Lands and Resources Stewardship

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The Guardian function monitors the land and resources to ensure that the standards of care outlined in the vision are respected.

Land and Aboriginal Rights Stewardship
The aim of lands and resources stewardship, is to help restore, reclaim, mitigate and preserve the land and resources and Ktunaxa aboriginal rights from past and present activities. This includes:
  1. Assessing, avoiding or mitigating, and monitoring potential impacts to lands and resources;
  2. Increasing compliance with Ktunaxa Nation values, policies and regulation; and,
  3. Soliciting input from Ktunaxa Nation Citizens on lands and resources values.

Negotiations and engagements with other governments and proponents ensure that there is respectful consultation about – and accommodation of – aboriginal rights and title, and provide a mechanism for the Ktunaxa Nation to collaborate with external entities to steward the lands and resources. This includes:
  1. Protecting Ktunaxa rights and title through effective consultation and ensuring accommodation of Ktunaxa interests;
  2. Negotiating and implementing consultation agreements, protocols, accommodation agreements, impact and benefits agreements, resource revenue sharing agreements, and the like; and,
  3. Collaborative stewardship with other entities.

Education and Outreach
Education and outreach serves to teach those within the Nation and non-Ktunaxa people, communities, governments, and industry about Ktunaxa values and interests. This education, and the respect it engenders, ensures that the Ktunaxa Nation vision is nurtured and supported. This includes:
  1. Supporting land use by Ktunaxa Nation members;
  2. Collaborating with other Ktunaxa Nation entities to build a collective understanding about the respectful use of lands and resources; and,
  3. Educating external groups about Ktunaxa Nation land and resources principles and goals.

Guardianship Program:

Archaeology Guardian
The program strives to ensure that impacts to archaeological resources within Ktunaxa Territory are minimized, aiming to protect Ktunaxa archaeological heritage. We work in collaboration with the provincial government, archaeologists and other First Nations, reviewing methodology, results of fieldwork, and mitigation recommendations. We provide education and outreach regarding Ktunaxa heritage and monitor the Ktunaxa Territory for compliance with Ktunaxa archaeological guidelines

Lands Stewardship Guardian
Review land use applications, identifying potential impacts to Ktunaxa values on the land. We work together with Ktunaxa citizens, other governments and industry to foster a holistic approach to development which incorporates Ktunaxa stewardship principles. We perform a monitoring role on the land, working with developers to ensure understanding and compliance

Fisheries Guardian
The program developed by Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) enables First Nations to be directly involved in a Compliance and Enforcement role to protect fish and fish habitat values on their own territories. A Fishery Guardian is an enforcement officer similar to a federal Fishery Officer but with not as broad of powers. CCRIFC Fishery Guardians conduct habitat compliance monitoring and surveillance, joint enforcement and compliance patrols with DFO in support of the Federal Fisheries Act, Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Species at Risk Act. A fully trained Fishery Guardians carry Peace Officer status under the Fisheries Act and Criminal Code