Full Agenda: The 2025 First Nations National Guardians Gathering

Victoria, BC, June 10 – 12

Victoria Conference Centre

Travel Day / June 9

3:00 – 4:00 Hotel check-in begins

6:00 – 9:00   Registration at the Victoria Conference Centre 

Day 1 / June 10

7:00 – 8:00       Last call for Registration

8:00 – 12:00     Opening Ceremony, Protocol Corner, Victoria Inner Harbour

  • A bagged breakfast will be accessible on-site

12:00 – 1:00   Lunch, Victoria Conference Centre, Crystal Garden

1:00 – 1:15 Overview, Theatre

  • Emcee Leah George-Wilson

1:15 – 1:30 Welcome from the Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Theatre

1:30 – 1:50 Welcome from the National Guardians Network and the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, Theatre

  • Jaimee Gaunce, Executive Director, National Guardians Network

  • Valérie Courtois, Executive Director, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

1:50 – 1:55   Honourable David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, Video Address, Theatre

1:55 – 2:00 Honourable Tamara Davidson, British Columbia Minister of Environment and Parks, Theatre

2:00 – 3:00  National Guardians Network Growth and the Path Forward, Theatre

  • Jaimee Gaunce, Executive Director, National Guardians Network

  • Gillian Stavely, Council Member, National Guardians Network

  • Marjolaine Tshernish, Council Member, National Guardians Network

  • Melody Lepine, Council Member, National Guardians Network

  • Jack Shaw, Communications & PR, National Guardians Network

3:00 – 3:30     Health Break

3:30 – 4:30     Restoring Fire Kinship through Guardians, Theatre

  • Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson, Senior Fire Advisor, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

  • Elder Paul Courtoreielle

  • Alvin First Rider, Environmental Manager, Blood Tribe Land Management

  • Joel Lafferty, Guardian, Fort Good Hope

  • Tiffany Joseph, W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Team

4:30 – 5:45     Break

5:45 – 7:00     Awards Ceremony & Social, Victoria Conference Centre, Crystal Garden 

  • Light snacks provided

7:00      Free Time for Dinner

Day 2 / June 11

8:00 – 9:00     Breakfast, Victoria Conference Centre, Crystal Garden

9:00 – 9:15    Overview, Theatre

9:15 – 10:00  Fireside Chat with Government of British Columbia Minister, Theatre

  • Moderator: Miles Richardson, O.C., Senior Leader, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

  • Honourable Randene Neill, M.L.A., Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship

10:00 – 10:30  Growing the Guardians Movement: Documenting Success & Building a Further Case for Investment, Theatre

  • Valérie Courtois, Executive Director, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

  • Linda Dwyer, Senior Operations Advisor, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

10:30 – 11:00  Health Break

11:00 – 12:00  Guardians Movement in the United States, Theatre

  • Moderator: Dr. Chuck Striplen, Program Officer, International Indigenous Conservation

  • Shawn Watts, Director, Tribal Stewardship and Sovereignty Network

  • Mary Hostetter, Village Councilor and Tribal Steward, Igiugig

  • Rep. Tyson Running Wolf, Montana State Legislature, CEO Blackfeet Eco Knowledge

  • Megan Rocha, Executive Director, Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People / Leadership Council, Tribal Marine Stewards Network

12:00 – 1:00     Lunch, Victoria Conference Centre, Crystal Garden

1:00 – 2:15       Breakout Sessions

  • Indigenous-led Natural Climate Solutions - (français disponible) Theatre

  • Guardians Training - Saanich

  • Learning with the Land - Oak Bay 1

  • NGN Supporting Initiatives - Oak Bay 2

2:15 – 2:45 Health Break

2:45 – 4:00      Breakout Sessions

  • The Role of Guardians in IPCAs (français disponible) - Theatre

  • Guardians in Urban Environments - Saanich

  • Guardians and Emergency Services - Oak Bay 1

  • Reshaping Indigenous-led Natural Climate Solution Definitions with an Indigenous Lens - Oak Bay 2

4:00 – 6:00       Break

6:00 – 7:45       Red Carpet, Reception & Film Screening, Theatre

  • Light snacks provided

7:45 – Onward Free Time for Dinner

Day 3 / June 12

8:00 – 9:00     Breakfast, Victoria Conference Centre, Crystal Garden

9:00 – 9:15    Announcement of the First Nations Women Transforming Conservation Fellowship, Theatre

  • Valérie Courtois, Executive Director, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

  • Justina Ray, President and Senior Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada

9:15 – 10:15  Project Finance for Permanence in Canada: Regional Initiatives, Global Leadership, Theatre

  • Dahti Tsetso, Indigenous Leadership Initiative, NWT: Our Land for the Future

  • Darcy Dobell, Great Bear Sea

  • Troy Woodhouse, Omushkego Wahkohtowin

  • Danny Yakeleya, NWT: Our Land for the Future

10:15 – 10:45  Health Break

10:45 – 12:00  Breakout Sessions

  • Rooted in Language, Guided by the Land: Youth Voices (français disponible) - Theatre

  • Guardians as a Profession: Building an Accreditation Process for the National Guardians Network - Saanich

  • Guardians and Food Sovereignty - Oak Bay 1

  • Le Rôle des Gardiens au Québec - Oak Bay 2

12:00 – 1:00     Lunch, Victoria Conference Centre, Crystal Palace

1:00 – 2:00       Breakout Sessions

  • Designing the Guardians Exchange Program - Saanich

  • Building a Wildland Fire Guardian Initiative - Oak Bay 1

2:00 – 3:15 Crown Legislation on Major Projects & Development, Theatre

  • Moderator: Larry Innes, Partner, OKT LLP, Strategic Advisor, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

  • Frank Brown, Senior Leader, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

  • David Flood, General Manager, Wahkohtowin Development, Senior Leader, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

3:15 – 4:00      Guardians’ Voices from Coast to Coast, Theatre

  • Moderator: Amos Scott, Director, Northern Indigenous Stewardship Circle

  • Angelina Francis, Natural Resource Manager, Miawpukek First Nation

  • Taylor Deleary, Guardian, Chippewas of the Thames

4:00 – 4:30      Closing Ceremony, Theatre