Documenting Guardians’ Journeys: Storytellers Capture Gatherings
Storytellers Dolcy Meness of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi of Fort Good Hope stepped onto the red carpet at the 2025 National First Nations Gathering in their finest attire and regalia, radiating pride and presence.
When Indigenous Guardians aren’t in the bush or on the open water, they’re sometimes in conference halls, networking, strategizing, attending workshops, and sharing best practices. Through the Storytellers Project, Guardians capture moments of connection, strength, and pride with their cameras and phones, offering perspectives that often go unseen and unheard. The Community Storytellers Project not only highlights their work on the land and water, but also shows the creativity, leadership, and community spirit that drive their stewardship.
In 2025, Storytellers had the opportunity to bring these skills to two major national gatherings. The First Nations National Guardians Gathering in Victoria, BC, celebrated collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Guardians from across the country, while the National Fire Gathering in Penticton, BC, brought together fire keepers and practitioners from Canada, and even Australia, for groundbreaking conversations about fire and revitalization. In both settings, Storytellers documented the events with authenticity, ensuring these important stories were told by those who live them every day.
2025 First Nations National Guardians Gathering, Victoria, BC
Storytellers Taylor Deleary and Diamond McGahey from Deshkan Ziibiing interview a fellow Guardian at the 2025 National First Nations Gathering.
SIn June 2025, Storytellers played a vital role at the First Nations National Guardians Gathering. Acting as on-the-ground reporters, they captured not just what happened, but how it felt to be there. Over the three-day gathering, Storytellers interviewed fellow Guardians, filmed key moments, and documented the spirit of collaboration through candid photos and videos, all from their phones.
This approach ensures the story is told by those who live and breathe land and water stewardship. Storytellers offer an authentic, inside view of conversations, teachings, and celebrations that often don’t make it into mainstream coverage. Their work highlights Indigenous stewardship while showcasing the creativity, leadership, and community strength growing within the Guardians network.
Community Storytellers at the 2025 First Nations National Guardians Gathering included:
Angela Bernarde and Josh Campbell from the Tulita IPCA Guardians (Tulita IPCA & Guardians Steering Committee Facebook Page)
Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi of the K’ahsho Got’ine Guardians (@tuyetakfg & tuyetakgf.ca)
Dolcy Meness from Kitigan Zibi’s Nagadjitòdjig Akì Guardians (@nagadjitodjigaki7 & kzanaturalresource.ca)
Taylor DeLeary and Diamond McGahey from the Deshkan Ziibing Guardians (@dzguardians)
Thunderbird Collective’s National Fire Gathering, SnPink'tn, BC
A candid moment captured storyteller Angela Bernarde and Paul Courtoreille in conversation with Dave W “Yogi” Heron after interviewing him at the site of a prescribed burn in SnPink’tn.
Following their work in Victoria, Storytellers brought their lens to the first-ever National Fire Gathering hosted by the Thunderbird Collective on the Traditional Territory of the SnPink'tn (The Penticton Indian Band) in British Columbia. This historic event marked a new chapter in Indigenous fire stewardship, bringing together fire keepers, protectors, and practitioners from across Canada and as far as Australia. Participants shared teachings, traditional knowledge, and modern fire management practices.
Storytellers documented workshops, ceremonies, and powerful moments of connection, capturing the relationships between people, fire, and land. Their footage highlighted how communities are reclaiming ancestral fire knowledge, adapting it to meet modern challenges, and honoring the sacred role of fire in cultural renewal and ecological health. Through these stories, the humility, respect, and collaboration that underpin Indigenous-led fire stewardship were brought vividly to life.
Community Storytellers at the 2025 National Fire Gathering included:
Angela Bernarde from Tulita IPCA Guardians (Tulita IPCA & Guardians Steering Committee Facebook Page)
Alvin First Rider from Kanai Nation / Blood Tribe Land Management (bloodtribe.org)
Paul Courtoreille, Fire Knowledge Keeper from Gift Lake Métis Settlement
A Personal Perspective
Storytellers Angela Bernarde, Alvin First Rider, and Paul Courtoreille, along with Storytellers Project Lead Jennifer Brunet-Rentechem, attended the opening ceremony of the first-ever National Fire Gathering.
From my perspective as Storytellers Project Lead, these gatherings are more than media opportunities; they are moments to build genuine relationships. Traveling alongside the Storytellers, sharing meals, troubleshooting equipment, and celebrating successes has allowed me to witness their humour, resilience, and pride in representing their communities. Watching them grow in skill and confidence, and seeing their work recognized by peers and leadership, fills me with immense pride.
Having Storytellers on-site offers a unique and authentic way to capture the heart of an event, from the emotion and connection to the deeper meaning behind it. Their presence ensures that Indigenous voices, leadership, and stewardship are documented on their own terms.
Be Part of the Story
Storyteller Dolcy Meness of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg filmed fellow storyteller Twyla Edgi-Masuzumi from Fort Good Hope as she interviewed Charlotte Denny, a Guardian from Unama’ki, Nova Scotia—capturing the first-day jitters and excitement of the Gathering.
Keep an eye out for Storytellers at an upcoming Guardian event near you! For those inspired to share their own stories, we’re always looking for new voices: there’s not time like now to learn how to become a Storyteller.
Together, we can amplify these stories, strengthen Indigenous-led stewardship, and support ongoing investment in Guardians’ work.