Why a toolkit?

This Toolkit is a direct response to priorities expressed by Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada. At various gatherings and workshops, we heard that communities are looking for opportunities to learn, share and connect with those who are working to steward their lands and waters through on-the-ground Indigenous Guardian programs.  See About the Toolkit for more details. 
 
The Toolkit highlights knowledge and experience gained by Indigenous Guardian programs already underway in Canada. By putting lessons learned and resources in one easy-to-access place, the Toolkit can help communities start a new program, or expand and strengthen existing Indigenous Guardian programs.   
 
We also hope that the Toolkit will help: 

• Build greater awareness of the scale and impact of Indigenous Guardian activities. 
• Facilitate networking between programs. 
• Provide a way for individual programs to share key information and resources with others. 

 
The content of the Toolkit reflects information about Indigenous Guardian programs gathered from the Toolkit Advisory Group’s knowledge and experience; interviews conducted with Indigenous stewardship organizations across Canada; and insights shared by many on-the-ground practitioners at various meetings, gatherings and forums.