Miaraq, Warren Jones (Gwich'in, Yup'ik, Inupiaq) grew up in Alaska. Jones studies and writes about philosophy and advocates for Indigenous-led land management and conservation in Alaska. Before joining the ILI, he worked as a Cultural Fellow for Alaska Venture Fund.

Shawn Watts has dedicated his entire legal career to Indian law, mediation, and negotiation. In addition to his role with ILI, he serves as Director of the Tribal Law & Government Center, Tribal Judicial Support Clinic, and Mediation Clinic at the University of Kansas School of Law. He teaches Mediation and Negotiation for Law Practice at Columbia Law School where he previously served as the Associate Director of the Mediation Program. Watts taught a Native American Peacemaking Clinic at both Columbia Law School and Yale Law School before becoming the Director of Strategic Initiatives and U.S. Strategy at The Christensen Fund.

Jennifer Brunet is an urban multicultural Kanien’kéha:ka Mohawk. She was born and raised in the Ottawa-Gatineau region but remained close to community and ceremony throughout her lifetime. She is Kanien’kéha:ka, Algonquin and French Settler on her maternal side from Kanesatake, a Mohawk First Nation on the shore of the Lake of Two Mountains in Southwestern Quebec. On her paternal side, Jennifer is Tupí-Guarani and Ukrainian from South-Central Brazil.

Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson is Métis and grew up in Treaty 8 territory (northern Alberta, Canada). She works with Indigenous Nations across Canada on fire stewardship practices like cultural burning and collaborates with Indigenous peoples from around the world on decolonising land management.

Emily Cousins has more than two decades of experience working in strategic communications. In her role at ILI, she helps build public support for Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship and amplify the stories of Indigenous Guardians caring for lands and waters across the country. Previously she was the strategic communications director for the International Boreal Conservation Campaign.

Linda Dwyer is a member of Algonquin of Kitigàn Zìbì Anishinàbeg, situated in south western Quebec. A forester with a bachelors in Natural Resource Management-Forestry and a Master degree in Forest Conservation.

Larry Innes is a partner at Olthuis, Kleer, Townshend LLP where he represents and advises Indigenous Nations across the North on land and resource management issues, including the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.

Steve Kallick is an international policy and human rights lawyer with over 40 years’ experience working in Alaska, the Western U.S., Canada, Australia, and Chile.

Carol Kavanagh has a background in graphic design, academic editing, and small business. Her volunteer efforts have contributed to the legalization of midwifery in Ontario, independent schooling, and the local paddling community.

Lynn is Kanienkehá:ka of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy on her father’s side, adopted into the Turtle Clan, and mixed settler ancestry on her mother’s side. Before joining ILI, Lynn spent more than two decades working in her community on land stewardship initiatives, habitat monitoring, mapping, protection, and restoration.

Genae Lako has dedicated much of her professional career to creating and executing strategic communications campaigns that support Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship of lands and waters across North America.

Jennie Vandermeer is Sahtúgot'ı̨nę (person from Great Bear Lake) and grew up in Délı̨nę, Northwest Territories (NWT). She is an Indigenous language speaker (Dene Kedǝ́-North Slavey) and a wellness advocate. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Royal Roads University. She has extensive experience working with communities across the NWT within the environmental field.

Jean-Philippe Messier is founder and executive director of the Manicouagan-Uapishka UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where he was involved at all levels of designation. He is also the Chairman of the Canadian Association of Biosphere Reserves.

Melody Morrison has worked with First Nations on constitutional, land claims and self-government negotiations. She is also served as Chief of Staff to two premiers in Ontario and the Northwest Territories.

A settler of Irish, Welsh and Scottish descent, Alexa (Lex) Scully has lived in Anishinaabe, Inuit, Kanien’kéha, Sahtú Dene and now Ta'an Kwäch'än and Kwanlin Dün territories, learning from and working to support Indigenous communities in urban and remote contexts. From canoe trip guide to university instructor to On the Land program manager, Lex is a versatile team member, and her certification as a Wilderness First Responder along with excellent dishwashing skills secure her ongoing inclusion in bush programs in the Sahtu.

David is from Odanak First Nation, an Abenaki community in what is now central Québec. He was a Guardian until 2023. His experiences being out on the land and sharing his knowledge have developed his interest for conservation, his belief in a land-based cultural reconnection and in the sacred duty for Indigenous People to be stewards and protectors of our ecosystems.

Jenn lives in British Columbia in the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (Vancouver). She is the descendant of people that came to Canada from Northern Europe, particularly Ireland and Finland.