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.

Indigenous Guardians are the “eyes and ears on-the-ground,” monitoring ecological health, maintaining cultural sites, and protecting sensitive areas and species.

Funding for Guardians initiatives supports Indigenous rights and responsibilities in:

protecting and conserving ecosystems
developing and maintaining sustainable economies
continuing the profound connections between natural landscapes and Indigenous cultures

In 2017, the Government of Canada announced an initial investment of $25 million to launch an Indigenous Guardians Pilot from 2018-2022. During this time, over 80 Indigenous-led Guardians initiatives across Canada received funding.

Building on the success of the pilot, the Government of Canada announced an additional $100 million in 2021 to extend Indigenous Guardians funding through 2026. This investment supports both new and existing Indigenous Guardians initiative and promotes the development of Indigenous Guardians networks for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis through a distinctions-based governance structure.

Since 2018, over 240 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Guardians initiatives have received Indigenous Guardians funding. Combined, these investments have helped support the creation of almost 1,500 traditionally and culturally meaningful employment opportunities, while protecting nature and wildlife.

Map of funded initiatives

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

Governance structures for First Nations, Inuit and Métis

Funding and decision-making processes are co-designed, co-developed and co-delivered with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis using a distinctions-based approach that respects and recognizes their unique perspectives, rights, responsibilities, and needs.

First Nations Guardians
Inuit Guardians
Métis Guardians

Eligible recipients

Eligible recipients include:

Indigenous Nations, organizations, governments, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations and authorities, including
- Indigenous not-for-profit organizations
- District councils, Chiefs councils and Tribal councils
- Indigenous research, academic and educational institutions
- Indigenous for-profit organizations.

Eligible activities

Eligible activities for Indigenous Guardians funding include, but are not limited to:

gathering and the 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
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 First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners using a distinctions-based approach.

Consult the First Nation Guardians, Inuit Guardians and Métis Guardians webpages regularly for more updates on new funding opportunities.

For more information

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

News

Page details

2025-08-27

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