Fiona is a settler marine ecologist, conservationist, and community leader who attributes her life’s direction to growing up in Howe Sound/Átl’ḵa7tsem. Having spent her childhood flipping rocks to search for crabs on Bowen/Nex̱wlélex̱wem’s beaches, Fiona was thrilled to serve as the Guide’s Project Director from 2018-2021. She is now delighted to participate on the project’s Steering Committee. Fiona is currently a PhD candidate in the Zoology department at the UBC, where she studies how climate change is affecting marine life and communities in the Salish Sea. She also coordinates nearshore restoration in Átl’ḵa7tsem with SeaChange Marine Conservation and sits as an advisory for various other regional marine conservation non-profit organizations. Fiona lives in Gibsons, Ch’ḵw’elhp. 

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John is the Fisheries Science and Policy Analyst at David Suzuki Foundation, and is an adjunct professor at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. He has over 20 years of experience in fisheries and marine conservation. John’s areas of expertise include marine habitat conservation, sustainable fisheries assessment, and evaluating fisheries for their capacity to produce food and nutrition for people. John lives with his wife and two kids in Vancouver, and raises his kids outdoors as much as possible.

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Ellika has lived, studied, and recreated in/around Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound her entire life. She grew up in North Vancouver, spending much of her childhood exploring local forests and coastlines. This connection to our local landscapes led her to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. She has worked for several environmental non-profits, often leading projects with a marine conservation focus. Her roles in these organizations have allowed her to develop valuable skills in community organizing, scientific communications, volunteer management, and program leadership.

Currently residing in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh/Squamish, Ellika is excited to bring her passion and experience to the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative. When she’s not at her desk, you’re likely to find Ellika trail running, backcountry skiing, or foraging in the mountains surrounding Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound.

Gwyn is an ecologist of settler descent. Growing up on traditional Secwépemc territory in the Shuswap, they gained a deep appreciation of the connections between ecosystems and our role as stewards of the land. This love for the land and waters led them to obtain a BSc in Ecological Restoration and a Master in Geomatics for Environmental Management. They are passionate about using remote sensing and good old fashioned field work for research and management decisions. Gwyn has contributed to various sectors including non-profits, government, consultants, and academia. They are skilled in transforming diverse datasets into practical and applicable resources for conservation and management decisions. Beyond their professional pursuits, Gwyn finds solace and inspiration in the outdoors, spending their free time in and around Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound kayaking, climbing, and exploring tidepools.

Nikita is deeply passionate in using maps to tell stories of conversations, lives and songs lived out of a place. Her approach to cartography is strategic, holistic and research oriented, her practice is about balancing creativity with practicality. She completed her Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, with a focus on mapping how glaciers and rivers have shaped the landscapes of the South Coast Mountains to the Himalayas. She is skilled in translating questions into geospatial answers with professional experience in ESRI and open-source environments in the environmental, agricultural, renewable energy, and technology sectors. Nikita is delighted to be working with the Howe Sound/Átl’ḵa7tsem Marine Reference Guide to highlight local knowledge and work with like-minded communities to protect this wonderful place. When she’s not making maps she can be found exploring Átl’ḵa7tsem with her skis, bike, snorkel or paintbrush.    

Erica is a marine ethnoecologist, who has been working with Indigenous nations and coastal communities in British Columbia for the last decade. Her curiosity and love for coastal and marine ecosystems began in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where she would visit her grandparents and spend every day exploring the intertidal zone. Graduate studies brought her to BC, and she is currently a PhD student at the University of Victoria, where her research is aimed at exploring how multiple ways of knowing are brought together to form conceptualizations of complex social-ecological systems and how those inform marine planning decisions. Erica is pleased to be supporting the Marine Stewardship Initiative’s marine planning as well as monitoring and research endeavors. Erica lives with her family on Nex̱wlélex̱wem/Bowen Island, where they love swimming and paddling in Atl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound, and getting to more deeply know this place where they live.