
Full Agenda: The 2025 First Nations National Guardians Gathering
Victoria, BC, June 10 – 12
Victoria Conference Centre

Travel Day / June 9
3:00 – Onward Hotel check-in
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
A bagged breakfast will be accessible on-site
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch in the Crystal Ballroom at the Victoria Conference Centre
12:00 – 1:15 Overview
Gillian Staveley, Dena Kayeh Institute
Iris Catholique, Thaidene Nëné
12:00 – 1:15 Welcome from the NGN and ILI
Jaimee Gaunce, National Guardians Network
Valerie Courtois, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
1:45 – 1:55 Video Address by Premier Eby
2:00 – 3:00 National Guardians Network Growth and the Path Forward
Jaimee Gaunce, National Guardians Network
Gillian Stavely, Dena Kaya Institute
3:00 – 3:30 Health Break
3:30 – 4:30 Restorying Fire Kinship through Guardians
Moderator: Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson
Elder Paul Courtoreielle
Alvin First Rider
Joel Lafferty
Tiffany Joseph
6:00 – 7:00 Awards Ceremony and Social
Day 2 / June 11
8:00 – 9:00 Buffet Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 Overview
9:15 – 10:00 Fireside Chat with B.C. Ministers
Moderator: Miles Richardson, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Hon. Randene Neill
10:00 – 10:30 Building the Business Case for Guardians
Valérie Courtois, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Linda Dwyer, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
10:30 – 11:00 Health Break
11:00 – 12:00 Guardians Movement in the U.S.
Moderator: Shawn Watts, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch Break
1:00 – 2:15 Breakout Sessions
Honouring Indigenous Leadership & Natural Climate Solutions - Theatre (available in French)
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 (available in French) - Theatre
Guardians in Urban Environments - Saanich
Guardians and Emergency Services - Oak Bay 1
Reshaping Natural Climate Solution Designs with an Indigenous Lens - Oak Bay 2
6:00 – 9:00 Red Carpet, Film Screening, and Reception
Day 3 / June 12
8:00 – 9:00 Buffet Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 Overview and Special Announcement
9:15 – 10:15 Innovative Financing: the PFP Model
Moderator:
10:15 – 10:45 Health Break
10:45 – 12:00 Breakout Sessions
Rooted in Language, Guided by the Land: Youth Voices (available in French) - 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 Break
1:00 – 2:00 Breakout Sessions
Guardians and FPIC (available in French) - Theatre
Help Design the Guardians Exchange Program - Saanich
Building of a Wildland Fire Guardian Initiative - Oak Bay 1
2:00 – 2:30 Health Break
2:30 – 3:30 Guardians Voices from Coast to Coast
Moderator: Amos Scott
3:30 – 4:00 Closing Ceremony
Valérie Courtois, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Jaimee Gaunce, National Guardians Network