Sturgeon science and stewardship

Beneath the surface of Manitoba’s waterways swims one of the oldest species of fish. Sturgeon have existed for roughly 200 million years, navigating waters long before cities and industries intervened. 

For Taylor Galvin, an Anishinaabe woman from Brokenhead Ojibway Nation and UM graduate student, protecting this ancient species means more than conservation. It is about protecting freshwater systems that sustain communities, ecosystems and future generations — and understanding our relationship with them.

“Sturgeon tell us a lot about the health of our waterways,” says Galvin.

Galvin’s master’s thesis focuses on sturgeon conservation and the importance of protecting the freshwater systems they depend on. 

Through storytelling, oral history and creating a documentary-style thesis, her research explores how knowledge about water and sturgeon can be shared in ways that reach beyond typical academic spaces.

Understanding sturgeon through an Indigenous lens 

“Protecting sturgeon is important because they are among the oldest living fish in our water systems,” Galvin says. 

But, it is not just the longevity of the species that inspires her work. 

Galvin's research is influenced by a number of different motivators. 

“What led me to focus on sturgeon was a combination of environmental concern, respect for the relationships Indigenous peoples have sturgeon, community needs and wants, and a desire to contribute to conservation work that focuses on Indigenous research methods.”

From an Indigenous perspective, she explains, the significance of sturgeon goes beyond ecology alone.

“They have been part of our stories, our creation teachings, our ceremonies and our songs for as long as we can remember.”

Safeguarding freshwater systems

For Galvin, her work does not resemble the traditional image of research confined to textbooks and computer screens. 

It is personal. It is relational. It is a responsibility.

“We are not separate from water. We are part of it, and it is part of us,” she says.

Galvin’s research and outreach are grounded in a belief that protecting water is inseparable from protecting life itself.

“We need to remember that water is not just a resource, it is a relative. It is a life-giver, a spiritual being and the reason anything exists on this planet, from plants and trees to animals and people,” she says.

“When I speak about protecting them, I am really speaking about protecting life in all the forms that Mother Earth carries.” 

Moving beyond the walls of a classroom, Galvin embraces this work through land-based learning, connecting research with the places and waters that sustain life. 

Making waves

Joining her on the journey is Kookum Nameo, a sturgeon puppet who is an important piece of Galvin’s education and outreach. 

The inspiration for Kookum Nameo emerged years ago through conversations with community members about how to find meaningful ways to advocate for sturgeon and water protection.

Today, Kookum Nameo has her own presence on social media, where Galvin shares videos and stories that make conversations about water protection more accessible.

“Education, advocacy and activism should take many different shapes and forms because everyone is unique, and people learn in different ways,” Galvin says.

A sturgeon puppet may seem unconventional in a university setting but, for Galvin, it reflects her belief that education should not be stagnant or limited to one approach.

She embraces Kookum Nameo as part of her sacred bundle—a collection of sacred items cared for by their holder that offer protection, guidance and carry important teachings.

“There is a spiritual energy that she carries, and it draws people in,” she says. 

“When I bring her into the field, people are constantly coming up to her, touching her, wanting to hear more stories, or simply standing in awe. To me, that is the medicine of the sturgeon working through her.”

Protecting water means protecting our future

While water protectors and land guardians are sometimes misunderstood, Galvin says the work is ultimately about care and responsibility.

“We are often treated like nuisances when, in reality, we are trying to protect the very things that give all of us life.”

“In many ways, sturgeon know the waters more intimately than we ever will, especially the waters of Manitoba,” she says. 

Galvin approaches protecting sturgeon as more than preserving a species — it is about restoring relationships between people, water and all the forms that Mother Earth carries. 

“Some people may call that activism, rebellion, or even something radical, but to me it is a responsibility,” she shares. 

“It is about caring for the sources of life and recognizing that our well-being is inseparable from the well-being of the land and the water.” 

For Galvin, protecting water means recognizing the responsibility we share to care for it—today and for generations to come.