Small Wigwams: Knowledge Exchange Session Overview
Tuesday, May 9
2:00 Options
Guardians and Natural Resource Development
Room: Ballroom AB
Available in French
As the eyes and ears of traditional territories, Guardians monitor development activities like forestry and mining. In this session, hear how to assess compliance and health impacts, and discuss why this data is essential for informed decision-making and conserving Turtle Island.
Moderator: Alexa Scully, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Emilie “Rosy” Bjornson, Ni Hadi Xa
David Flood, Wahkohtowin Development GP Inc.
Panel Discussion with Guardian Storytellers
Room: Frontenac
Do you want to share Guardians’ work with a global audience? Come and learn about the Land Needs Guardians Community Storyteller Project, which shows participants how to produce short videos. Hear panelists talk about how the project has changed perspectives, benefited communities, and provided learning opportunities.
Moderator: Jennifer Brunet, Land Needs Guardians
Charlotte Denny, Unima’ki Institute of Natural Resources
Amberly Quakegesic, Wahkohtowin Guardian Program
Dolcy Meness, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Nagadjitòdjig Akì
How to Write a Successful Funding Proposal
Room: Richelieu
Get advice from Indigenous Caucus Members of the First Nations-Federal Pilot Joint Working Group on Guardians (JWG) on how to prepare a successful funding proposal, including developing a strong budget, incorporating maps, and getting letters of support.
Moderator: Loretta Bayer, JWG
Jimmy Morgan, JWG
Maryse Pineau, Environment Climate Change Canada
Ashley Racine, Environment Climate Change Canada
3:20 Options
Using Traditional Ways: Stories from the Chìmàn (Canoe)
Room: Chaudière
Hear two communities describe the importance of the birch bark canoe and the process of creating one. And listen as Knowledge Holder Pinock Smith offers demonstrations and shares his passion to preserve and teach traditional skills using the ancestors’ crafted traditional tools.
Moderator: Amberly Quakegesic, Wahkohtowin Guardian Program
Dolcy Meness, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Nagadjitòdjig Akì
Pinock Smith, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Knowledge Holder
Guardians Engaging With Their Communities
Room: Frontenac
Learn how to create opportunities for knowledge exchange within your community: how to share about Guardians’ work, gather knowledge and involve the community..
Gillian Staveley, Dena Kayeh Institute
Tanya Ball, Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh Network
Guardians and Wildfire
Room: Richelieu
Guardians can play a critical role in strengthening Indigenous leadership in fire management and response. In this session, hear insights from a proposed national fire strategy for Guardians, and learn from examples of fire response training and communities’ emergency response.
Moderator: Linda Dwyer, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Jack Penashue, Innu Nation
Ashley Menicoche, Dehcho First Nations
Le Rôle des Gardiens au Québec
Room: Laurentian
Discussion sur l’évolution du rôle que peuvent jouer les gardiens du Québec dans la protection du lien culturel avec les territoires.
Moderator: Marjolaine Tshernish, le Réseau national des gardiens des Premières Nations
Yasmine Fontaine, Université Laval
Wednesday, May 10
1:30 Options
Guardians and Enforcement
Room: Ballroom AB
Available in French
Some Guardians programs are exploring how to enforce community laws and regulations. Hear from Guardians getting trained as certified enforcement compliance officers and talk about hurdles that programs face along the path to enforcement responsibilities.
Moderator: Jean-Philippe Messier, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Nadia Saganash, Cree Nation Government
Rodney Petawabano, Cree Nation Government
Bruce Lulua, Tŝilhqot’in National Government
Jimmy Harry Jr, Tŝilhqot’in National Government
How to Build a Guardians Program
Room: Frontenac
Drawing on the Guardians Toolkit, this session will walk through how to create a vision for your program, set up a governance structure, create an operations manual, and take other important steps to build a strong Guardians program.
Moderator: Jimmy Morgan, Nature United
Alexandra Post, Nature United
Guardians and Water Monitoring
Room: Richelieu
Water monitoring helps Guardians respond to a range of challenges, from climate change to contamination concerns. Get an overview of monitoring tools and explore how Nations can use data collected by Guardians to inform decision-making.
Moderator: Alexa Scully, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Mike Low, Dehcho First Nations
Bertha Sutherland, Constance Lake First Nation
Kimberly Jorgenson, Matawa First Nations
3:05 Options
Innovative Models for Governance and Financing
Room: Ballroom AB
Available in French
Learn how Guardians programs can draw on diverse funding sources like innovative partnerships, sustainable land-based operations, and other opportunities. And talk about how self-generated funds can help build stronger governance structures.
Moderator: David Flood, Wahkohtowin Development GP Inc.
Christine Smith-Martin, Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative
Merv Child, Nanwakolas Council
Caring for Caribou and Moose
Room: Frontenac
Moose and caribou hold great cultural significance, and many communities are deeply concerned about recent population declines. In this session, learn about ways Guardians help care for moose and caribou, including monitoring, community engagement, and protection of critical habitat.
Moderator: Jimmy Morgan, First Nations-Federal Pilot Joint Working Group on Guardians
Tyanna Steinwand, Tłı̨chǫ Government Walking with Caribou
Evan Simon and Charlotte Denny, Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources
Guardians, Drones, and Data
Room: Richelieu
Drones are a powerful tool for helping Guardians monitor wildlife, track fire hotspots, inform community planning, and much more. Discuss drone capabilities and explore different models, costs, certifications, and data management apps.
Moderator: Alexa Scully, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
Eric Forget, Nova Sylva
Rick McKamey and Tina Pederson, Leq’á:mel First Nation
Sarah Cockerton, Four Rivers