Helen Augare Carlson and Dylan DesRosier are leaders, community builders, and proud members of the Blackfeet Nation. Helen, the Chair of the Piikani Studies Division at Blackfeet Community College, has dedicated over two decades to education, cultural preservation, and building pathways for future generations. Dylan, the Blackfeet Program Manager with The Nature Conservancy, brings a wealth of experience in conservation work rooted in respect for Indigenous knowledge and long-term community collaboration. In addition to their official roles, they both wear many hats when it comes to serving their communities—mentoring youth, engaging in policy discussions, telling stories, and working on grassroots initiatives that strengthen cultural and environmental resilience.
In this episode, we explore the profound relationships between land, language, and stewardship. Helen shares the moving story behind her Blackfoot name, Dylan reflects on his time working in Glacier National Park and how it shaped his conservation approach, and we dig into the groundbreaking Chief Mountain Initiative—an effort that weaves together conservation, education, and cultural revitalization.
We also discuss the evolving role of conservation organizations, TNC’s comprehensive approach to supporting Blackfeet initiatives, the importance of holistic thinking, and why Indigenous leadership is crucial for the future of land stewardship. As usual, we wrap up with some incredible book recommendations that will deepen your understanding of these topics long after the episode ends.
This conversation is rich with wisdom, humor, and insight, and Helen and Dylan make quite a team, bringing their unique expertise and shared passion for their community to this important discussion. I’m so excited for you to hear it. So let’s dive in—here’s my conversation with Helen Augare Carlson and Dylan DesRosier.
Header photo by Dylan DesRosier, headshots courtesy of Dylan and Helen
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EPISODE PARTNER:
This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive.
During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. You can access all of the episodes here.
To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org
RESOURCES:
Topics Discussed:
- 3:03 – Introductions, starting with Helen
- 7:18 – Helen’s Blackfeet names
- 12:18 – When to use “Blackfoot” or “Blackfeet”
- 13:33 – Dylan’s bio and Blackfeet name
- 17:48 – Community health and education
- 23:03 – Why Dylan wanted to plug into TNC
- 26:48 – Blackfeet connection to land
- 30:33 – Helen’s thoughts on TNC
- 36:03 – Face-to-face trust
- 38:48 – Chief Mountain initiative
- 45:48 – Measuring progress on a huge timeframe
- 50:48 – Progress in Helen’s view
- 56:03 – Like biodiversity, human diversity is important, too
- 1:01:03 – What Dylan’s learned from Helen
- 1:03:03 – And what Helen’s learned from Dylan
- 1:06:33 – Book recs
- 1:12:33 – Parting words
- 1:15:03 – A Land Back addendum
Information Referenced:
- Helen Augare Carlson / Magpie Woman
- Dylan DesRosier / Bear Star
- TNC Montana’s Annual Report (page 12)
- Chief Mountain
- Land Back movements
- The One-Straw Revolution
- Dr. Leroy Little Bear on Indigenous knowledge and Western science.
- Igniting the Sparkle: An Indigenous Science Education Model
- Blackfoot Ways of Knowing
- The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these too:
- Corissa Busse – Tribal-Led Buffalo Restoration in the American West and Beyond
- Celene Hawkins & Izabella Ruffino – Tribal Partnerships, Indigenous Voices, Cutting-Edge Conservation
- Jesse Smith – A Regenerative Approach to Land and Life
- Chris Pague – Stories, Science, and the Southern High Plains
- Matt Cahill – A Deep Dive into the Sagebrush Sea
- Douglas Brinkley – Exploring the Past to Find Inspiration for the Future
- Rebecca Clarren – “The Cost of Free Land”
- John Vaillant – A Riveting Exploration of Fire
Visit the podcast page for a full list of episodes where you can filter episodes by topic and guests’ vocations.
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