Building Community & Growing the Movement at the National Guardians Gathering

The National Guardians Gathering opened in ceremony, with canoes carrying Guardians from across the country.

July 16, 2025

When Dolcy Meness told a crowded theatre about surveying wood turtles for the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg in Quebec, she shared a key ingredient for monitoring threatened species. “Learning my language helps me do my job better. It helps me be a Guardian.” she said. Knowing the Anishinaabemowin name for a creek, for instance, helped her understand the interrelationship of waterways where turtles live. She said she likes to share this understanding with youth. “I love the twinkle in their eye when they see what we do and when some say they want to be Guardians too.”

Meness spoke on a youth panel during the First Nations National Guardians Gathering 2025. The panelists’ words inspired rounds of applause and questions from the audience. Taylor Deleary of the Chippewas of the Thames in Ontario raised her hand to say how good it felt to know there are other young Guardians working across the country. “You reaffirmed the power us youth hold and how much our voices matters. Allowing that space here at the Guardians Gathering is so powerful.”

That is exactly what the National Guardians Gathering is designed to do: encourage knowledge exchange and build community across the Guardians movement.

Dr. Amy Cardinal Christian, a Policy Advisor with the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, Alvin First Rider, an Environment Manager with Blood Tribe Land Management, and Elder Paul Courtoreille from the Gift Lake Metis Settlement, attend the Opening Ceremony.

Most Representative Guardians Gathering Yet

About 275 Guardians attended the National Guardians Gathering in June, joined by leaders and allies for a total of 350 participants. Held in Songhees Territory in what is now known as Victoria, BC., the event was organized by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and the National Guardians Network.

This was the largest, most representative Gatherings yet, with more than 130 different Guardians programs participating. Many programs attended for the first time—a testament to the growth of the movement.  When the first Gathering was held in 2016, about 30 programs were operating. Now over 200 First Nations Guardians programs are caring for lands and waters across the country.

Though Guardians came from coast to coast, they quickly found common ground. “So many voices of so many strong people, all working together to achieve a common goal is probably the biggest thing I learned here,” said Angelina Francis with Natural Resource Manager, Miawpukek First Nation. “Everyone here to your right to your left will have some type of guidance they can share with you.”

In the opening ceremony, Guardians and members of tribal canoe families paddled across Victoria’s Inner Harbour and asked our Songhees hosts to come ashore.

Opening in Ceremony, Learning Together

The Gathering began with a welcome ceremony rooted in the laws and protocols of West Coast Nations. A dozen tribal, ocean-going canoes paddled into Victoria Harbour carrying Guardians from across the country. As they drew close to “Protocol Corner,” each canoe introduced themselves to Songhees Elder Frank George, and he welcomed them ashore. Jimmy Nuna is a Guardian with the Innu Nation in Labrador who paddled that morning. “Starting off the day on the canoe, on the water, I felt grounded. I felt like I was at peace. It was such a good start for the Guardians conference.”

After the ceremony, Guardians began three days of connecting and knowledge sharing. “We have common problems with different solutions,” said Nits’ilʔin Lennon Solomon of Yuneŝit’ Government in BC. “We are learning from each other.” Plenary panels explored a range of topics, from fire management to the growth of Guardians within the United States. Breakout sessions offered opportunities to dig deeper into conversations about Guardians role in emergency services, Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, and language and culture. They offered guidance and input on future training opportunities and accreditation of the Guardians profession.

Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi, a Guardian with the K’asho Got’ine Foundation, receives the Jarett Quock Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership, presented by David Therrien, the Regional Advisor, Québec for ILI.

Time for Celebration

In between the discussions, there was plenty of laughter and fun. Having over 275 Guardians together is reason enough to celebrate, but the Gathering offered a few more. On the first evening, participants cheered on fellow Guardians who were recognized with awards for their leadership in caring for lands and waters.

Sandy Clipping, a Board Member with the Seal River Watershed Alliance (SRWA), and Justice Henderson, the Alliance Coordinator for SRWA, enjoy the red carpet at the private screening of Guardians of the Land.

The next evening put Guardians squarely in the spotlight. They dressed up in their uniforms, big earrings, and fancy clothes and walked the red carpet to photographers’ flashes and the sounds of DJ All Good. They watched a private screening of a new documentary called Guardians of the Land, co-directed by Indigenous producer and actor Jennifer Podemski, and they heard a Q&A with Heiltsuk and Innu Guardians featured in the film. Both the film and the panelists received extended standing ovations. And Guardians were the stars of the night. “To have our own Indigenous red carpet means we are being respected and included,” said Brenda Morrisseau from Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba.

Amos Scott, Director of the Northern Indigenous Stewardship Circle, talked with Heiltsuk Nation Guardian Watchmen Leonard Steward and Josh Vickers and Jack Penashue, the Innu Superintendent of AkamuiapishkU (Mealy Mountains), about being in the film after the private screening.

Looking to the Future

This was the fifth and largest National Guardians Gathering yet. The event expands as the movement grows. And as the movement grows, more lands, waters, communities, local economies, and regions across the country feel the benefits of Guardians on the ground. “At the next Gathering, I hope to see even more Guardians because that means we are building a better future,” said Valérie Courtois, the Executive Director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative.

The final sessions of the Gathering focused a lot on the future. In one of them, Innu Guardian Randy Malleck shared in both English and Innu-aimun: “I love my job being able to monitor and watch over the land and the rivers and the animals. I shared that with a lot of young ones, showed them how to be a Guardian. It brings me hope.”

Participants of the 2025 National Guardians Gathering.