The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is part of a national grassland coalition established in June 2024 committed to learning about, conserving, protecting and advocating for natural grasslands. Led by the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF), the Canadian Grassland Coalition (CGC) is dedicated to improving Canadians’ awareness of the importance and vulnerability of Canada’s natural grasslands.

Join the Canadian Wildlife Federation and members of the Canadian Grassland Coalition for a national webinar series about Canada’s grasslands.

This webinar will showcase the kihci okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre’s partnerships in grasslands conservation. The centre works with like-minded organizations, offering Indigenous perspectives that honour Mother Earth. Our goal is to ensure Indigenous voices are meaningfully and respectfully represented in grassland conservation efforts.

Speakers:

Candice Pete-Cardoso is a nēhiyaw-iskwēw (Cree woman) from wāskicōsihk (Little Pine First Nation), Treaty 6 Territory, and is a proud mother of two and grandmother of five. She is an alumna of the University of Saskatchewan, holding a Master of Public Administration, a Bachelor of Commerce, and a Certificate in Indigenous Business Administration.

For the past 28 years, Candice’s career has centered on supporting respectful and meaningful relationships between Indigenous peoples, communities, and federal and provincial governments. Her strategic acumen and strong belief in ensuring that Indigenous peoples are included in respectful and purposeful ways contributed to the development of the kīhcī-okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre.

Candice now serves as Director of the centre, where she advances Indigenous‑led learning, community partnerships, and strategic initiatives that honour Indigenous worldviews and strengthen connections to land and governance.

Donna van de Velde is a Métis, Lakota, Chinese, and Scottish mother of two, with one grandchild. She was born and raised in Saskatoon with matrilineal familial ties to Willowbunch and Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation in Saskatchewan. She briefly lived in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband of 37 years. Prior to joining the kihci-okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre in the fall of 2024, she spent 18 years in an academic support unit at the University of Saskatchewan. She currently works alongside the Director and Academic Director as the Special Projects Officer.

Future webinars : 

April 29, 2026 — Indigenous-led Grasslands Conservation Initiatives
May 13, 2026 — Grasslands in Focus: Learning for the Future