Awards Recognize Emerging Guardians, Trailblazers, and Allies at First Nations National Guardians Gathering
June 1o, 2025
Victoria, BC: June 10, 2025: Several Guardians and Guardians initiatives received awards tonight in recognition of their leadership in caring for lands and waters across the country. The awards were bestowed at the First Nations National Guardians Gathering 2025 in Victoria.
Hosted by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and the National Guardians Network, the Gathering has brought together about 275 Guardians from coast to coast. They are joined by leaders and allies, for a total of 350 participants. In addition to providing opportunities for knowledge exchange, the event is shining a spotlight on the benefits that Guardians programs deliver for lands, waters, communities, and the economy.
This is the third time awards have been presented during the National Guardians Gathering. Every day, about 1,500 Guardians are on the ground managing lands, testing water quality, responding to wildfire and other emergencies, monitoring development projects, and strengthening their Nations decision making. These awards aim to honour a small portion of this essential work and uplift and inspire the larger Guardians movement.
Below is a complete list of award recipients:
Trailblazer Award recognizes those early leaders who have helped lay the foundation on which the Guardians movement has been built. The 2025 award goes to:
Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources for caring for lands and waters on behalf of five Unama’ki Mi’kmaw communities through more than three decades and for showing the way for other Nations to build their own Guardians programs.
Collaboration Award recognizes those who demonstrate the ways Guardians help create respectful partnerships and cooperation among Nations, allies, and supporters. The 2025 award goes to:
NWT: Our Land for the Future, Great Bear Sea, Omushkego Wahkotowin, and SINAA/Qikiqtani for showing how the Project Finance for Permanence model can support Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship, bring partners together at all levels of government, and combine public and private investment.
Jarett Quock Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership recognizes those individuals who exhibit the same devotion to protecting lands and animals, strengthening community, and mentoring youth as the late Tahltan Guardians Jarett Quock did. The 2025 award goes to:
Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi for helping monitor Ts'udé Nilįné Tuyeta, sustain K’ahsho Got’ine tradition through language and culture camps, for bringing youth and Elders together, for sharing about Guardians in video storytelling and on international stages, and for fearlessly helping protect her community from wildfire and evacuate people to safety at a Guardians-led fish camp.
Indigenous Guardian Ally Award recognizes partners who support Guardians and uplift Indigenous leadership in conservation and stewardship. The 2025 award goes to:
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada for fostering greater collaboration between conservation scientists and Indigenous communities and for helping launch a fellowship to support First Nations women leaders as they care for lands and waters and expand their positive impact within and beyond their Nations.
Emerging Leadership Award: recognizes recently launched Guardians programs that are already showing success in training Guardians, caring for lands, and supporting Nationhood. The 2025 award goes to:
Sḵwx ̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Land Guardian Program for developing an Emergency Response Communication Plan and building enforcement capacity rooted in Squamish laws and values. In a short time, they have improved community safety, increased coordination with agencies, and equipped themselves with the tools and confidence to respond effectively in times of crisis.
Media Contacts:
Indigenous Leadership Initiative: Jenn Wesanko / jenn@jennwesanko.com / 604-347-5988
