctions-based approach that respects and recognizes the unique perspectives, rights, responsibilities and needs of Indigenous Peoples.

• First Nations
• Inuit
• Métis

Eligible organizations

Indigenous communities, Indigenous Nations, governments, and representative organizations are eligible for funding under Indigenous Guardians.

Eligible activities

The kinds of activities eligible for the Indigenous Guardians funding include, but are not limited to:

• Gathering and application of Indigenous laws, teachings and knowledge;
• Maintenance and support of Indigenous relationships with lands, waters, animals and plants;
• Capacity building, outreach, education and training of Indigenous youth, tourists, and community members;
• Emergency response;
• Data collection and monitoring related to the use of lands, waters and other earthly gifts on traditional territories, including cultural sites;
• Species and habitat identification, monitoring and protection;
• Habitat stewardship for maintenance and improvement of ecosystem services;
• Conservation, land use and land relationship planning; and
• Enforcement and compliance support through observation, recording, and reporting.

Application process

Applications for Indigenous Guardians funding are currently closed. Details about future application processes are in development with Indigenous partners using a distinctions-based approach with First Nations, Inuit and Métis. We invite you to consult this webpage regularly for more updates.

For more information

For more information, please contact the Indigenous Guardians Secretariat by email at gardiensautochtones-indigenousguardians@ec.gc.ca.

News

• Successful Indigenous Guardians initiatives now in over a quarter of First Nations across Canada
• Introducing the New First Nations Guardians Network
• Government of Canada supports Indigenous Guardians nature conservation with $30M fund
• Government of Canada announces $340 million to support Indigenous-led conservation
• Government of Canada invests in 10 First Nations Guardians initiatives
• Indigenous Guardians First Nations Tier 1 projects 2021-2022
• Government of Canada invests in Inuit leadership through the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program
• Canada invests $6.4 million to support First Nations leadership in conservation
• Government of Canada invests in Métis Nation leadership through the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program
• Government of Canada supports Indigenous leadership in conservation

Related links

• Indigenous-led Natural Climate Solutions
• Environment and Climate Change Canada funding programs (ECCC funding programs - Canada.ca)
• Australian Indigenous Rangers Program
• Indigenous Participation in Protected Areas
• Parks Canada Indigenous Guardian and Watchmen Programs
• Nature United Indigenous led conservation
• Indigenous Leadership Initiative
• Canada's Nature Legacy
• Indigenous Guardians Toolkit (from Nature United)
  • Toolkit map