The Kinship Program: Wildlife, People, and Place

It really started with conversations. In the early days of the Kinship Program, my role was to spend time listening, learning from Magnetawan First Nation staff and community members about the work that has already been happening for years, to begin to understand where the community wants to go next. From there, it was about exploring how we could support that work in a way that feels respectful, collaborative, and grounded in trust.

Now, that vision is beginning to take shape.

One moment that has stayed with me happened in August last year, when we were invited to attend a turtle release and community ceremony. It was the first time the partnership was shared more formally with the community, but what stood out most to me was something quieter.

Community members made matching ribbon skirts for me and Nadine Perron, Environmental Management Biologist with Magnetawan First Nation. It was such a meaningful gesture, rooted in culture, and it really showed me that this is something the community values and wants to celebrate.

That sense of connection continues to guide the work.

A lot of what we’ve done this past year has involved spending time with community members, listening to their observations, their experiences on the land, and what matters most to them.

One of the clearest messages that has come through is that everything is connected.

Even though we’re starting with turtles, this work is about much more than a single species. It connects to the land, the water, and all living things.

Freshwater turtles are a powerful example of that connection. They play different roles at every stage of their lives. When they’re young, they’re low on the food web. As they grow, they help maintain wetland health by feeding on plant matter and animal remains. Even after they pass, their shells return nutrients to the environment.

They’re sometimes called the janitors of the wetland.

Despite having existed for over 250 million years, turtles are increasingly vulnerable today. They take a long time to mature, and very few make it into adulthood. The ones that do are incredibly important. When a turtle is lost, especially an adult female, the impact can extend across generations.

That’s why this work matters.

During nesting season, we focus on identifying nests laid in high-risk areas, like roadsides. Once a turtle has finished laying her eggs and returned to the water, the eggs are carefully collected and placed in controlled incubation environments. When the hatchlings emerge, they are released into safer wetlands where they have a better chance of survival.

It takes patience and care, but it can make a meaningful difference.

Support from donors has been essential in making this possible. It has allowed us to expand capacity within the community, bringing in additional team members during critical times like nesting season, and supporting flexible roles that make it easier for more people to be involved. That flexibility means we can respond to what is needed most, in ways that reflect the priorities of the community.

At the heart of this work is a concept called “Two-Eyed Seeing.” It’s about bringing together different ways of knowing, like Western & Indigenous science, and recognizing that both are equally valuable. That perspective is shaping how we move forward together.

For me, success isn’t just about the number of turtles. It’s about building something the community believes in and wants to be part of. When people feel connected to the land and the species, that’s when the impact really grows. .

This is still the beginning.

There is so much potential for this program to evolve over time, guided by the community and what’s needed most, as well as the support of donors like you. It has already been incredibly rewarding to be part of, and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

The team behind this work is much bigger than the people you see in the field. It includes community members, conservation staff, and supporters who all play a role in making this possible.

Thank you for being part of it.