Tiaki Consulting
Caring for people, place, and futureHelping Indigenous Nations, their partners, and stewardship organizations build capacity and turn complex environmental challenges into practical action.Guardian Management Training • Coaching • Research • Funding • Program Design
About
Every partnership begins with understanding who we are and how we work. Explore the story behind Tiaki Consulting, our guiding principles, our Founder, and the experience we bring to every collaboration.
About Tiaki Consulting
At Tiaki Consulting, our work is guided by the Māori concept of tiaki – caring for, protecting, and upholding responsibility for people, place, and knowledge systems. Named in honour of a tūpuna (ancestor) of the founder, Tiaki reflects a legacy of guardianship and values that guides all aspects of our work.We support Indigenous-led conservation, environmental health, and community-based stewardship through culturally grounded, relationship-based practice. Our approach bridges Indigenous knowledge and Western science, policy and practice, vision and implementation – with care, integrity, and accountability.We work with Indigenous Nations and organizations, eNGOs, researchers, funders, and government agencies to design and deliver collaborative solutions.Tiaki Consulting offers services including Guardian and Stewardship Foundational Management Training and support, strategic facilitation and priority setting, reviews and landscape scans, policy translation, program design, collaborative research, and funding support.Our work is guided by the principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship, stewardship), manaakitanga (care, respect), and whanaungatanga (relationships, connection) uplifting people, places, and future generations.Tiaki Consulting – caring for people, place, and futureTiaki Consulting is the registered business name of Aroha Miller, a sole proprietor based in British Columbia, Canada.
What Guides Our Work
Mission: Empowering Indigenous peoples to strengthen their environmental stewardship capacity through practical training, consulting, and collaborative solutions grounded in Indigenous knowledge alongside Western science.Vision: A future where Indigenous peoples lead the stewardship of their lands, waters, and communities with the capacity, resources, and partnerships to care for territories for generations to come.Values:
• Mutual Respect – Honour the knowledges and lived experiences of Indigenous peoples
• Trust – Build trust through accountability, transparency, and long-term commitment
• Relationship – Centre meaningful, reciprocal relationships with people, land, and waters
• Honesty – Act with integrity, openness, and humility
• Responsibility – Uphold our duties to communities, ancestors, and future generations
• Collaboration – Support Indigenous-led work and foster respectful partnerships
Aroha Miller PhD, Founder
Dr. Aroha Miller works at the intersection of coastal stewardship, environmental health, and community well-being.Of Māori descent (Aotearoa/New Zealand), she has lived for more than a decade on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and has partnered with coastal First Nations for the past five years.With a PhD in Zoology (University of Otago) focused on invasive marine species, postdoctoral experience in wildlife management and ecotoxicology, and a strong foundation in climate resilience and community-led conservation, Aroha brings a holistic lens that connects environment, people, and culture.Over the past 20 years, she has worked across eNGOs, non-profits, academic institutes, Indigenous organizations and governments, and with the provincial government on environmental and public health initiatives.She taught martial arts for over 15 years, taught ESL to teens, and lectured at universities in Aotearoa and Sweden. Her practice is guided by UNDRIP, DRIPA, and reconciliation, with a focus on supporting Indigenous-led initiatives to achieve healthy environments and healthy communities.For further information, please see Aroha's LinkedIn profile.
Recent and Selected Work
Coastal First Nations - Great Bear Initiative Society. Coastal Stewardship Network. Program Management services including work planning, operational and strategic direction, fundraising, reporting, contractor and staff oversight, leading multiple projects, expense and budget oversight. Co-authored Technology for Indigenous Stewardship journal article.Blue Act Marine Society Strategic conservation and watershed planning and implementationOcean Wise Program Manager and Editor-in-Chief Ocean Watch including staff oversight, research, translating complex science topics into easy-to-read articles, expense and budget oversight. Examples include Howe Sound 2020, Climate Change in Canada's oceans, and Pollution in SRKWNational Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health/BC Centre for Disease Control Environmental Health and Knowledge Translation Scientist. Synthesize and translate complex scientific topics into easy-to-read articles. Examples: Paralytic shellfish poisoning, and Cyanobacteria contaminated waterResearchGate publications.
