Agenda for the 2026 Indigenous-Led Transboundary Mining Conference 

Final Agendas and Speaker Biographies (PDF versions)

Monday Afternoon, September 14 – Tribes and First Nations Only (Main Ballroom at the Edgewater Missoula)

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 (Main Ballroom at the Edgewater Missoula)

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. The film is approximately 30 minutes long.

Tuesday, September 15 – All Conference Participants (Main Ballroom at the Edgewater Missoula)

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)

8:50 AM:     Daily Overview

9:00 AM:     Introduction to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Speaker: Rich Janssen (Department Head, Natural Resources Department, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)         

9:20 AM:     Session 1 – Waters Impacted: Indigenous-Led Science and Knowledge, with 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 First Nation)

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)

10:45 AM:     Break  

11:00 AM:     Session 2 – 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 First Nation)

12:00 PM:     Lunch

1:00 PM:     Session 3 – 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 Reese (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)

2:15 PM:     Session 4 – 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)

3:00 PM:     Break

3:15 PM:     Session 5 – Waters Impacted: The Upper Columbia River

Speakers:

Paul Dayton (Member, Ogden Murphy Wallace P.L.L.C.)

Whitney Fraser (Consulting Scientist for Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation)

4:15 PM:     Session 6 – Waters Impacted: The Similkameen River

Speakers:

Chief Charlie Allison (Upper Similkameen Indian Band)

Carley Brewer (Natural Resources Director, Upper Similkameen Indian Band)

Julie Allison (Youth, 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)

5:15 PM:     Break

5:30 PM:     Film Premier: Shared Waters

Speakers:

Vice Chair Gary Aitken Jr. (Kootenai Tribe of Idaho)

Jennifer Ekstrom (Idaho Conservation League)

6:15 PM:     End for the Day

Wednesday, September 16 – Field Tour on CSKT Lands and Waters (All Conference Participants)

Suggested Attire: We will be outside most of the day. Please dress comfortably for the outdoors (and the anticipated weather) with closed-toe shoes. We encourage you to bring a water bottle.

7:30 AM:     Breakfast on your own

7:30 AM:     Morning Ravens: Coffee Talk (Location: Russell/Lewis/Clark conference room at Edgewater Missoula)

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. Please meet in the hotel lobby at Edgewater Missoula (100 Madison Street, Missoula, MT, 59802) to load the buses.

CSKT Bison Range

Council Grove State Park

12:00 PM:   Conference Lunch at the CSKT River Honoring Site on the Flathead River        

Prayer

Welcome remarks by Councilmember Danielle Matt (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)

Presentation on CSKT’s achievements in environmental protection and on CSKT’s Cultural Waterways Ordinance and Lower Flathead River Management Plan by Thompson Smith (Historian, Séliš-Ql̓ispé Culture Committee)

Presentation on the Story of Mining and the Flathead River by Clayton Matt (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), Michael Jamison (National Parks Conservation Association), and Erin Sexton (Flathead Lake Biological Station)

2:00 PM:     Depart for Part 2 – Touring CSKT Lands and Waters

CSKT Bison Range

Council Grove State Park

5:00 PM:     Return to Missoula; Dinner in Missoula on your own  

Thursday, September 17 – All Conference Participants (Main Ballroom at the Edgewater Missoula)

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):

Louis Caye (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)

Vernon Finley (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)

Vice President Paulette Moreno (Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)

Councillor Kyle Shottanana (Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it First Nation)

Shirley Trahan (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes)

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) & 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)

Niall Cronin (A/Director General for North America, Global Affairs Canada)

Deb Epps (Executive Director, Authorizations and Remediation Branch, B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks)

5:00 PM:     Closure & Looking Forward Together