This is a report by an Australian NGO about the Guardians programs in Lutsel K’e and the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories. It provides a detailed description of the Guardians activities in these territories, which include 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. The report goes on to analyse the benefits of these programs, finding that Guardians programs deliver value (they find that based on a $4.5 million investment, the return has already generated $11.1 million), that this value increases over time, that Guardian programs can help strengthen the conservation economy, and that National support can help secure long-term benefits. Key sections include a comparison of outcomes achieved through Indigenous Guardian work in Canada and Australia (pg. 22), a discussion of the current and potential future value of Indigenous guardian work in Canada (pg. 28), and key lessons from Australia for growing the impact of Indigenous guardian work in Canada (pg. 35).

Analysis of the Current and Future Value of Indigenous Guardian Work in Canada’s Northwest Territories