Chapter 4

Create a Vision, Plan and Prioritize

Planning, though very useful, isn’t something people tend to get excited about. But without a plan, it can be more challenging to develop and implement an effective Indigenous Guardian program.

A strong vision, clear strategic priorities and an operational plan can help to ensure that your program:

  • Stays on track
  • Is well supported
  • Gets funding
  • Makes the best use of resources
  • Has a meaningful impact  
Planning, Implementing and Evaluating an Indigenous Guardian Program

Good planning starts with a vision for your Indigenous Guardian program. It provides guidance as you set your strategic priorities. Then, an operational plan lays out what you are going to do and how you’re going to do it. Good planning also needs to involve the right mix of people. Engaging others in the planning of your Indigenous Guardian program can help to:

  • Build a shared sense of ownership and support.
  • Bring in knowledge to strengthen and shape your program.
  • Ensure that the program is well designed and executed.  

There are many different approaches to planning and each community may use a different method.

Explore this section to learn:

  1. How to build a vision – what do you want to achieve?
  2. How to set strategic priorities – what should you focus on?
  3. How to create an operational plan – how do you do the work?
  4. How to evaluate the program – how are you doing?

 

Tipsheet

Tips for Planning Your Program

Download
  1. Take the time to do planning, especially at the vision and strategic priorities level. This work can help to guide your program, determine how to allocate resources, and identify where to put effort.
  2. Invite and engage participation in developing your plans. This will cultivate interest and support and help you tap into a range of voices and experience that can shape an effective program.
  3. There is no such thing as a perfect plan. Instead, consider it a roadmap. As you move forward and the terrain changes, so too can your plans.
  4. Regularly revisit and adapt your plan to reflect ongoing input, new information and lessons learned, and the changing context you are operating within.
  5. Don’t develop a strong plan then park it on a shelf. Reference these important guiding documents. Activate them with strong implementation measures.
  6. Develop a strong operational plan that clarifies roles and responsibilities, work plans, budgets, schedules, etc.
  7. Share progress and results from your program efforts. Feed this information back to the community, integrate it into the work of your organization or Nation, and use it to influence change and decisions in line with your vision.
  8. Document and file the work of your program in an organized, systematic and retrievable way. 
Tipsheet

Tips for Planning Your Program

Worksheet

Overview Worksheet - Create a Vision, Plan and Prioritize

 This worksheet provides a series of questions to help you think through how to develop a plan for your Indigenous Guardian program including a vision, strategic priorities, an operational plan and an evaluation framework. Download it now

Worksheet

Overview Worksheet - Create a Vision, Plan and Prioritize