MOOSE CREE FIRST NATION
Stewardship — On Moose Cree Terms (Guardian Stewardship Program – Pilot Project) Project Management Advisory & Support, 2023
WHO THEY ARE?
Moose Cree First Nation is rooted where the Moose River meets western
James Bay—homelands of muskeg, river channels, and coastal lowlands
that have sustained Mushkegowuk Cree families for generations. From
Moose Factory Island across the basin, stewardship is lived on the land
and water, grounded by rights affirmed under Treaty 9 and
responsibilities carried through language, harvest, and law.
In recent years, leadership has faced a changing landscape at home:
intensified industrial activity and development pressures; more frequent
bear and wolf presence; invasive species and species at risk; and a
reduced provincial conservation presence—alongside shifting water, ice,
and shoreline conditions. The Nation’s response has been to re-centre
stewardship on Moose Cree terms—grounded in culture, informed by
evidence, and designed to protect people, wildlife, and place.
This approach reflects the Indigenous Guardians movement—Nation-led
“eyes and ears on the ground” that weave traditional knowledge with
modern monitoring to care for lands and waters, create local jobs, and
strengthen community resilience. It’s a return to what has always been
true here: stewardship is not a program; it is a lived responsibility.
WHAT THEY NEEDED
Moose Cree needed, hands-on project management support to turn a
guardianship vision into a program—from pilot project to full program
under the Lands & Resources Secretariat.
They asked for a culture-led, evidence-informed approach that weaves
traditional knowledge with modern science—so the pilot could grow into
a sustainable program.
Because stewardship is carried in relationships, the program needed
reliable coordination across the community and with external partners—
aligned with the Indigenous Guardians Network—so work on the land
could move in step at home and collaboratively regionally. To keep
momentum, they needed coherence: a simple roadmap to maintain
pace and direction between funding rounds and seasonal fieldwork.
WHAT WE DID
Turned an early idea into a structured, community-led program guiding the Guardian Stewardship Pilot from concept to reality.
Created two linked planning frameworks, a summary and detailed deliverables map, to coordinate work across departments and partners.
Developed a full Project Charter that aligned with community priorities, Treaty responsibilities, and local knowledge systems.
Established simple, practical systems for tracking progress, communication, and cross departmental workflow.
Mapped a phased 3-year path (Year 1–3) with decision points to guide growth from pilot to full program.
Prepared the Nation for launch, clarifying essentials such as training, equipment, staffing, and budget requirements.
RESULTS WE GOT
A complete, Nation-aligned planning foundation for the Guardian Pilot, including a Project Charter, Deliverables Breakdown Structures, and a clear multi-year roadmap.
Capacity for long-term stewardship, enabling L&RS to coordinate programs, create meaningful local jobs, engage youth, and collaborate with regional partners.
A cohesive delivery model for the Lands & Resources Secretariat, how work flows, who does what, when decisions are made, and how land based evidence reaches leadership.
A strong, legitimate base for growth. structured for action, shaped by community voice, and ready to expand into a full program.
A purpose-built roadmap for Nation-led environmental protection, grounded in Moose Cree law and supported by disciplined project planning.
IN NUMBERS
1 Guardian Stewardship Pilot Project Charter
A Nation-led governance framework under Lands & Resources, with mandate, scope, and decision gates across phases
19 Deliverables Sequenced
From governance and monitoring through equipment, training, and delivery—giving the pilot a fully-timed schedule baseline.
3-Year Phased Framework Mapped Out
From pilot launch to long-term implementation, with checkpoints aligned to funding rounds and field seasons.