INDIGENOUS GUARDIAN TRAINING
Foundational Management Training
for Guardians & Stewardship Staff
We provide one-to-one management coaching and practical management and supervisor training for Indigenous Guardians, stewardship and natural resource staff to build confidence, leadership, and the day-to-day skills needed to manage projects, teams, and environmental initiatives.What is One-to-One Management Coaching?We offer one-to-one management coaching to provide individualized support for supervisors, coordinators, managers and emerging leaders working in Indigenous stewardship and natural resource programs. Coaching is practical and focused on the challenges you are actually facing.You bring the challenges you are actually facing, and we work through them together — from how to have difficult conversations and delegate work, to setting expectations, navigating relationships, prioritizing competing demands, and other challenges, as well as developing confidence in your leadership role.Coaching can be arranged as a short series of sessions or ongoing support, for individuals or small groups, depending on your needs.What is Foundational Management Training for Indigenous Guardians and Stewardship Staff?This is a foundational management and leadership training program for Indigenous Guardian, stewardship, and natural resource staff.It is a practical, skills-based course designed to build capacity for people working in Indigenous-led environmental stewardship programs who are stepping into, or already in, supervisory, coordination, management, or director roles. The training focuses on the responsibilities of these roles, including team leadership, project coordination, budgeting, reporting, communication, and operational planning, and bridges the gap between community experience and formal management education.Rather than academic theory, it is grounded in the realities of Indigenous environmental and stewardship work and delivered in a way that supports immediate application in the workplace.Who is this training for?
This practical stewardship leadership program is designed for Indigenous guardian, stewardship, and natural resource teams including supervisors, coordinators, managers, directors, frontline leads and office staff stepping into supervisory or management roles without formal training.Why was this training developed?
As Indigenous Nations assume greater responsibility for land, water, conservation, natural resources, and Guardian programs, staff are increasingly expected to:
• supervise teams
• manage budgets
• secure funding
• engage with governments
• create workplans - and adapt when an emergency occurs
• oversee projects
• manage conflicts, and
• communicate to partners, funders, and communities.Across stewardship and guardian programs, capacity challenges are leading to highly skilled field staff being promoted into supervisory roles without formal management training or structured support. This is leading to confusion, burnout and high turnover.Formal management training programs are often:
• theory based
• disconnected from Indigenous stewardship realities
• rarely delivered in-community
• can take several months to years of full-time study, taking a person away from home, family, and community.This training was developed in direct response to these conditions.What does this training cover?
Across the full 5-day intensive training, we cover:Leadership & supervision
• leadership styles
• team supervision
• conflict management
• mentorshipOperations & project management
• project and task management
• meetings and coordination
• time management
• work planning and SMART goalsAdministration & reporting
• budgeting and expense tracking
• Excel basics
• proposal writing
• reporting to fundersCommunication
• professional communication
• public speakingTools & systems
• MS Word and file management
• digital safety
• introduction to AI tools for stewardship workPlanning & development
• organizational planning
• succession planning
• career developmentHow delivery works
• Delivered as a 5-day in-person intensive (30 hours)
• Optional modular sessions (2–3 days)
• Virtual delivery available where required
• Cohorts capped at maximum 12 participants
• Grounded in real Guardian and stewardship work contexts
• Delivered with Elders and/or community-appointed coordinators where requestedWho has taken it?
Developed and designed by Dr. Aroha Miller in 2025, it was first piloted in the spring of 2026 to Nanwakolas member Nations.
Other Services
At Tiaki Consulting, we provide practical support for Indigenous Nations, stewardship organizations, conservation partners, and environmental initiatives.Whether you're establishing a new program, strengthening an existing team, securing funding, or navigating complex environmental issues, Tiaki Consulting provides practical, tailored support that helps turn ideas into action.________________________________________1. STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM DESIGN AND PLANNING
Supporting organizations to design practical, community-led stewardship programs.INCLUDES:
• Facilitated planning and design workshops
• Program development aligned with priorities and governance
• Operational and strategic planning support
• Implementation planning________________________________________2. RESEARCH AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Turn complex environmental information into clear, decision ready insights.INCLUDES:
• Desktop research and literature reviews
• Environmental policy and science synthesis
• Clear reports and briefings
• Integration of scientific and Indigenous knowledge________________________________________3. FUNDING PROPOSAL SUPPORT
Helping organizations move from ideas to funded, actionable projects.INCLUDES:
• Identifying funding opportunities
• Drafting and refining proposals
• Strategic funding advice
• Alignment of proposals with program design________________________________________4. COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND REPORTING
Supporting respectful, meaningful research processes that inform real-world decisions.INCLUDES:
• Co-designed research approaches
• Evaluation and assessment support
• Translating findings into accessible outputs
• Reporting for community and stakeholder use________________________________________NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
Many of our projects combine several of these areas. If your idea doesn't fit neatly into one category, we'd be happy to discuss how we can help.
