New Fellowship Launched for First Nations Women in Conservation and Stewardship
March 6, 2025
March 6, 2025: A new fellowship opportunity for First Nations women in conservation and stewardship was announced today by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI) and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada). This pilot year will shape a long-term initiative to support emerging women leaders by enhancing their professional growth, broadening their experiences, and strengthening their skills within the conservation movement.
Called the First Nations Women Transforming Conservation Fellowship, the fellowship recognizes the vital role First Nations women play in caring for lands and waters. Women are already leading many Guardians programs, Indigenous Protected and Conservation Area proposals, and other Indigenous-led conservation initiatives across the country. With added support, they can expand their positive impact within and beyond their Nations.
“We believe that uplifting Indigenous women’s leadership is not just necessary for sustaining lands and waters. It will also generate transformative benefits for how conservation is done in this country,” said ILI Executive Director Valérie Courtois. “Indigenous women are helping expand conservation to include Indigenous science, language, sustainable prosperity, and health and wellbeing. These broader approaches make conservation better for all of us.”
Despite the gains made by Indigenous women working in conservation, many emerging leaders still grapple with colonial and patriarchal policies. Many feel isolated from peers and opportunities to learn and expand their expertise.
The First Nations Women Transforming Conservation Fellowship aims to help change that. Drawing on the strengths of both ILI and WCS Canada, it will provide training in public policy, research design and implementation, communications, mentorship, and land use planning. It will offer hands-on learning, ranging from video storytelling to wildlife monitoring to on-the-land language programs. And it will bring participants into a community of other leaders and practitioners.
The fellowship celebrates the legacy of Dr. Cheryl-Lesley Chetkiewicz, WCS Canada’s Director of Indigenous Communities and Conservation. Throughout her career, Cheryl was committed to fostering greater collaboration between conservation scientists and Indigenous communities. It was a dream of hers to create more opportunities to support Indigenous women in conservation. Cheryl’s leadership, compassion, and integrity have served as a guide in the design of this program.
Justina Ray, President & Senior Scientist with WCS Canada, said: “We are proud to collaborate with ILI in celebrating Cheryl’s work and her deep respect for Indigenous conservation leadership and reconciliation through this unique fellowship. Inspired by her legacy, we aim to support and cultivate a network of inspirational leaders whose work can help drive transformative change in our collective approach to conservation in Canada.”
By working together, ILI and WCS Canada embody a spirit of cooperation, fostering collaboration that honors our shared histories and visions for conservation. Rooted in Cheryl’s deep experience and understanding of the vital role of partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous actors, this fellowship is designed to cultivate an environment of mentorship and community and create strong models of allyship in the conservation sector.
Since mentoring and community are central to the fellowship, ILI and WCS Canada have convened an Aunties Circle of Indigenous women and their allies with deep experience in leadership, research, conservation, and stewardship. The Aunties will help steer the program and offer dedicated guidance to the fellows.
The initiative will host two fellows and offer paid stipends. The fellowship will focus on First Nations applicants in its pilot year. Going forward, organizers will explore the potential expansion to include all Indigenous women in Canada. This initial round is open to First Nations women who are actively working on conservation, land stewardship or Indigenous-led environmental initiatives.
Applications are due on April 11, 2025, and fellows will be selected by the Aunties Circle and ILI and WCS Canada leaders.
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 Nationshood 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.
