The Magic of Guardians: Report Shows Guardians Programs Deliver Compounding Benefits
September 16, 2026
Many years ago, I took a job managing the Minaskuat Kanakuataku Guardians program for the Innu Nation in Labrador. Right away I was struck by the breadth of their stewardship. The Guardians helped monitor about 71,000 square kilometres of territory as part of their responsibilities in the development and implementation of the District 19 Forest Management Plan. In addition to the fieldwork that shaped forest management plans, they also conducted and coordinated associated research, engaged with the Innu community, and lead consultation with residents of Labrador.
I was proud of their work on the land, but I was truly inspired by what it did to people’s hearts. I still remember a young man in our program who struggled with trauma. Becoming a Guardian helped him heal and grow, and soon he became role model. He continues to be a positive leader in our community to this day.
Similar stories are unfolding in communities across the country. Yet it can be hard to convey all the ways Guardians programs benefit the land and people. It’s even harder to distill this transformative power into numbers and figures. Fortunately, we have a new tool to help.
“We’ve become people the community trusts—people they reach out to.” —Land Guardian, Squamish First Nation
Recently published research set out to capture the full range of cultural, social, environmental, and personal benefits generated by Guardians programs. The findings of the report, conducted by EcoPlan International on behalf of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, are striking:
Every $1 invested in Guardians programs generates an average of $12 worth in community benefits, including strengthened stewardship and land protection, preserved cultural knowledge, and deeper connections between youth and culture.
Every $1 invested in Guardians programs provides an average of $9 worth in benefits for the people who participate, including greater skill building, connection to culture, and health and wellbeing.
This represents the most comprehensive assessment of Indigenous Guardians programs conducted to date, and it goes beyond what previous studies have been able to measure.
“There is a sense of pride amongst the Guardians and with the community as a whole.” —Guardian, Tobique First Nation
It also takes an innovative approach. While traditional return on investment studies measure financial gain by comparing monetary inputs to monetary outputs, this one understands value extends well beyond financial or market-based returns. It factors in Indigenous perspectives and priorities, and it uses participatory methods to account for the full range of benefits that matter to communities.
It can be challenging to describe culture in economic terms, but we believe it can help the Guardians movement to do so. Canada is working hard to diversify the economy and engage at a global scale. Now more than ever, leaders are assessing opportunities and looking closely at returns on investment.
We want to demonstrate that supporting Guardians delivers concrete value—not only in terms of stewardship, conservation, and climate change, but also community wellbeing.
“We have been involved in a large-scale conservation project that has built up the credibility of the community and personally created many new connections.” —Guardian, Kitigan Zibi Anishabeg
What excites me about this report is that it shows the benefit of having a Guardian employed in a stable job that uplifts cultural expressions of who they are and honours their responsibility to the land. A job that contributes to their Nations’ decision making and strengthens relationships with Crown governments, industries, and other land users. And a job that helps their territories thrive through stewardship, tourism, responsible industrial development, or conservation.
All this feeds into the magic of Guardians’ work. Many of us have seen it firsthand, and now this report can help others grasp the full breadth of what Guardians offer for themselves, for their communities, and for the future of the country.
