Dane Nan Ye Dah
The Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh Land Guardians initiative is vital for Kaska, as wildlife and land stewardship are central to Kaska Dena culture. This program helps build capacity and increases Kaska Dena presence as guardians, actively involved in land and resource management.
People protecting
the land
Our Land Guardians practice responsible stewardship in many ways, including helping to educate the public, interacting with hunters during peak hunting season, providing local knowledge, undertaking harvest data collection, and monitoring wildlife health and climate change.
Our Land Guardians are the “ears and eyes” on the ground – an approach we believe to be integral to responsible land stewardship.
Tristan Miller is Tahltan and Kaska Dena. His experience in wildfire, carpentry, camp operations, and other hands-on roles has led him to become a self-directed learner who is always researching and building new skills. After recently completing Danger Tree Assessor training in wildfire, forestry, and parks, he developed a deeper interest in forest biology, how ecosystems function, and what helps them remain healthy. He has already begun pursuing his own research and hopes to continue expanding his knowledge through both training and time on the land.
Tristan believes strong land stewardship requires people to be present throughout the territory, watching for changes and taking an active role in caring for the land. Guardians help protect wildlife, waterways, cultural areas, and traditional practices by combining knowledge from Elders and land users with monitoring, research, and hands-on work. He believes this work is essential to keeping the land healthy and ensuring future generations can continue to live from it, learn from it, and care for it.
As Guardians Coordinator, Tristan is grateful for the opportunity to work for his people in a role that means so much to him. He recognizes the more than 12 years of hard work by the Dena Kayeh Institute team, Guardians, leadership, and community members that has created the strong and healthy program in place today. His goal is to support that work, help the program continue to grow and thrive, and create more land-based opportunities that bring youth, Elders, families, and communities together through camps, harvesting, and cultural activities.
Lisa was born in Watson Lake. She is a Kaska Dena citizen, whose heritage lies in Northern BC. She is part of the wolf clan. Lisa started working with the Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh Network, Kaska’s Land Guardians program, in 2017. Since Lisa has started working with the Guardian network, she has gained a lot of knowledge about the land. She enjoys being a land guardian because she gets to see the changes happening on the land throughout the seasons, gets to communicate with other land users and share knowledge with them. She also loves learning from the elders about the history of the land.
Robbie Porter is a Kaska citizen, born in Lower Post, BC. He is the youngest out of 9 children born to Minnie and Jimmy Porter. He grew up on the trapline in northern BC. He was married in 1998 and has 2 children, Jonah and Katelyne, and 1 granddaughter Natalie.
Robbie started guiding for big game outfitters in 1977 and retired in 2019. He then joined the Dane nan yḗ dāh Network, working out of Lower Post, BC. He enjoys the outdoors and brings a wealth of knowledge to our guardian program.
(Mother who takes care of the Land)
Vanessa Law is a proud Kaska Dena citizen with deep ancestral roots and a strong commitment to her community. She is married to Darren and is a devoted mother to her two sons, Marshal and Ryder, and daughter Jayde. Her parents are Shirley Laverdure (McMillan) and the late Les Laverdure.
Vanessa’s journey in land stewardship began after she completed her University Degree in Natural Resource Science. She returned to her homeland and started working in land management in Daylu (Lower Post), BC. Over the past two decades, she has dedicated herself to the Lands Position, managing numerous land-related projects for the Daylu Dena Council. Her roles have included Local Fire smart Representative and Emergency Operations Center Director.
Vanessa has been instrumental in initiating the Daylu Dena Land Guardian Program, now known as the Dane nan yḗ dāh, a vital initiative for the protection and management of Kaska traditional territories. Her commitment to her community extends beyond her professional life; she has been an active board member of the Watson Lake Daycare for approximately sixteen years, ensuring its continuity. Currently, she contributes to the Watson Lake Youth Hockey Club, supporting the local youth and fostering a sense of community.
Vanessa’s work reflects her dedication to preserving and enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of the Kaska Dena people. Her efforts continue to support the sustainable management of their lands, ensuring that future generations can thrive in harmony with their environment.
DNYD Timeline
