With a background in Indigenous governance of natural resources management, Etienne helps reconciling the different perspectives in management practices and ways of knowing. He holds a MSc in Integrated Water Resources Management from McGill University and conducted his research on the integration of community-based and Indigenous knowledge to watershed management practices. For example, one of Etienne’s project’s at Firelight was focusing on the revitalization of Indigenous water governance laws, using community-based research project to identify key teachings, and pathways forward to better integrate them to existing governance models.

In addition to watershed management, he has experience conducting environmental impact assessments, worked with different level of governments to improve Indigenous sovereignty, and supports the Firelight Group Regulatory Team on a variety of research projects. Aside from working in natural resources governance, Etienne is also a wilderness therapy guide and has led ocean canoe expeditions in the Tongass National Forest, connecting Alaskan youth with their natural environment and supporting them on their personal healing journey.