Amberly Quakegesic, Wahkohtowin

Learning is a central part of Guardianship, and for Amberly Quakegesic, it’s been her favorite part.  “That’s the beauty of it - so much diversity,” she said of her work. As a Wahkohtowin Guardian, she works on tree planting and forestry, performs vegetation surveys, gains traditional knowledge from community Elders, and even gets to make something sweet - birch syrup!  The birch syrup production process, which takes around 3 weeks, gave her a strong sense of appreciation and connection to the forest, while also benefiting the Guardians program through the profits. 

Along with the knowledge of the land, Amberly has also found value in connecting with her culture and her Indigenous self, as she puts it. As a Guardian, she also gets to educate youth on topics from climate change to traditional knowledge, which she’s excited about, saying “they are our future”. All in all, Guardianship has allowed Amberly to strengthen her ties to her culture and the land -  emphasizing that it’s about “giving thanks to the creator and giving something back”.  

Learn more about Amberly’s work in her video on birch syrup production