Guardians of Life: Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and Restoring the Planet

"A visually dazzling and deeply informative collection that will linger with readers long after the last page." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Both breathtaking and intimate. . ." -- Foreword Reviews (starred review)

Guardians of Life: Indigenous Science, Indigenous Wisdom and Restoring the Planet, takes readers on an extraordinary visual odyssey--from the Amazon rainforest to Greenland's sea ice--revealing Indigenous communities as Earth's most powerful protectors.

This stunning volume, published by Braided River, is powered by the collective wisdom of more than two dozen Indigenous voices, including activist Quannah Chasinghorse and Palauan statesman Tommy Remengesau Jr. Their expertise is brought forward through National Geographic photojournalist Kiliii Yüyan's striking imagery, the editorial mastery of bestselling author (1491) Charles Mann, and writer Gleb Raygorodetsky's insights.

Together, this collection of powerful images and stories proves how traditional knowledge and modern innovation unite to safeguard the planet. Witness profound stewardship in action: from Mongolia's sacred peaks to Palau’s coral reefs, where ancient wisdom drives cutting-edge conservation.

Informed by ancestry that is both Nanai (Siberian Indigenous) and Hèzhé (Chinese-American,) photographer KILIII YÜYAN explores the human relationship to the natural world from different cultural perspectives. Kiliii has produced seven stories for National Geographic and has contributed to Vogue, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Guardian, and The Nature Conservancy. He is one of PDN’s 30 Photographers (2019), a National Geographic Explorer, and a member of Indigenous Photograph and Diversify Photo. In 2024 he was a presenter for the National Geographic LIVE series, reaching tens of thousands of people across North America with his story of circumpolar culture, life, and lands. Kiliii is based out of traditional Duwamish lands (Seattle). Visit him online at kiliii.com or on Instagram @kiliiiyuyan

Charles C. Mann is a journalist and author, most recently of The Wizard and the Prophet. His book 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus won the National Academies of Science’s award for best book of the year; its sequel, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created, was a New York Times bestseller.