
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