Indigenous Guardian programs as a model for evaluating traditional land use in post-reclaimed sites

Abstract

This thesis explores Indigenous Guardian programs as a model for monitoring post-reclaimed mine sites in Treaty 8 Territory, Alberta, Canada. As a joint research project between Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN), University of Calgary and University of Waterloo co-researchers, the research goal was to further develop inclusive planning approaches that supported FMFN’s vision for reclamation in their Traditional Territory. Rooted in the Two-Roads Reconciliation & Reclamation Framework, which emphasizes bridging Indigenous Knowledge and Western science, this study investigates the potential of Indigenous Guardian programs to evaluate the ability of reclaimed lands to meet the traditional land use activities of FMFN. The research was guided by principles of participatory action research and wise practices described in the body of knowledge referred to in the literature as Indigenous research methodologies. Co-researchers from FMFN determined the scope, methods, analysis, and framing of this research. This thesis reviews the literature and compares and contrasts the differences between community-based monitoring, Indigenous-led community-based monitoring, and Indigenous Guardian programs as models for monitoring in post-reclaimed sites. This assessment suggests that Indigenous Guardian programs offer a modern model of an Indigenous stewardship ethic that has existed since time immemorial and is a component of the modern expression of inherent rights and cultural revitalization within the communities that establish these programs. Drawing on existing literature on Indigenous-led monitoring and 26 semi-structured interviews conducted with participants across Canada, this study highlights the alignment between Indigenous Guardian programs and the Two-Roads Reconciliation & Reclamation Framework. The findings 1) underscore the significance of recognizing Indigenous rights and knowledge systems in monitoring practices and moving beyond participatory approaches to ecological monitoring; 2) describe the Indigenous Guardian program model approach to setting monitoring and program objectives in their territories; 3) documents some of the benefits of Indigenous Guardian programs, including their role in strengthening capacity in their communities, generating data for decision-makers and supporting cultural resurgence among generations of community members as well as benefiting the broader Canadian public; 4) documents challenges that Indigenous Guardian programs face which are rooted in the legacy and ongoing impact of colonialism. Overall, this thesis contributes to the discourse on Indigenous-led monitoring and offers considerations for FMFN and the oil sands industry regarding Indigenous Guardian programs as a tool to evaluate the ability of reclaimed lands to meet traditional land use needs in Treaty 8 Territory.