Over three days in June, in lək̓ʷəŋən territory Victoria, hundreds of Guardians gathered with their family members and supporters for the sixth annual First Nations National Guardian Gathering — an event grounded in community, culture, and shared commitment to stewardship.

Attendees heard from Guardians leading stewardship programs across their territories, with topics ranging from restoring balance in marine environments to strengthening Nation-to-Nation collaboration.

Hosted by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and the First Nations National Guardians Network (NGN), the gathering opened with the arrival of tribal canoes carrying Guardians from across the country, followed by traditional lək̓ʷəŋən protocols and welcome at Protocol Corner in the Victoria Inner Harbour.

Guardians and First Nation leaders shared songs, dances, and words of welcome at the Mungo Martin Longhouse at the Royal BC Museum, grounding the gathering with a shared purpose.

Skippers from the morning canoe paddle received gifts and recognition for their contributions to the Guardian Gathering, with many speakers echoing the need to continue supporting youth on their journey to Guardianship.

“It’s so important to talk about Guardianship and stewardship – it’s who we are,” said Kwakiutl Hereditary Chief David Mungo Knox, a descendant of Mungo Martin.

After the welcoming ceremony, Guardians gathered at the Victoria Convention Centre for a series of discussions and panels. Premier David Eby addressed the Guardians via video message, thanking them for their work, and the Hon. Laanas Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks (and former Coast Funds board member) shared words of encouragement.

Laanas urged Guardians to raise their concerns to the government so that change can be made.

“You are the ones out in the land and waters, and you raise your concerns to people like me in the government,” said Laanas.

Through panel sessions, Guardians reflected on how they’re restoring their territories, rebuilding relationships with neighbouring First Nations, and reconnecting with the lands and waters following the impacts of colonization.

“I was a Guardian without even knowing it, because of the way I was raised by my father and grandfather,” said Paul Courtoreille, Elder and Fire Knowledge Carrier, at a panel on how First Nations are restoring their relationship with fire.

Miles Richardson O.C., Senior Leader of Indigenous Leadership Initiative, joined the Hon. Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship for British Columbia for a fireside chat on relationship development and the future for ongoing partnerships between the Province and First Nations.

“Working as partners will benefit everyone in BC,” said Minister Neill. “Our land is worth more whole than extracted.”

Their discussion also touched on the Province’s approach to uplifting Guardian programs with a focus on building strong, mutually beneficial relationships that support both conservation efforts and Indigenous self-determination.

The project finance for permanence (PFP) model was highlighted on a panel featuring Dahti Tsetso (NWT: Our Land for the Future PFP), Darcy Dobell (Great Bear Sea PFP), Troy Woodhouse (Omushkego Wahkohtowin), and Danny Yakeleya (NWT: Our Land for the Future PFP). PFPs, which combine significant private and public funding and support partners to collaborate towards a bigger vision for a landscape, are a model for structuring large-scale conservation investments.

Today, PFPs in Canada are taking an Indigenous-led approach — an approach that is now considered a leading model for future PFPs around the world. The Great Bear Sea PFP, which Coast Funds administers, secured $335 million in funding for marine stewardship, Guardian programs, and sustainable economic development.

Discussions on the panel stressed that diversified and self-determined revenue is an essential part of the puzzle to secure long-term stewardship programs across the country.

That evening, the four Canadian PFPs were awarded a Collaboration Award, accepted by Hereditary Chief Frank Brown (Haíɫzaqv Nation), Troy Woodhouse, and Danny Yakeleya.

In 2023, Coast Funds covered a story about the Ha-ma-yas Stewardship Network, an initiative that provides services and support for Guardian and stewardship programs. Initiatives like the Ha-ma-yas Stewardship Network and the First Nations National Guardian Network provide the tools for First Nations to create their own opportunities and investments in Guardian stewardship programs to last lifetimes.

Addressing the Guardians, Gillian Stavely, Council Member of the National Guardians Network, captured the spirit of the First Nations National Guardian Gathering, underlining the many roles Guardians play.

“What you’re doing is more than just the eyes and ears on the ground,” said Gillian. “You are the heartbeat of your Nation, you are the carriers of your ancestral responsibility from your Nation, and you are the hands that hold your sacred relationship to the land and the waters.”

Indigenous Leadership Initiative livestreamed all of the panel discussions, which can be watched for free on YouTube.