Agenda for the 2026 Indigenous-Led Transboundary Mining Conference
NOTE: This agenda is evolving and may be updated.
Monday Afternoon, September 14 – Tribes and First Nations Only
11:30 AM: Check-In Begins – Tribes and First Nations Only
12:15 PM: Lunch provided
1:00 PM: Prayer and Welcome Remarks
Speaker: Councilmember Len TwoTeeth (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)
1:15 PM: Knowledge Exchange – Introductions and Updates from Each Tribe and First Nation
Moderated by Rich Janssen, Jill Weitz, and Erin Sexton
2:30 PM: Break
3:00 PM: Knowledge Exchange – Introductions and Updates from Each Tribe and First Nation (continued)
3:30 PM: Grounding Discussion
Moderated by Rich Janssen, Jill Weitz, and Erin Sexton
5:00 PM: 60 Minute Break
Monday Evening, September 14 – All Conference Participants
6:00 PM: Welcome Dinner – All Conference Participants
Prayer and Opening Remarks by Stephen Small Salmon (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)
Songs from the Eagle Pass Drummers
Posting of the Colors by the Mission Valley Honor Guard
Welcome Remarks by Chairman Michael Dolson (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)
*Film preview of Haa Aaní: Before the Border by SEITC following dinner for all who would like to join.
Tuesday, September 15 – All Conference Participants
7:30 AM: Check-In Opens
8:00 AM: Breakfast
8:30 AM: Morning Prayer & Opening Remarks
Speaker: Chairman Michael Dolson (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)
9:00 AM: Daily Overview
9:15 AM: Introduction to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Speaker: Rich Janssen (Department Head, Natural Resources Department, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)
9:45 AM: Break
10:00 AM: Session 1 – Waters Impacted: The Taku, Stikine, Unuk, and Salmon Rivers
Moderator: Jill Weitz (Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)
Speakers:
Andrea Cadiente-Laiti (Administrator for the Douglas Indian Association)
Esther Ashton (President and Chair of SEITC)
President Mike Jones (Organized Village of Kasaan)
Louie Wagner (SEITC Metlakatla Director)
Ali Ginter (Council for the Ketchikan Indian Association)
11:15 AM: Session 2 – Waters Impacted: Indigenous-Led Science and Knowledge —Advancing Shared Knowledge Sources and Multinational Coordination in the Northern Watersheds
Speakers:
Jill Weitz (Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)
Skye Keeshin (Tlingit & Haida Transboundary Watershed Coordinator)
Iphigenia “Jen” Arvanitis (Ketchikan Indian Community)
12:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM: Session 3 – Waters Impacted: The Upper Columbia River
Speakers:
Paul Dayton (Member, Ogden Murphy Wallace P.L.L.C.)
Whitney Fraser (Lodestone Consulting)
2:00 PM: Session 4 – Waters Impacted: The Similkameen River
Speakers:
Chief Charlie Allison (Upper Similkameen Indian Band)
Carley Brewer (Natural Resources Director, Upper Similkameen Indian Band)
Kathleen Louie (Title and Rights Natural Resources Manager, Lower Similkameen Indian Band)
Keith Baric (Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Sage Step Consulting)
3:00 PM: Break
3:15 PM: Session 5 – Waters Impacted: Indigenous-Led Science and Knowledge, and Partners, in the Kootenai/y Watershed
Moderator: Erin Sexton (Research Scientist, University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station)
Speakers:
Curtis Luke (ʔa·knusti, Ktunaxa Nation Council Society)
Emma Thompson (Water Quality Biologist, Ktunaxa Nation Council)
Danie Frevola (Research Scientist, University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station) & Laine Twigg (ʔa·knusti,Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it)
John Stevenson (Physical Scientist, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, USGS)
Genny Hoyle (Environmental Director, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho), Nate Nadal (Master’s Student, University of Idaho), & Manu Carballo (Master’s Student, University of Idaho)
4:30 PM: Session 6 – Waters Impacted: The Kootenai/y Watershed
Moderator: Erin Sexton (Research Scientist, University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station)
