Two Selected for National Fellowship for First Nations Women in Conservation
October 22, 2026
Mashteuiatsh: October 22, 2026: Two women have been selected for a national fellowship focused on Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship. Called the First Nations Women Transforming Conservation Fellowship, the initiative helps emerging women leaders expand their professional skills, build relationships, and learn from mentors.
This first-of-its-kind opportunity was created by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI) and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS). It combines the strengths of each organization and offers learning experiences that support and uplift women caring for lands and waters.
This marks the second cohort of fellows, following the launch in 2025. The 2026-2027 fellow are:
Coralee Johns is a Yukon First Nation woman living in Whitehorse, YK. She has worked in fish and wildlife conservation and environmental protection for nearly two decades. Johns spearheaded a salmon enhancement project, for instance, and worked on a water quality data collection initiative with Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council. She seeks to honour her inherent right and responsibility to steward the lands, waters, and wildlife as her ancestors have done.
Jolene Patrick is from N’Quatqua of the St’át’imc Nation. Since 2016, she has been working with the Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative, promoting stewardship by honouring the connections between St’át’imc and ta St̓alhálama (the Grizzly Bear). Patrick has worked on several wildlife studies, including northern spotted owl, grizzly bear, and bats. Sharing knowledge with community is important to her, and she hopes to inspire all ages to want to protect ti tmicwa (the land) for future generations.
“We started this fellowship to enable young women to grow into their leadership and learn from incredible mentors in the Aunties Circle,” said ILI Executive Director Valérie Courtois. “We are so excited to welcome Coralee and Jolene to the team. They have already demonstrated their commitment to caring for lands and waters, and we can’t wait to see where their learning journeys take them. Because when leaders like these two flourish and thrive, we all benefit.”
To support this growth, the fellowship provides skill building in Indigenous-led conservation, western science, cross-cultural leadership and research, strategic communications and policy advocacy, and wellbeing, identity, and leadership sustainability. Fellows participate in hands-on learning opportunities ranging from community gatherings to wildlife monitoring to meetings with federal leaders.
“Working alongside Indigenous Peoples in caring for lands, waters, and wildlife, and supporting the next generation of conservation professionals and leaders, are two commitments that are especially important to us at WCS Canada. I am so pleased that this fellowship brings them together,” said WCS Canada President and Senior Scientist Justina Ray. “Coralee and Jolene already bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, and I look forward to seeing the relationships, shared learning, and new opportunities that emerge from their time in the program.”
The fellowship celebrates the legacy of Dr. Cheryl-Lesley Chetkiewicz, WCS Canada’s Director of Indigenous Communities and Conservation. Throughout her career, Cheryl fostered greater collaboration between conservation scientists and Indigenous communities. Cheryl’s leadership, compassion, and integrity have served as a guide in the design of this program.
At the heart of the fellowship is the Aunties Circle, a group of Indigenous women and their allies with deep experience in leadership, research, conservation, and stewardship. The Aunties help steer the program and offer dedicated guidance to the fellows. Their mentorship welcomes the fellows into a lasting network of Indigenous women conservation leaders who support one another and honour those who came before them.
Media Contacts:
Indigenous Leadership Initiative: Jenn Wesanko / jenn@jennwesanko.com / 604-347-5988
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada: Ashleigh Talbot / atalbot@wcs.org / 778-400-7090
About the Indigenous Leadership Initiative: The Indigenous Leadership Initiative is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Indigenous Nationhood as a path to fulfilling the responsibility to care for lands and waters.
About Wildlife Conservation Society Canada: WCS Canada is a national non-profit organization that provides evidence-based technical guidance and policy recommendations to empower decision-makers to take transformative action for wildlife, ecosystems, and people.
