Indigenous Guardians Movement Begins to Take Shape in the United States
“The Exploring Indigenous-led US Guardianship Gathering” at the Lummi Nation began in ceremony, with participants welcoming the arrival of canoes, including from the Puyallup Tribe.
May 29, 2024
On a beautiful spring evening, hundreds of people gathered in the Wexliem Community Building on the Lummi Nation for a salmon feast. The space filled with the swirl of youth from the Lummi Nation’s Blackhawk Dancers and the sounds of Puyallup and Heiltsuk drummers. After distributing gifts, speakers welcomed a group of special guests: dozens of representatives from tribal nations who had come to attend the Exploring Indigenous-led US Guardianship Gathering.
“We are honoured to be in this beautiful house,” said Valérie Courtois, the Executive Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, one of the conveners of the gathering. “We have been on a journey of building a movement asserting Indigenous Nationhood through our stewardship in what is now known as Canada. Now we are excited to partner with our brothers and sisters across Turtle Island.”
Indigenous Guardians programs are emerging within the U.S., and many tribal nations are eager to launch them. Shaped by this rise in Indigenous-led stewardship in the U.S. and inspired by similar movements in Canada and Australia, the gathering explored the possibility of launching a network to link and support U.S. tribal stewardship programs.
“Indigenous sovereign Nations are leading efforts to restore our ecosystems and make all of us more resilient to the onslaught of changes,” said Joel Moffet of Native Americans in Philanthropy. A U.S. Guardians network, he said, “will have long-lasting impacts of building our capacity in our tribal communities.”
The gathering unfolded over three days of connecting, sharing, laughing, and building momentum. Guardians from the Igiugig Village Council, Tlingit, Haida, and Yupik in Alaska joined stewards from Na Moku Aupuni O Ko‘olau Hui in Maui, the Bears Ears Coalition in the Southwest, and the Blackfeet Nation in Montana and many others. Over 60 Indigenous leaders and partners participated.
A Circle for Sharing Knowledge
The event began in ceremony. Participants gathered on a beach to witness the arrival of canoes from the Puyallup Tribe. Then they celebrated the opening of the Sacred Journey and Bakvla exhibits at the Coast Salish Institute and finished the day with the community feast with Lummi Nation hosts.
Representatives from Tribal Nations in Alaska, California, the Southwest and beyond dance during a community feast at the Lummi Nation.
These events helped set the stage for good conversation. Sitting in a large circle, people talked about what is happening on their homelands. Many face similar challenges, from climate impacts to the limits of co-management. But many also described similar benefits of honouring Indigenous-led stewardship, including how it sustains the land, connects people to culture, helps people heal, and offers hope and opportunity for youth.
“Our dream is for abundance, for a thriving, beautiful place,” said Olan Leimomi, of Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea in O'ahu. “Indigenous People already know that is possible, because we have lived that way since time immemorial.”
Strengthening Nationhood
Many conversations focused on how Guardians are a critical part of tribal nations’ pathway from colonization back to sovereignty. Guardians help redefine what stewardship looks by integrating Indigenous knowledge, language, law, and culture alongside western science. Having these programs in place helps nations establish the capacity to assume responsibility for their traditional territories.
The link between stewardship and sovereignty was echoed by ILI leaders. “We’ve seen Indigenous-led conservation in Canada being a modern manifestation of our Nationhood,” said ILI Senior Leader Miles Richardson, O.C. “Our people can stand up in our own power. We are born with sovereignty. It’s not something you negotiate.”
ILI Senior Leader Miles Richardson, O.C., shared that “the success of what is going on with the Guardians movement in Canada is Indigenous leadership; that’s the essence of it.”
While public governments and private philanthropies are increasingly recognizing Indigenous leadership, participants agreed more needs to be done. “The paternalistic relationship with funders has to end,” said ILI Senior Leader Frank Brown. “Indigenous-led conservation happens on our terms. We have a responsibility to look after these lands for future generations. We will collaborate and share, but there are terms and conditions.”
The Benefits of a Network
Many participants expressed how good it felt to talk, share, and uplift each other. They agreed a network would ensure these conversations continue—at the regional and national levels. “There is so much good work already happening in Alaska,” said Hannah-Maria Garcia of the Indigenous Sentinels Network. “How do we collaborate and support the programs already happening? Communication is a good start.”
“We want to create a regional Indigenous Guardians network. It’s these networking opportunities that allow us to do that,” said Mary Hostetter of the Igiugig Village Council.
People also explored the ways in which a network could encourage knowledge exchanges, training opportunities, and collaborations on policy and communications. It would also help tribal nations leverage more long-term funding.
Fawn Sharp, former President of National Congress of American Indians and former President of the Quinault Indian Nation, underscored the critical importance of sustained support. “We know that 5 per cent of the population—Indigenous People—is sustaining 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity. I flip that around and say we are outperforming by 400 per cent with little to no resources. Imagine what we could do with real investment!”
Next Steps
At the close of the gathering, participants discussed ways to keep working toward a national U.S. stewardship network. Suggested next steps included a larger gathering in the fall and transboundary cooperations between neighbouring nations in the U.S. and Canada.
The shape of the network will evolve from an Indigenous-led, collaborative effort. The conveners, a small group of NGOs and funders, reiterated their commitment to take a secondary support role. Tribal nations, leaders, stewardship directors, and Guardians will set the agenda and determine the path forward.
Before the gathering came to an end, Dana Wilson of the Lummi Nation gifted everyone a can of salmon that he put up with his grandson. The Lummi are fishing people, he explained, but can only fish every three or four years now when there is a good run. “Back in the day, we would have given you cases of salmon,” he said. “So when you open this can, think how precious it is and how real the work you are doing is. When you step away with this gift, keep the conversation going.”
A shot of some of the gathering participants. The group committed to keeping the momentum going. “I am so grateful for this,” said Olan Leimomi of Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea. “We are stronger together.”