Speakers:
NasuɁkin Cheryl Casimer (ʔaq̓am)
Councilman Tom McDonald (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) (virtual)
Vice Chair Gary Aitken Jr. (Kootenai Tribe of Idaho)
NasuɁkin Heidi Gravelle (Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it)
5:30 PM: Break
5:45 PM: Film Premier: Shared Waters
Speakers:
Vice Chair Gary Aitken Jr. (Kootenai Tribe of Idaho)
Jennifer Ekstrom (Idaho Conservation League)
6:30 PM: End for the Day
Wednesday, September 16 – All Conference Participants
7:30 AM: Breakfast on your own
7:30 AM: Morning Ravens: Coffee Talk
Fish Consumption Surveys and the protection of communities that eat a lot of fish. All those interested in this topic are encouraged to join this discussion! (Moderated by Guy Archibald, SEITC)
8:45 AM: Depart for Part 1 – Touring CSKT Lands and Waters
12:00 PM: Conference Lunch at the CSKT River Honoring Site on the Flathead River
2:00 PM: Depart for Part 2 – Touring CSKT Lands and Waters
5:00 PM: Return to Missoula; Dinner in Missoula on your own
Thursday, September 17 – All Conference Participants
7:30 AM: Morning Ravens: Coffee Talk [Tribes and First Nations Only]
Tribes and First Nations Discussion Continued from Monday: Hold space to circle back to conversations from Monday.
8:00 AM: Breakfast
8:30 AM: Welcome and Daily Overview
Reflections from the tour
Moderated by Rich Janssen, Jill Weitz, and Erin Sexton
9:00 AM: Session 1 — Elders and Youth Panel: Perspectives on the Legacy of Mines and Mining on Indigenous Lands and Waters (Past, Present, and Future)
Moderator: Vice Chair Gary Aitken Jr. (Kootenai Tribe of Idaho)
Speakers (Elders):
Vice President Paulette Moreno (Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)
Councillor Kyle Shottanana (Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it)
Speakers (Youth):
Phillip Cadiente-Laiti Blattner (Douglas Indian Association)
Gabe Caye (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)
Tatum Johnson (Angoon Community Association)
Jasmine Knudson (Emerging Leader, Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)
Caches Parrish (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation)
10:30 AM: Break
11:00 AM: Session 2 (part 1) — Legal Solutions for Addressing Mining Impacts in Indigenous Territories
Speakers:
John W. Gailus (Partner & Founder, Cascadia Legal LLP)
Chair Anthony Hillaire (Lummi Nation)
Jessica Clogg (Executive Director & Senior Counsel, West Coast Environmental Law)
12:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM: Session 2 (part 2) — Legal Solutions for Addressing Mining Impacts in Indigenous Territories
Speakers:
Ramin Pejan (Deputy Managing Attorney, International Program, Earthjustice) (virtual)
Simon Wiebe (Mining Impacts and Policy Lead, Wildsight) and Patricia Weber (Lawyer, Environmental Law Center, University of Victoria) (virtual)
Shiloh Hernandez (Senior Attorney, Earthjustice)
Harley Harris (former Program Manager/Chief Legal Counsel, Montana Natural Resource Damage Program)
2:15 PM: Break
2:45 PM: Session 3 — Knowledge Exchange: Updates from Federal, State and Provincial Representatives on Their Actions to Protect Shared Waters and Discussion
Speakers:
Kevin Skillin (Director, Office of Canadian Affairs, U.S. Department of State)
Lisa Berrios (American Indian Environmental Office Acting Director, Office of International and Tribal Affairs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Ben Linhoff (Research Hydrologist, USGS Water Resources Mission Area, Earth System Process Division)
Lindsey Krywaruchka (Administrator, Water Quality Division, Montana Department of Environmental Quality)
Robert Steed (Surface Water Quality Manager, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality)
Tomina Rioux (Associate Regional Director General, West and North Region, Strategic Policy and International Affairs Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada)
Deb Epps (Executive Director, Authorizations and Remediation Branch, B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks)
5:00 PM: Closure & Looking Forward Together