In preparation for Reel Causes’ April 23rd Keepers of the Land event, in partnership with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – British Columbia (CPAWS-BC), we asked Campaigner Brynna Kagawa-Visentin to provide some observations on how the documentary relates to her work and the significance of storytelling.

Keepers of the Land highlights powerful stories of stewardship through the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation. As someone passionate about eco-cultural conservation, what resonated most with you when you first watched the film?

What resonated with me the most was the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation’s deep sense of responsibility and oneness with their territory. Of course, the striking imagery and the first moment we see the Spirit Bear really moved me; it reminded me of the incredible beings we share this planet with.

Watching the film pulled me out of my own urban bubble. Living in an urbanized space can create a sense of disconnection from the natural world. This film reminded me that my everyday experience isn’t the only reality. For the Kitasoo Xai’xais, stewardship of their land is an everyday responsibility. It’s rooted in generations of knowledge and care. I deeply admire their cultural grounding and how they see themselves as completely interconnected with the land, water, and life around them. That level of rootedness is powerful.

CPAWS-BC is known for championing conservation across BC. For folks new to the organization, what role does CPAWS play in supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts?

At CPAWS-BC, relationships are at the heart of what we do. We work alongside First Nations, Crown governments, local communities, conservation groups, and even industry partners to establish new protected areas and strengthen management across the province.

When it comes to Indigenous-led conservation, our role is to provide capacity and support in ways that are defined by each Nation. That might mean helping with communications, amplifying public announcements, or advocating for government support. Our approach is flexible and responsive. We know that every Nation has different goals and needs. At the core, we’re working to support Indigenous-led conservation and to ensure those efforts are respected, resourced, and recognized.

You’ve worked with youth, nonprofits, and international platforms like COP27. What keeps you hopeful when the environmental challenges can feel so overwhelming? And what role do events like this one play in keeping that hope alive?

What keeps me hopeful is when I see people and communities choosing to go deeper than surface-level solutions; when they resist quick fixes or band-aid approaches to environmental problems. Real change comes when people address the roots: our worldviews, our relationships with nature, and the values we carry into our decision-making.

It’s incredibly hopeful to see First Nations stepping forward and declaring protections based on their knowledge and responsibilities. That kind of leadership, rooted in generations of stewardship, stands in stark contrast to systems that continue to prioritize economic gain over ecological health.

Events like this one remind me what’s possible. They showcase a path forward that’s grounded in respect, reciprocity, and long-term thinking. They help shift the narrative, from control and extraction, to care and connection. That’s real hope for me.

Storytelling plays a role in both your work and this film. What impact do you think storytelling, like through Keepers of the Land, can have when it comes to shaping environmental action and public awareness?

Storytelling is everything. We’re human beings, not machines, and it’s emotion that moves us to act. We remember how something made us feel far more than we remember a statistic. That’s not to say facts aren’t important, but when storytelling is done well, it brings those facts to life. It evokes emotion, connection, and empathy.

Keepers of the Land gives us the gift of perspective. It allows us to see and feel a way of being in relationship with the land that many of us have never experienced. It shows us what stewardship really looks like, not just as policy or science, but as lived practice and identity.

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) offer a powerful shift in how land stewardship is approached. How do you see IPCAs reshaping the future of conservation in BC and what should people understand about why they’re so important?

IPCAs represent a profound and necessary shift in conservation; one that’s both justice-oriented and ecologically-grounded. First Nations are the original stewards of their territories, and for generations they’ve managed these lands through knowledge systems built on reciprocity, respect, and care.

Colonization, forced assimilation, residential schools, and the imposition of extractive economic systems have deeply disrupted that stewardship. IPCAs are one way to begin addressing those harms by recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples to lead in protecting their territories and by resourcing them to do so.

They also offer a fundamentally different worldview: that humans are not separate from nature. That we are a part of the ecosystems we live in, and that a healthy relationship is one of balance, not domination. IPCAs show us what that can look like in practice: people and nature flourishing together.

And just for fun: if you had to describe Keepers of the Land in three words, what would they be?

Breathtaking. Rooted. Reverent.