Among the Tlingit people of Sheet’ká Kwáan (Sitka, Alaska), the yaaw—the herring—are honored as sacred relatives. The story of Kaxátjaashaa, the Herring Rock Woman, tells how the first herring came when she sang to them with respect, laying their eggs in her hair. From this teaching, Kiks.ádi women have carried responsibilities to the yaaw for generations through ceremony, harvesting, and collective care.
In this conversation, Kh’asheectlaa – Louise Brady, of the Kiks.ádi (Raven Moiety – Frog Clan), will share stories of the yaaw, their importance to Tlingit culture and ceremony, and their place in the wider ecosystem that supports whales, birds, fish, and people. She will also speak about the founding of the Herring Protectors, an Indigenous women-led grassroots movement rooted in traditional teachings that celebrates the yaaw, challenges destructive extractive practices, and asserts a sovereign Tlingit relationship with the land and waters.
We invite you to join this webinar to learn about the yaaw, the people who continue to honor them, and why protecting herring matters for the life of the Ocean and for us all.
Herring Protectors Short Film
We are honored to share this 20-minute film from the Indigenous-led group Herring Protectors, a moving story of the deep cultural, ecological, and spiritual importance of herring and our interconnection with the Ocean. The film is a beautiful invitation into the work of protecting yaaw (herring) in Southeast Alaska.
We encourage you to support the Herring Protectors by making a donation directly through their website.
👉 Visit the Herring Protectors website to donate
To learn more about the Herring Protectors Robes and the artists who created them, you can read the PDF here.
Kh’asheectlaa – Louise Brady, a proud member of the Tlingit Nation, Kiks.ádi (Raven Moiety – Frog Clan), from Sheet’ká Kwaan – Sitka, Alaska, embodies the spirit of community and cultural preservation. As a leader of the Indigenous-led group Herring Protectors, she brings people together to celebrate the sacred bond between humans and the natural world. By sharing the traditional teachings of her clan about the Ka Xat Jaa Shaa – the Herring Ladies, Kh’asheectlaa inspires a sense of wonder, respect, and reciprocity with the environment. Through her work, she empowers individuals to recognize the intrinsic value of Indigenous knowledge and the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
As a testament to her dedication to sharing the intrinsic healing properties found in traditional values Kh’asheectlaa has produced two award-winning films, including Carved from the Heart: A Portrait of Grief, Healing and Community and Yaa At Woone - Respect for all Things, which showcase the beauty and resilience of Lingít culture.
By bridging traditional wisdom and showing the importance of ceremony as organizing, Kh’asheectlaa hopes to forge a path forward that honors the interconnectedness of all living beings and inspires a brighter future for generations to come.
Kh’asheechtlaa is a sister, auntie,mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Kh’asheectlaa has a BA in Sociology.
Explore More Ocean Offerings
This webinar is part of a larger collective offering from the Organization of Nature Evolutionaries. Visit the main Ocean page to explore the full Ocean Conversation Series, join the Ocean Gratitude Ceremony, and enjoy spoken stories, poetry, recipes, and other ways to connect with the living Ocean. → Return to the main Ocean page
Conversation Series Schedule
Amazon to Ocean: The Currents That Connect Us, September 16th
Featuring Dr. Rosa Vasquez Espinoza, Peruvian chemical biologist, Author, and NatGeo Explorer
➡️Replay
The Plastic Crisis & Our Interconnected Ocean, September 23rd
Featuring Rachel Bustamante, Ocean Advocate and Environmental Campaign Coordinator
Tamara Adame, Scientific Diver and Anti-Plastics Activist
➡️Replay
Whale Kinship: Stories of Love and Evolution, October 14th
Featuring Pat McCabe, (Weyakpa Najin Win, Woman Stands Shining)—Diné mother, Grandmother, Activist, and Ceremonial Leader
➡️Register Here
Herring Protectors, October 23rd
Featuring Kh'asheechtlaa Louise Brady, Tlingit Nation, Kiks.ádi (Raven Moiety – Frog Clan), from Sheet’ká Kwaan (Sitka, Alaska), and leader of the Indigenous-led group Herring Protectors
➡️Register Here
Ocean Voices: A Journey into Intuitive Interspecies Communication, November 11th
Special 2-hour interactive webinar workshop on Intuitive Interspecies Communication and how this is being implemented to support Ocean health and research. Featuring Dr. Lynne Shannon, Wynter Worsthorne, Eleni Gkikakis, & Christine Noble Seller
➡️Register Here
When the Ocean Has Rights: Sea Turtles and People, November 18th
Featuring Callie Veelenturf — Marine biologist, National Geographic Explorer, and Founder of The Leatherback Project.
And Michelle Bender — Ocean Rights expert and international environmental lawyer.
➡️Register Here
