Chavonne Guthrie

Wáahl Láa Kinaas (Haida), or Chavonne Guthrie (English), is a member of the Haida Nation from Hydaburg, Alaska. She belongs to the Ts'aahl double-headed eagle clan, whose ancestral roots trace back to Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. Her heritage has fostered a deep cultural connection to both regions, while her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University has strengthened her understanding of the surrounding waters.

Chavonne has long been interested in Indigenous cultures, studying various Indigenous nations while pursuing a minor in Indigenous Studies. She is also immersed in her own heritage and is currently learning the Haida language. An aspiring Haida artist, she apprentices under her parents in Haida formline design, regalia making, cedar weaving and metalworking to help preserve her cultural traditions.

Chavonne has worked in conservation since 2018, building on her lifelong commitment to caring for the land and sea. Her fieldwork includes research and conservation efforts involving nesting seabirds, including ancient murrelets and Cassin’s auklets, as well as endemic goshawks, abalone, sea urchins, kelp restoration, sea otters, bivalves, eelgrass and environmental DNA (eDNA). Through these projects, she has gained extensive experience across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Her combined background in conservation, marine biology and Haida cultural traditions continues to shape her understanding of the natural world and her relationship with the lands and waters of her ancestral home.