SVA Analysis of Current & Future Value of Indigenous Guardians Work in the NWT
Social Ventures Australia
In Lutsel K’e and the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories, First Nations are establishing Indigenous guardian programs to help manage ancestral territory. These programs employ Indigenous community members to act as stewards on the land, patrolling protected areas, monitoring fish and wildlife harvests, collecting data on the impacts of climate change, tracking industrial development activities, and educating visitors about proper land use.
An analysis of these two emerging guardians programs found they create about $2.50 of social, economic, cultural and environmental results for every $1 invested. With support from a national network, researchers projected the value could increase to up to $3.70 for each dollar of investment.
