Ahousaht First Nation Guardian Program: Increasing Capacity and Reviving Traditional Knowledge Ahousaht First Nation Ha-houlthee In March 2017, the Government of Canada recognized trained in environmental stewardship. While running a tourism the value of Guardian Watchmen programs by operation that issues permits to visitors for access to hiking, earmarking $25 million over five years for them in the kayaking, camping, fishing and wildlife viewing, guardian federal budget. A 2016 study (Analysis of the Current program staff also maintain trails, and welcome and educate and Future Value of Indigenous Guardian Work in tourists and other visitors, including responding to distress Canada’s Northwest Territories, November 2016) calls. Ahousaht has a 10-year contract with BC Parks to manage of similar programs showed that every dollar and maintain the 2,600-hectare park and hot springs. Atleo invested generated $2.50 in social, economic and said the contract has generated pride in the community, and environmental wealth, and that sustained funding opportunities for its members to grow their skills at trail would augment this worth to $3.70. building, park maintenance, and engaging with visitors from “[Indigenous Guardians programs] provide around the world. jobs, lower crime rates, and build healthy “It was a natural fit for the guardian program to take over communities,” said Keith Atleo, manager operations at Hot Springs Cove in Maquinna Marine Park,” said of the Ahousaht First Nation’s Resource Atleo. “They’ve got the technical expertise for maintenance, Stewardship Guardians. “We’ve been the such as trail building, are trained in wilderness First Aid and guardians of our sacred land and waters marine rescue support, and have experience interacting with for millennia,” added Atleo. “Through this visitors throughout the territories. It was another opportunity program we’re reviving that.” for continued stewardship and management capacity of our Along with bringing health and Ha-houlthee.” economic benefits into communities, Ahousaht First Nation has worked closely with BC Parks in Ahousaht guardians uphold ecological the past, notably on the Wildside Trail on Flores Island, home and cultural principles espoused by the to Ahousaht’s community Maaquutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship of Maaqtusiis. The Nation is Society that runs their Resource eager to take on additional Stewardship Guardian Program. projects with BC Parks, such These guiding principles are Iisʔakstaƛ as replacing the boardwalk (respect one another), Haaḥuupstaƛ at Maquinna Marine Park (teach one another), yaʔakstaƛ (care and developing another for one another), and Huupiił’aƛ (help wilderness trail connecting one another). Mandated by Ahousaht to Strathcona Provincial Chiefs in partnership with Chief and Park. The Nation continues Council, the guardians help to manage to work with DFO, RCMP, the The Nation’s resources by acting as the Coast Guard, Parks Canada eyes and ears of their Ha-houlthee (chiefly and Provincial Parks, and to territory). The program was started with seek further opportunities funding from The Nature Conservancy to increase capacity for its prior to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s communities. Ahousaht students and their announcement in November 2016 of a 1.5 “Having our Guardians teacher on the boardwalk billion dollar national Oceans Protection Plan in force in Hot Springs Cove from the hotsprings in to protect Canada's marine environment, and means a lot in terms of moving Maquinna Marine Park, which offer new opportunities for Indigenous and forward as an organization is managed by the Ahousaht Uu-a-thluk coastal communities. and as a community,” said Resource Stewardship Guardian Program. P.O. Box 1383 The Ahousaht Stewardship Guardian Atleo. “Our ultimate goal is Port Alberni, B.C. Program patrols the coast for illegal activities sustainable employment opportunities for our young people, V9Y 7M2 such as poaching, gathers scientific data, connection for them to our ancestral lands, waters, and ways, and provides search and rescue support. and continued stewardship over our entire Ha-houlthee.” He Ph: 250.724.5757 From this program, Ahousaht also draws added that, considering the Nuu-chah-nulth philosophy of Fax: 250.724.2172 caretakers for Maquinna Marine Park hishuk’ish ts'awalk (everything is one), this is also important [email protected] in Clayoquot Sound, which has for the survival of the “whales in our ocean, the bears in our a boat for patrols of their forests, and the salmon in our rivers.” Ha-houlthee and staff .