Kiliii Yüyan: Indigenous Wisdom for a Thriving Planet

Photographer and National Geographic Explorer Kiliii Yüyan asks a vital question: what keeps the planet’s most extraordinary ecosystems thriving? From coral reefs and rainforests to the Arctic tundra, he shows how Indigenous stewardship has sustained these environments for generations. 

Through encounters with polar bears alongside Iñupiat hunters, dives into mangrove shark nurseries, and time spent with elders whose knowledge spans centuries, Kiliii reveals a powerful truth: this wisdom is not a relic of the past. Drawing from Guardians of Life, he makes the case that Indigenous ecological knowledge is a living, evolving guide—offering practical solutions and a blueprint for protecting the planet’s future. 

Vashon Nature Center’s co-executive directors, Bianca Perla and Maria Metler, will moderate the Q&A.

Vashon Nature Center’s mission is to create transformative nature experiences through community science, research, and education for the benefit of our island home and the entire Salish Sea ecosystem.Vashon Nature Center is a federally registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 82-5064648).