National Geographic Photographer Kilii Yüyan Presents Indigenous Wisdom in Aspen

Aspen —National Geographic photojournalist Kiliii Yüyan arrives in Aspen on October 20 to present “Indigenous Wisdom for a Modern World” as part of the Changemakers Speaker Series. The event runs from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wheeler Opera House.

Yüyan is a Chinese American with Nanai, also known as Hézhe, Indigenous ancestry. Before turning his lens toward global conservation stories, he spent two decades building traditional kayaks and cultivating deep relationships within Arctic communities. That background shaped his approach to storytelling; he views Indigenous knowledge not as folklore, but as a rigorous science rooted in human experience.

His upcoming talk centers on his latest book, Guardians of Life: Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and Restoring the Planet, published by Braided River Press in February. The book features a foreword by bestselling author Charles Mann and includes contributions from writer Gleb Raygorodetsky. To research the project, Yüyan secured a grant that funded approximately one year of research and two and a half years of fieldwork across various regions. He argues that Indigenous people remain the most effective and successful conservationists on the planet, suggesting that modern society should support their continued stewardship rather than merely observing it.

The presentation will begin with a personal anecdote about Yüyan singing to orcas to call them to his kayak, a technique passed down to him by his grandmother. From that intimate starting point, he plans to expand into broader narratives of ecological knowledge, resilience, and Indigenous stewardship. Yüyan, who won the National Geographic Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Storytelling in 2023, described the core joy of his work as sharing information audiences hadn’t previously encountered. He noted that while he was on assignment in Ecuador when he learned of the award, the recognition validates a career built on connecting immersive reporting with scientific understanding.

The evening will offer locals a chance to engage directly with a photographer whose work bridges the gap between ancient traditions and contemporary environmental challenges. As Yüyan prepares to step onto the stage, the focus shifts from the visual to the verbal, inviting the community to listen to stories that have traveled from remote coastlines to the heart of the Rockies. The night promises to be a journey through different landscapes, guided by a voice that has spent years learning how people learn, how boats are built, and how whales are called. It is a reminder that wisdom often takes forms that are deeply human, whether that involves holding a drill for the first time or singing a song that has been passed down through generations. The goal is simple: to bring people into that world and show how Indigenous knowledge works everywhere, from the Arctic to the tropics. It is a fun romp through all these different places, where everyone has a really good time. The final image lingers on the connection between the singer and the sea, a bond that transcends language and borders, offering a glimpse of what is possible when we listen closely to the guardians of life.