Correction on: Fontana NM, Mercer B, Wallace B and Allen R. (2025) Bridging tradition and innovation: strengthening food system resilience through Indigenous Guardian partnerships and knowledge sharing in the Sierra Nevada and

Nina M Fontana^1*Brenden Mercer²Brian Wallace³Rebecca Allen³

• ¹University of California, Davis, Davis, United States
• ²Royal Roads University, British Columbia, Canada
• ³Indigenous Futures Society, Auburn, United States

1 IntroductionCalifornia and British Columbia face escalating challenges inmitigating the threat of destructive wildfires, which year after yeardevastate millions of acres/hectares. Indigenous communities in theseregions share a deep history of applying Indigenous Knowledge (IK)like cultural burning - practices that control insects and disease,promote fire-adaptive native plants, enhance water use efficiency,improve community safety, and restore wildlife habitats (Anderson,2005; Goode et al., 2022). Rooted in thousands of years of place-basedstewardship, IK offers critical insights into sustainable stewardshippractices, from soil health, water conservation to wildfire resilience.Over the past few centuries, western land and water managementpractices have led to Indigenous land dispossessions and resourceexploitation, excluding IK from decision-making (Fernández-Llamazares et al., 2021; Vinyeta, 2022). This disruption has weakenedIndigenous food systems, and undermined environmental andcultural sustainability (Norgaard, 2019). Today, in response to theincreasing risks posed by climate change, including the uptick ofwildfires, Indigenous communities in the Sierra Nevada and FirstNations of British Columbia are advancing stewardship efforts innovel ways. This community case study illustrates how integrating IKwith other technologies and decision support tool development isadvancing community safety, ecosystem restoration, and climateresilience for future generations.A resilient food system is one that can adapt and rebound fromunforeseen stressors to provide appropriate, sufficient, and accessiblefood to all (Tendall et al., 2015). Food system resilience and disasterpreparedness are deeply connected, as both aim to ensure stability andadaptability of food systems in the face of increasing environmental,social, and economic turbulence. The resilience of food systems iscritical in the face of climate change, environmental degradation, andincreasing wildfire risks, which disproportionately impact Indigenouscommunities (Thomas et al., 2019). Despite these vulnerabilities,Indigenous Peoples globally continue to grow, respond, and adapt indiverse and resilient ways (Ford et al., 2020). Resilient food systemsare possible and sustainable to safeguard food sovereignty -particularly for Indigenous communities. These goals areaccomplished by ensuring consistent access to culturally appropriate,nutritious food, and supporting ecosystem health (Fontana et al.,2022) and supporting Indigenous land access (Baldy, 2013). Foodsovereignty includes pathways to ensure Indigenous autonomy overtraditional agricultural and ecological stewardship practices(Declaration of Nyéléni, 2007). Wisdom held in Indigenous familiesand communities is critical to responding to climate-relatedemergencies and the strengthening of regional food sovereignty.2 Context2.1 Centering Indigenous guardianship (i.e.proposed innovation)Indigenous Peoples worldwide have been stewarding landscapesfor thousands of years. The Indigenous Guardians movement is acollaborative approach to environmental governance, whereIndigenous communities reassert their roles as stewards of their lands(Reed et al., 2020). Known by various names - Guardians, Observers, Rangers, Stewards, or Watchmen, depending on the region - themovement shares a common goal: to enhance Indigenous capacity innatural resources planning, monitoring, stewardship for futuregenerations (Popp et al., 2020; Sheil et al., 2015; Social VenturesAustralia, 2016; Trousdale and Andrews, 2016). This workencompasses monitoring land use, revitalizing cultural practices,intergenerational knowledge sharing, and managing land, water, fire,wildlife, and harvesting resources. These practices, rooted in millenniaof Indigenous knowledge, have demonstrated that Indigenous-managed lands often maintain equal or higher biodiversity thanstate-led protected areas (Schuster et al., 2019; Nepstad et al., 2006). Agrowing body of international research demonstrates that Indigenous-managed areas are at least as effective as state-governed protectedlandscapes in mitigating land disturbances such as logging anddeforestation (Carranza et al., 2014; Nolte et al., 2013; Waller and Reo,2018). Indigenous-led conservation is widely recognized for reducingspecies loss, better protecting landscapes (IPBES, Weltbiodiversitätsrat,2019), and increasing conservation efforts (Artelle et al., 2019; Turnerand Spalding, 2013), while simultaneously strengthening communityhealth, culture, language, and most importantly, governance.The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of IndigenousPeoples (UNDRIP), adopted in 2007, was a landmark human rightsinstrument designed to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoplesglobally (UN General Assembly, 2007). Initially, the United States,Canada, Australia, and Aotearoa-New Zealand voted against thedeclaration, citing concerns over self-determination, land rights, andfree, prior, and informed consent (Lightfoot, 2016). These countrieslater shifted their positions to support UNDRIP, though theircommitments remain largely aspirational and non-legally binding. Incontrast, British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in Canada toenshrine UNDRIP into law in 2019, followed by Canada in 2020(Bellrichard, 2019). Despite varying levels of legal recognition,Indigenous Guardian programs continue to expand globally (inCanada, Australia, Aotearoa-New Zealand and the U.S.), illustratinghow Indigenous knowledge systems and governance structures aredriving conservation efforts and advancing environmental stewardshipin ways that link ecological health with cultural and economicrevitalization. As of September 2023, successful Indigenous Guardiansinitiatives are now in over a quarter of First Nations across Canada. Byinvesting in $70 million in over 170 First Nations, Inuit, and MétisGuardians initiative since 2018, it has helped support the creation ofover 700 culturally meaning employment opportunities (Governmentof Canada, 2025). Since the establishment of the Indigenous ProtectedArea (IPA) Program in 1997, Australia has designated 85 IndigenousProtected Areas, now comprising 50% of nations national reservesystem (Australian Government, 2025). Research shows that for every$1 invested, Australian Ranger programs generate $3 in health,conservation, and economic results (Social Ventures Australia, 2016).