Ideas worth spreading

How Indigenous guardians protect the planet and humanity

1,288,982 views |

Valérie Courtois |

TED Salon: Nia Tero

• September 2022

"If we take care of the land, the land takes care of us," says Indigenous leader Valérie Courtois. As climate change continues to devastate the planet, Indigenous guardians are helping to honor our responsibility to the land, monitoring water quality, conducting research and working to restore key species. Courtois invites us all to support the guardians working to ensure that humanity has a future on Earth -- and to discover that healing the land can transform us as well.

"If we take care of the land, the land takes care of us," says Indigenous leader Valérie Courtois. As climate change continues to devastate the planet, Indigenous guardians are helping to honor our responsibility to the land, monitoring water quality, conducting research and working to restore key species. Courtois invites us all to support the guardians working to ensure that humanity has a future on Earth -- and to discover that healing the land can transform us as well.

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Nia Tero. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

Join the movement supporting Indigenous-led conservation across Canada.

Learn how to be an ally of Indigenous-led conservation.

About the speaker

Valérie Courtois

Valérie Courtois

Forester, Indigenous leader

See speaker profile

Valérie Courtois is director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and a leading expert on the national movement of Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship in Canada.

Valérie Courtois | Indigenous Leadership Initiative, 2022 | Article

"Cree & Innu Sign Historic Caribou Agreement in Spirit of Sharing and Respect"

This piece highlights how the relationship between people and caribou embodies an ethic of responsibility, respect and caring.

Valérie Courtois | Indigenous Leadership Initiative, 2021 | Article

"Reconciliation Happens on the Land"

This piece explores the link between healthy lands and healthy people and why time on the land helps Indigenous people heal from the trauma of colonization.

Land Needs Guardians | Watch

"Indigenous Women: Leading on the Land"

This 2-minute video features voices and images of women working as Guardians, creating Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and leading other stewardship initiatives.

Land Needs Guardians, 2020 | Watch

"Welcome to the Movement | Land Needs Guardians"

The 1-minute video shines a spotlight on how Indigenous Guardians — trained experts who care for lands and waters across Canada — are helping address climate change and sustain the plants, animals and natural systems we all depend on.

About TED Salon

TED Salons welcome an intimate audience for an afternoon or evening of highly-curated TED Talks revolving around a globally relevant theme. A condensed version of a TED flagship conference, they are distinct in their brevity, opportunities for conversation, and heightened interaction between the speaker and audience.

Read more about TED Salons

This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Nia Tero. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TED Salons.

Join the movement supporting Indigenous-led conservation across Canada.

Learn how to be an ally of Indigenous-led conservation.