Resources
Practical tools, frameworks, and learning materials for Indigenous Guardian and stewardship teams. These resources are used in training, workshops, and applied leadership development.
________________________________________NEW THIS MONTHWebinar
Title: From Field Staff to Supervisor - Supporting New Leaders in Guardian and Stewardship Teams. We look at what makes this transition difficult, common challenges new supervisors/managers face, and take a quick look at two tools to help address these.PDF: Eisenhower Priority Matrix
Time and task prioritisation tool for field and office teamsPDF: Introduction to the SBI Model (Situation–Behaviour–Impact)
Used for communication and conflict management
FAQ
What is Foundational Management Training for Indigenous Guardians and Stewardship Staff?Indigenous Guardian training is practical, on-the-ground leadership and management training for people working in Indigenous-led stewardship programs.It focuses on the real responsibilities of Guardian and stewardship roles, including supervising teams, coordinating fieldwork, managing budgets, reporting to funders and community, and supporting community-based projects.Is this the same as Indigenous management training?This training includes core management skills such as leadership, communication, supervision, budgeting, and reporting, but it is specifically designed for Indigenous Guardian and stewardship programs and the real challenges these teams face on the land and water.Unlike general management courses, it is grounded in environmental stewardship work and the day-to-day operational realities of Guardian programs in Indigenous communities.Who is this training for?Foundational Management Training is designed for Indigenous Guardian and stewardship teams across Canada, including:• Guardian supervisors
• Stewardship coordinators and office staff
• Program managers e.g., Archaeology, Forestry, Fisheries
• Team leads and directors
• Staff moving into management roles without formal trainingIt is especially useful for people stepping into, or already in, supervisory roles from field-based or operational positions.What does a Guardian supervisor do?A Guardian supervisor typically supports and coordinates field teams working in land, water, and environmental stewardship programs.Responsibilities often include:• supervising staff and field crews
• planning and coordinating work activities
• managing budgets and expenses
• preparing reports for funders and Nation leadership
• communicating with partner organizations and governments
• responding to changing field conditions and emergenciesHow long is Indigenous Guardian Management Training?The full training is delivered as a 5-day in-person intensive program (30 hours).It can also be delivered in shorter modular formats (2–3 days), depending on the needs of the Nation or organization. Virtual delivery is available where required.Do I need prior management experience to take this training?No. This training is designed for people who have not had formal management training but are already working in, or stepping into, supervisory or leadership roles within Guardian or stewardship programs.What skills will I learn in this training?Participants develop practical skills including:• team leadership and supervision
• communication and conflict management
• project and task management
• budgeting and expense tracking
• reporting and proposal writing
• work planning and prioritization
• use of digital tools (including Excel and AI tools for work support)Is this training delivered in-community?Yes. Training is designed to be delivered in-community wherever possible, and is grounded in local stewardship contexts.Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or community-appointed coordinators can also be included in delivery where requested by the Nation or organization.How is this different from university or corporate management training?Most mainstream, university or college-based management training is theory-heavy, delivered on campus, can span months to years of learning, has prerequisite academic level often around Grade 12, and has not been designed with Indigenous stewardship work in mind.This training bridges the gap between community experience and formal management education. It offers accessible, hands-on learning for participants who may have limited prior exposure to computer-based work or traditional management frameworks but are ready to step into manager roles.This program is different because it:• focuses on real Guardian and stewardship roles
• uses practical tools and scenarios from fieldwork and operations
• is tailored to fit community and organizational contexts
• supports immediate application in day-to-day work
• meets participants where they are at.Where is this training available in Canada?This training is available across Canada and can be delivered directly in Indigenous communities and stewardship organizations, or virtually where requested.What does this training cost?
Training fees vary depending on the duration, delivery format, location, and number of participants. For example, costs will differ between a 2-day workshop and a full 5-day intensive, or between in-community and virtual delivery.We provide clear, no-obligation quotes tailored to your Nation or organization's needs. Please get in touch to discuss your preferred format and we'll be happy to prepare an estimate.How do I book Indigenous Guardian training for my organization?You can contact us to discuss your needs, including timing, group size, and delivery format.Training is tailored to each Nation or stewardship organization depending on operational priorities and team structure.