First Nations Guardians Gathering 2019

Tuesday, March 12, 2019 9:00 AM
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 4:00 PM

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Vancouver, BC

“If we take care of the land, it will take care of us.”

More than 300 First Nations guardians, leaders and partners are gathering in Vancouver to discuss the next steps in creating a national guardians network.

Guardians serve as the “moccasins and mukluks” on the ground for their communities. Drawing on traditional knowledge and science, they manage protected areas, monitor development projects and restore animals and plants.

There are over 40 guardians programs caring for lands across the country. A national guardians network will support their work and empower more communities to launch their own programs.

The First Nations’ National Guardians Gathering 2019 will explore next steps in this process. The event is hosted by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Guardians Gathering Video Segments

Day 1: March 12, 2019 View entire playlist.

Introduction of Gathering Chairperson, Leah George-Wilson (6:19)

Morning Panels and Presentations (1:17:43)

Panel: Vision for the National Indigenous Guardians Movement

Terry Teegee, Regional Chief, BC Assembly of First Nations
Dave Porter, Chair, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

Presentation: Coastal First Nations – Great Bear Initiative (CFN-GBI)

Ross Wilson, Stewardship Director, Metlakatla Stewardship Society
Jana Kotaska, Program Manager, CFN-GBI
Elodie Button, Training Coordinator, CFN-GBI

Presentation of the Work of the Joint Working Group (JWG) (1:23:14)

Valérie Courtois, Director, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Dr. Niall O’Dea, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Members of the First Nations-Federal Pilot Joint Working Group for Guardians Fund Structure and Application Process

Panel: Guardians and Nationhood (1:16:23)

Moderator: Valérie Courtois
Miles Richardson, Senior Advisor, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Réal McKenzie, Political Advisor, Nation Innue with Jean-Charles Piètacho Chief, Ekuanitshit and elder Anne-Marie André
Herb Norwegian, former Grand Chief, Dehcho First Nations

Presentation by Australian Rangers from “Working on Country” Initiative (24:59)

Moderator: Ovide Mercredi, Senior Advisor, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

Day 2: March 13, 2019View entire playlist.

“Beyond Climate”: Film by Ian Mauro Panel (39:18)

Moderator: Ian Mauro
David Suzuki
Frank Brown, Hereditary Chief, Heiltsuk First Nation and Ex-officio of the JWG

“Indigenous Guardians’ Voices from Coast to Coast to Coast”: Video by Amos Scott Panel (1:22:25)

Moderator: Amos Scott
Kristen Tanche, Acting Resource Management Coordinator, Dehcho First Nations, NWT
Heidi Cook, Councillor, Misipawistik First Nation, Manitoba
Bobby Gould, Fishery Operation Manager, Waycobah First Nation, Unama’ki
Jarett Quock, Wildlife Guardian, Tahltan Central Government, BC
Bob Overvold, Chief Negotiator, Fort Good Hope, NWT

Panel: Partners in Support of Indigenous Guardians Movement (1:07:43)

Moderator: Shaunna Morgan Siegers, Operations Manager, ILI
Alison Woodley, Strategic Advisor, CPAWS
Claire Hutton, Community Conservation and Leadership Advisor, Nature United
Tara Shea, Senior Director, Sustainability and Aboriginal Affairs, Mining Association of Canada
Michael Scott, Senior Advisor, Resources Legacy Fund
Steven Kallick, Senior Strategist/Director, International Boreal Conservation Campaign

Resourcing and Growing the Guardians Movement (Training and Education) (1:14:43)

Frank Brown, Hereditary Chief, Heiltsuk First Nation and Ex-officio of the JWG
Keith Christmas, Guardian Program Liaison Coordinator, Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources and member of the JWG

The National Indigenous Guardians Network: The Way Forward (1:21:45)

Valérie Courtois, Director, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Dr. Niall O’Dea, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)