Hello Braided River Community!
With a new year comes the welcome of new campaigns and Braided River community members! We gain strength and momentum in the fight for lands, waters, and wildlife by introducing wisdom and artistry from new collaborators. With that, we are thrilled to kick off 2026 with two new board members—Mary Ann Gwinn and Erin Younger, and a soon-to-come visual journey through Traditional Ecological Knowledge by Kiliii Yüyan.
Coming February 15th—Guardians of Life
Let the countdown begin! There’s less than a month until the release of Guardians of Life, a profound visual journey through collective wisdom spanning the globe. As the biodiversity and climate crises converge, the time to support Indigenous leadership is now. This in-depth volume of rich storytelling and photography aims to raise global recognition of the critical role that Indigenous communities play in sustaining biological and cultural diversity, as well as in adapting to and combating climate change.
Braided River is thrilled to support this project and author Kiliii Yüyan. Kiliii, a photographer and National Geographic Explorer, brings stories from Arctic sea ice, under waves, and within the hearts of human communities to life. Of Chinese and Nanai/Hèzhé descent, his work prioritizes a cross-cultural lens, exploring how humanity lives in relationship with land and sea.
Pre-order your copy and be the first to hear about launch events at guardians-of-life.org.
Introducing Our New Board Members: Mary Ann Gwinn and Erin Younger
We are honored to bring Mary Ann Gwinn and Erin Younger onto our board.
Mary Ann Gwinn (left) writes about books and authors for Kirkus Reviews, the LA Times, and other publications. For 34 years, she worked in The Seattle Times newsroom as a reporter, feature writer, and editor, earning a Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting in 1990 for her coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. She has worked as a Seattle Times book editor and co-host of Well Read, served as a judge for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in fiction and juror for the 2024 Kirkus Prize in nonfiction, and currently sits on the board of the National Book Critics Circle.
PNW-born-and-raised, Erin Younger (right), attended undergrad in California and graduate school in Arizona. She returned to Seattle in the 80s, working in public funding at 4Culture and Humanities Washington until joining the Burke Museum staff in 1995, where she oversaw programs and exhibits (including those produced with Braided River!) before shifting to institutional planning. Now living in DC, Erin is a research associate at the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival and returns to the Northwest whenever she can!
Their knowledge of humanities-driven literature and exhibitions will be a special contribution to our team and our ambitious work ahead.
Remembering Carol Kasza
Co-founder of Arctic Treks, Carol Kasza, passed away in late December of last year. Carol will be remembered for setting high professional standards for wilderness guiding, and for her deep passion for and leadership in protecting the pristine landscapes and wildlife of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
“Carol and her husband Jim Campbell introduced me and countless others to the deep wilds of America’s Arctic,” said Helen Cherullo. “From Gates of the Arctic to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Carol’s knowledge of life and land, and her commitment to its protection was palpable. Deep friendships are often forged from traveling together in the backcountry– and I count my time with Carol in America’s Arctic as one of the highlights of my life.”
Carol served as president of the Alaska Wilderness Guides Association, founding board member and president of the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association, and board member of the Northern Alaska Environmental Center and the Alaska Conservation Foundation—a true Arctic champion.
Carol had a deep love for travel and climbing in wild places, from the Scottish Highlands and French Alps to the Canadian Rockies and Yosemite Valley, participating in all-women climbs on Denali and Foraker. Her fierce Arctic advocacy and curiosity for the backcountry will be missed.
Action Item of the Month
Comment on Trump’s Arctic Offshore Drilling Plan
The Trump Administration is proposing one of the largest offshore oil and gas drilling expansions in US history, opening nearly all federal waters off Alaska. Arctic drilling is uniquely dangerous environmentally, physically, and financially. Past attempts have cost billions of dollars, resulted in serious accidents, and put Indigenous communities who rely on healthy waters at risk from industrial activity and impossible to clean up oil spills. Through Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic (SILA), make your voice heard during the public comment period, which ends Friday, January 23.
Photo Credits
Top and Cover Photo: Kiliii Yüyan, Guardians of Life author and photographer
Last Photo: Helen Cherullo, taken in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge