Conference centres embracing Indigenous perspectives and collaborative, Indigenous-led stewardship.

BQCMB Executive Director Tina Giroux-Robillard and Biologist Gilly McNaughton attended the 2025 Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects (ICCE) National Conference from May 26–28 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Staff were joined at the event by Board members from the Tłı̨chǫ Government, as well as fellow caribou conservation colleagues from the Caribou Guardians Coalition and Athabasca Denesųłiné. 

This year’s theme, Honouring All Our Relations: Embracing Indigenous Perspectives on Cumulative Effects, speaks directly to the heart of BQCMB’s work.

Created by and for the people who rely on Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou, the BQCMB works by bringing together Indigenous communities and governments to protect these herds and the land they depend on.

This approach, grounded in Indigenous knowledge, long-term relationships, and a deep responsibility to future generations echoes the very conversations which took place at this national gathering.

In attending the ICCE Conference, Tina and Gilly further built connections with others facing similar challenges, supported Board members who attended as panelists and presenters, learned from their experiences, and shared BQCMB’s own story of collaborative, Indigenous-led stewardship in the face of growing cumulative effects.

Knowledge gained from attending this event included:

  • The importance of community-driven assessments that reflect lived experiences and land use knowledge
  • The power of combining oral history, Traditional Knowledge, and spatial mapping tools to tell deeper stories of land use change
  • The urgent need to recognize and respond to the cumulative pressures of climate change, industry, and development on Indigenous territories
  • How Indigenous-led governance and planning approaches are building strength and resilience in the face of complex environmental change 

BQCMB is grateful for the opportunity to learn from others doing critical work in this space and looks forward to applying this shared knowledge and insight to our Board’s caribou conservation efforts.