Regular communication keeps people informed and on board. Engage your community at the front end about their concerns and priorities and then communicate with them once the guardians are out on the land. Share information at community events, on Facebook, in community newsletters or by inviting community members to come out and see what the guardians are doing.
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Quote Quote Regular communication keeps people informed and on board
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Quote “Guardian programs are not going to be 100% grant funded. There is going to have to be contributions from the Nation, from own source revenues, and possibly from fee-for-service activities. We are trying to position the work of the guardians as contracts or deliverables to prepare for a more diverse and deliverables-based funding environment.”
Quote “Guardian programs are not going to be 100% grant funded..."
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Quote “Politically, it can be difficult to get groups to work together but technically, it’s amazing how similar the issues are as well as the training needs. The Guardians themselves echo how much they value the peer and technical support through our network. We coordinate training that wouldn’t be possible without a network. We also purchase equipment such as drones and make it available for Nations to use.” .
Quote “Politically, it can be difficult to get groups to work together but technically, it’s amazing how similar the issues are..."
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Quote “When providing support to the network, it’s important to do what you say you are going to do, respond quickly, and engage at the different levels – political, managerial, technical. We established trust by communicating regularly with everyone so that we’re all on the same page. We constantly check in on what our members need and what their priorities are. Our most important lesson is to emphasize the autonomy of each Nation.”
Quote “When providing support to the network, it’s important to do what you say you are going to do..."
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Quote “It’s about asserting our presence on the land. The general public sees us out there in our uniforms. I can’t overstate the value of that. Now Indigenous and non-Indigenous people come to us to report issues. So does the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.”
Quote “It’s about asserting our presence on the land..."
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Quote “The Wild Horse Ranger Program played a significant part in strengthening Xeni Gwet’in’s role in asserting control over the territory…The Rangers’ primary strategy was diplomacy.”
Quote “The Wild Horse Ranger Program played a significant part in strengthening Xeni Gwet’in’s role in asserting control over the territory…"
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Quote “Miawpukek First Nation monitors and enforces the commercial fishery through an AFS. If anything happens in our territory we are the first to be contacted, prior to the feds and the province."
Quote “Miawpukek First Nation monitors and enforces the commercial fishery through..."
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Quote "We found that when our Guardian Watchmen started wearing uniforms and carrying our CoastTrackers, everyone took us a lot more seriously. We get more respect and responsiveness from the people we approach in the field."
Quote "We found that when our Guardian Watchmen started wearing uniforms and carrying our CoastTrackers, everyone took us a lot more seriously..."
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Quote “Our goal is to educate people before confrontation happens in the field. We post signs with traditional territory boundaries and contact numbers. Our first goal is to ensure people understand our expectations around being in the territory.”
Quote “Our goal is to educate people before confrontation happens in the field..."
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Quote “Kaska Dena Guardians will be out monitoring high use areas, collecting information and handing out brochures with information on Kaska Dena, checking for signs of wildlife, and talking with hunters about culturally sensitive areas. They will be informing hunters about Kaska Dena Traditional Territory and encouraging respect of the environment in the hopes of alleviating potential land use conflicts with hunters. As well, the Guardians will report on any activities of wrong doing."
Quote “Kaska Dena Guardians will be out monitoring high use areas, collecting..."
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Quote “We have a position, regardless of what the provincial and federal laws are up there. We have our own position in terms of hunting on the coast. So if we see hunters, we ask them to leave.”
Quote “We have a position, regardless of what the provincial and federal laws are..."
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Quote “We want to be able to manage and take care of our own resources… Now with this new resurgence with the Guardian Watchmen Program, we are looking after the resources and starting to take care of what we used to.”
Quote “We want to be able to manage and take care of our own resources…"
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Quote “You are not looking for confrontation in the backcountry but respectful interaction. If you have policies, you need to state them. You are not getting into a stand off. Be a good role model. Know the federal and provincial policies so that you know what information and evidence to collect to bring it to the authorities to get a conviction. Push policy change by documenting violations even in the absence of regulation or recognized legal authority.”
Quote “You are not looking for confrontation in the backcountry but respectful interaction. If you have policies..."
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Quote "You have to start somewhere. Consider your size and capacity. What are your assets? What are your resources? Can you think about this as a pilot for the first couple of years? A pilot allows people to start before they have all the pieces in place."
Quote "You have to start somewhere. Consider your size and capacity. What are your assets..."
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Quote "Have a form to capture input or feedback at any point when someone provides advice. Have a form for end of the program. Where and how are you creating opportunities for feedback from field staff and others and how are you integrating that feedback? Know that its okay if you can’t incorporate all that feedback right away, acknowledging it is important even if you can’t deal with it right away. "
Quote "Have a form to capture input or feedback at any point when someone provides advice..."
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Quote “Something that I’ve found very useful in helping to retain staff is to give them more responsibility by engaging them at management decision making and updating leadership. Staff want to see that the information they have is really valuable and needed, and that they are appreciated and their work is making a difference. They contribute to decision making as a valued part of the team, rather than just being a labourer. All these things can help retain staff even if your wage is low and you have no benefits to offer.”
Quote “Something that I’ve found very useful in helping to retain staff is to give them more responsibility by engaging them at management decision making..."
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Quote “Are there opportunities for staff to check in and give feedback during program activities? Have staff fill out an employee exit survey to get feedback, especially at the end of the season if you work with seasonal staff. Capture what worked well, what they would like to change, and what could be done differently – this is very helpful in knowing what would keep them or ensure they return.”
Quote “Are there opportunities for staff to check in and give feedback during program activities?..."
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Quote "Having a good program manager is important. What makes them good? They are in the field with the crew, participating in the training that is being offered. They are team players. Sometimes program managers struggle with writing funding applications and reporting, so we provide outside support."
Quote "Having a good program manager is important. What makes them good?..."
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Quote Something I've learned from the Kitasoo/Xaixais elders in Klemtu is the importance of traveling on the ocean with humility. The sea changes moods quickly and with little warning. And doing the little things right is important in keeping you safe on the water: do you have the required safety equipment, spare parts, a tool kit, emergency communication devices, flares? Do you check the oil every day and do you check your belts and coolant? These small things need to become a habit and they might just save your life one day.
Quote Something I've learned from the Kitasoo/Xaixais elders in Klemtu is the importance of travelling on the ocean with humility..."
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Quote “For our purposes, consumer grade Samsung tablets with water resistant cases were the best choice for data collection. We don't need more expensive units that are built for use in ice and snow, and this way, if something happens to the tablet, we don't have to pay a lot to replace it.”
Quote “For our purposes, consumer grade Samsung tablets with water resistant cases were the best choice for data collection..."