Thank you.
The indigenous guardians program is an incredible network of indigenous communities supported by different sources of funding, but led through the hard work of numerous people in the Indigenous Leadership Initiative. When you think about the term “guardians”, it's about monitoring in some parts, and doing ongoing evidence-based research to collect data about issues that matter in communities. Can we drink the water? Can we eat the fish? How can we sustain resources that matter to our food security? However, it's also about sovereignty, about communities having that identity, that connection to the land, and being able to maintain that connection over time.
It's also social and cultural in many ways. It's an opportunity for communities to build, teach and create learning opportunities for youth. There are guardians programs as well that have an educational focus aimed at the public. The guardians program led by Iris Catholique in Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation, for example, tied to Thaidene Nëné National Park, is also aimed at educating non-indigenous people in the region about Dene culture.
It has many different dimensions, and I think it's that holistic approach that makes it so successful.