B.C., First Nations Unite To Boost Support For Guardians

The province is partnering with First Nations reps to develop the first training initiative that will support co-management of land and resources.

This year, the Guardians and Stewardship Training Initiative will be co-developed with First Nations and will support the StrongerBC Future Ready plan to make post-secondary education and skills training more affordable and accessible.

“Since time immemorial, First Nations have been stewards of the water, land and wildlife in B.C., and Guardians play a crucial and growing role in stewarding those lands and resources today,” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

“We’ve heard from First Nations there is a need for more supports and access to training for Guardians, and we are taking action to make that happen.”

''Guardians" is a term used to describe trained members of First Nations who undertake a wide variety of stewardship activities on the land base.

Guardians are experts who help monitor and manage protected areas, who restore animal and plant habitats, and offer Indigenous knowledge.

They are often the first to respond to environmental spills or other emergencies.

The province says it will work with First Nations throughout 2023 to determine the parameters and structure of the new initiative, with a goal of launching the program in spring 2024.