Walking Together: Reflections on Indigenous-Led Conservation, Nationhood, and Hope
By Richard Sparrow, Director of Indigenous-Led Conservation at the Grizzly Bear Foundation
As National Indigenous Peoples Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the many relationships, conversations, and experiences that have shaped my journey over the past several years.
Through my work with the Grizzly Bear Foundation, I have had the privilege of spending time with Indigenous leaders, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Guardians, youth, and community members from across British Columbia and beyond. Every conversation, gathering, and visit to a community has reinforced something I have always known: our greatest strengths come from our relationships—with one another, with the land, with wildlife, and with the responsibilities we carry to future generations.
What gives me hope today is seeing Indigenous leadership continue to grow and thrive.
Across many Nations, communities are advancing stewardship initiatives, restoring cultural connections, creating opportunities for youth, and leading conservation efforts grounded in their own laws, values, and knowledge systems. While every Nation's story is unique, there is a shared commitment to caring for the lands and waters that sustain us.
Conservation Is About More Than Wildlife
One of the greatest lessons I have learned through the Indigenous Roundtable on Grizzly Bear Conservation and Bear Viewing Ecotourism is that conservation is about far more than wildlife.
It is about people.
It is about culture.
It is about responsibility.
And it is about nationhood.
When I speak about nationhood, I think about First Nations exercising their inherent responsibilities and authorities to care for their territories. I think about communities strengthening stewardship practices, supporting Guardians, engaging youth, revitalizing knowledge, and making decisions that reflect their values and responsibilities to future generations.
These are not new concepts. They are responsibilities Indigenous Peoples have carried since time immemorial.
The Roundtable has provided a space for Indigenous leaders to come together, share experiences, learn from one another, and explore common challenges and opportunities. Through these conversations, I have come to appreciate that while every Nation's relationship with the grizzly bear is unique, there are many shared teachings.
Across many territories, the grizzly is viewed as much more than a species. The grizzly is a teacher. The grizzly is a relative. The grizzly is woven into stories, laws, cultural practices, and identities that have been passed from generation to generation.
These teachings continue to shape how many Indigenous Nations approach stewardship today.
Lessons from Port Hardy
Just recently, I had the privilege of gathering with Indigenous leaders—members of the Indigenous Stewardship Advisory Circle—during our leadership retreat in Port Hardy. The conversations were thoughtful, inspiring, and grounded in a shared desire to support one another's leadership.
Together, we explored how Indigenous-led conservation can continue to grow, how relationships between Nations can be strengthened, and how we can collectively advance a vision for wildlife stewardship that reflects Indigenous values and responsibilities.
One of the most exciting outcomes of these discussions was a shared interest in continuing to develop an Indigenous Wildlife Stewardship Framework. This work will help articulate Indigenous perspectives on stewardship, conservation, and our relationships with wildlife. Drawing on the wisdom, experiences, and leadership of Indigenous Nations, it will help create a shared vision that reflects the diversity and strength of Indigenous stewardship across our territories.
Looking Beyond British Columbia
What continues to inspire me is that this momentum is growing.
Across British Columbia, Indigenous Nations are leading important work through Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, coexistence initiatives, Guardian programs, land-use planning, and community-based stewardship efforts. Increasingly, Indigenous leadership is being recognized as essential to the future of conservation.
At the same time, opportunities to build relationships and share knowledge are expanding beyond provincial boundaries.
We are beginning to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous leaders and communities in Alberta and the Yukon, creating opportunities to learn from one another and support Indigenous-led conservation efforts across western North America.
While every Nation has its own priorities and circumstances, many share common values around stewardship, reciprocity, cultural revitalization, and responsibility to future generations. These relationships create opportunities for collaboration while respecting the unique governance, laws, and traditions of each Nation.
The grizzly bear reminds us that the land itself is connected. Grizzlies move across watersheds, mountain ranges, and ecosystems without regard for provincial or territorial boundaries. In many ways, our relationships can do the same.
By walking together, sharing knowledge, and supporting Indigenous leadership, we can build a stronger future for wildlife, communities, and the lands that sustain us all.
What Gives Me Hope
As I reflect during National Indigenous History Month, I feel immense gratitude for the many leaders, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Guardians, and community members who have shared their wisdom with me. Your teachings continue to shape this work and strengthen my belief that the future of conservation will be strongest when it is guided by Indigenous leadership, grounded in relationships, and rooted in respect.
What gives me hope is not simply the work itself.
What gives me hope is the people.
It is the relationships that continue to grow. It is the commitment of Indigenous Nations to care for their lands and waters. It is the next generation of leaders stepping forward. And it is the understanding that when we walk together, we can build a future that honours our responsibilities to both people and wildlife.
With gratitude,
— RICHARD SPARROW
Director of Indigenous Led Conservation, Grizzly Bear Foundation
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