Town Hall Seattle and Braided River present
From Awe to Action: In Right and Respectful Relations
Indigenous Knowledge and the Future of Stewardship
EVENT NOTES
Doors for this event will open at 6:30 PM. Town Hall events are approximately 75 minutes long.
For countless generations, Indigenous Peoples have cared for the lands and waters that sustain us all. Join Braided River for an evening exploring how Indigenous knowledge, science, and cultural traditions continue to shape conservation today. Drawing from the two campaigns Guardians of Life and In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations, with storytelling from Kiliii Yüyan and Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem, this conversation highlights stories of leadership, reciprocity, and the enduring relationships between people and place.
You will hear from Kiliii Yüyan, Photographer and National Geographic Explorer, who brings to life stories from the Arctic sea ice, beneath the waves, and within the heart of human communities. Of Chinese and Nanai/Hèzhé (East Asian Indigenous) descent, he works through a cross-cultural lens, exploring how humanity—inseparable from the natural world—lives in relationship with land and sea.
Kiliii’s co-presenter is Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem, fisherman, Former Chairman and Councilman at Lummi Nation, and current President of Se’Si’Le. Se’Si’Le is an Indigenous-led and run non-profit based in Bellingham, WA. Their mission is to utilize Indigenous ancestral knowledge for the benefit of our Mother Earth, Indigenous lifeways, and for future generations.
Join Braided River and Town Hall for a conversation navigating Right and Respectful Relationships and Indigenous Knowledge!
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Photographer, Speaker, and National Geographic Explorer Kiliii Yüyan captures the profound interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world, from the depths of frozen seas to the heart of Indigenous communities. Of Chinese and Nanai/Hèzhé (Asian Indigenous) descent, Kiliii utilizes a cross-cultural lens and years of deep immersion to document life at the edges of the world—whether he is diving inside icebergs, building traditional kayaks, or facing down stalking polar bears. A recipient of the 2023 National Geographic Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Storytelling, his sensory, holistic imagery is featured in National Geographic Magazine, TIME, and Vogue, and is held in museum collections across the United States.
A fisherman, Former Chairman and Councilman at Lummi Nation, Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem was a leader in the fight to protect Xwe’chi’eXen (Cherry Point). He has organized and executed Tribal, local, regional, and national campaigns. A bridge-builder, he uses empathy and storytelling to bring people together. Principal at Julius Consulting LLC.
Lynda Mapes is an award-winning journalist and science writer. She is the author of six books on the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest, including The Trees are Speaking and Orca: Shared Waters Shared Home. She worked previously as an environment reporter for The Seattle Times — focusing on nature, Native cultures and governments, and environmental news throughout her 27 years with the Times. She was named a finalist for a team award for the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting in 2025 and serves on the board of the Northwest Science Writers Association.
Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Braided River.
Events are offered for informational, entertainment, and educational purposes only. Read Town Hall’s Program Content Policy.
This is part of the From Awe to Action Series
