Book Release: Guardians of Life by Kiliii Yüyan

Kiliii’s new book, Guardians of Life: Indigenous Science, Indigenous Wisdom, and Restoring the Planet, releases February 15, 2026. Featuring a decade of his National Geographic photography, the book includes contributions from two dozen Indigenous authors and is edited by bestselling author Charles Mann (1491). 

How have the world’s most iconic natural wonders—the Pacific’s coral reefs, the Amazon rainforest, the Arctic tundra—remained so vibrant? They have flourished under the careful guidance of Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Guardians of Life reveals why these communities are the planet’s most effective conservationists. Join National Geographic photographer Kiliii Yüyan, bestselling author Charles Mann, and a chorus of Indigenous contributors on a breathtaking visual journey—from Mongolia’s sacred mountains to Australia’s fire-managed woodlands—celebrating the power of Indigenous values, traditional ecological knowledge, and modern innovation in protecting the life that sustains our planet.

Launch Events in the Pacific Northwest:

Portland – Wednesday, February 25, 2026 – 7:00 PM  9:00 PM – Powell’s Books (Burnside)
Seattle – Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – 7:30 PM 9:30 PM – Town Hall Seattle