'Excellent results' from N.W.T. Indigenous guardians programs

A new report says Indigenous guardians programs in the N.W.T. that use traditional knowledge to help preserve Indigenous culture and land are delivering "significant social, economic, and environmental benefits."

This comes after members of a Canadian team called the Indigenous Leadership Initiative asked the federal government for $500 million for a national guardians programthat would allow people in Indigenous communities across the country to monitor the land, preserve wildlife and maintain their culture.

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Social Ventures Australia, which studied similar lauded programs in that country, looked at Indigenous guardians programs already up and runningin theDehchoFirst Nations andLutselK'eDeneFirst Nation in the N.W.T.It says there is a$2.5 return for every dollar invested in the programs.

The NiHat'niDeneprogram inLutselK'epartners young people with oldercommunitymembers topatrol the land and water, monitoring changes in water quality, sediments, and wildlife.

According to Steven Nitah, a former territorial politician who is now the chief negotiator for the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, not only does the program have direct, short-term benefits for the community, but it has long-term benefits too: those same young people who were involved in the programhave gone on to work with industry as environmental monitors and in tourism.

"We've seen excellent results," Nitah said."It's not only that it employs people, but the youth are busy, they're learning their way of life they're staying out of the criminal justice system."

Less crime, more respect

The report says these Northern Canadian programs have also delivered different benefits than the Australian Indigenous Rangers program that was studied down south, which has been lauded for itssocial and economic gains for Indigenous communities in Australia.

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According to the report,interviewees in the N.W.T. communities with the guardians programs reported less crime, more respect from non-Indigenous community members, and better preservation of their traditionallanguage and culture.

"It's part of decolonization of Indigenous peoples," Nitahsaid."As a result, they're healthier, they have a better perspectiveon life, and they're better contributors to their communities."

Stable funding needed

Even still, the report says the N.W.T. community programs could use more funding.

Things like increased respect for traditional ecological knowledge, increases in income tax, and low-cost land management were seen in Australia, but not in Canada.

Nitahchalks this difference up to the lack of consistent funding, making it difficulttodo any long-term planning.

In theDeh ChoK'ehondiprogram in the Dehcho First Nations, for example, funding has come from a smattering ofNGOs, and securing that fundingfor a few years at a timerequires constantly writing proposals.

The report suggests stable funding could increase the benefits from the N.W.T.programs from $2.5 return for every dollar spent, to as much as $3.7.

The Deh Cho K'ehondi program, which focuses on using Dene language and culture to rebuild relationships with the land,is a newer program that'sonly coming together over the past few years.

ButDehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian has high hopes.

"As we're moving along and looking at taking care of our territory we need moccasins on the ground to make sure we know exactly what is going on," Norwegian said.

"It will be our barometer, so to speak."