Fall 2025 Alumni Address: Tyson Atleo

In his convocation address, Tyson Atleo, Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication alum, draws on the wisdom of the late Dr. Jane Goodall, reflecting on our role as humans as part of the natural world — not apart from it. He connects her message to the Indigenous principles he’s learned from his Ahousaht Nation.

“They teach us to respect one another, care for one another, teach one another, love one another and cooperate,” he says. But I ask you: who are “one another? Does “one another” include the salmon that selflessly gives of themselves to support others they never get to meet, the cedar trees that breathe life into our atmosphere for all to benefit, the wolves and whales that remind us of balance and interconnection, the soil microbiomes show us the true meaning of cooperation, or raven that teaches humility? I believe it does.”

In a time of climate crisis, Atleo offers both hope and a call to action.

“We are nature. We are the forest, we are the ocean, we are the sky, we are the soils,” he says. “And so please, I really do beg of you, let your education be a tool for transformation.”

Watch his full address or read a transcript below.

Good morning graduates, faculty, administrators, families and friends.

Thank you very much for the honour of sharing a few words with you today.

A few words in this beautiful moment of life, we gather in celebration surrounded by the warmth of community, the pride of achievement and of course, the promise of possibility.

You've all worked very hard to get here, you've sacrificed much and today you conclude the ceremony of your education. Your accomplishments are inspiring. They matter. And I am here today bring the message to you all that they are very desperately needed.

I must begin with a truth that weighs heavy on my heart: as of today and of course tomorrow, we find ourselves in an ever-darkening hour on this beautiful planet.

The climate crisis deepens. Biodiversity loss accelerates. And the natural world, which has sustained our species for many thousands of years, is under real threat. And unfortunately, that threat is very much us.

We have all heard this before, in the news, in the classroom. So why would I lead with it now, in this moment of celebration?

Because to me, this is not just a moment to reflect on what you’ve achieved; it’s a moment to consider what you're going to do next.

The world needs your brilliance, your courage, your compassion, your boldness. And it really needs it right now.

In Ahousaht, the nation to which I belong, our ancient Indigenous principles that once governed our people came from the lands and waters and came from non-human beings that shared stories about how to live as good humans on this planet.

These stories aren't abstract ideas, they reflect to us natural laws. They teach us to respect one another, to care for one another, to teach one another, to love one another and of course to cooperate.

But I always ask and I ask you today, who are “one another” in this context?

Is it just our families, our friends, our neighbours, the person sitting next to you? Or does “one another” include the salmon that selflessly give of themselves to support others they never get to meet, the cedar trees that breathe life into our atmosphere for all to benefit, the wolves and whales that remind us of balance and interconnection, the soil microbiome that shows us the true meaning of collaboration and cooperation, or Raven that teaches humility?

I believe, and my culture believes, that it includes all of us, "one another."

And I believe that each of us has a role to play and important responsibilities in caring for one another.

You may not know your role yet and you may not find it right away. But, like the late Dr. Jane Goodall has said, “I too hope that reason will become apparent as you live through your life. I want you to know that, whether or not you find that role that you’re supposed to play, your life does matter, and that every single day you live, you make a difference in the world. And you get to choose the difference that you make.

"I want you to understand that we are part of the natural world. And even today, when the planet is dark, there still is hope. Don’t lose hope. If you lose hope, you become apathetic and do nothing. And if you want to save what is still beautiful in this world – if you want to save the planet for the future generations, your grandchildren, their grandchildren – then think about the actions you take each day.”

Those are actually mostly her words, Dr. Goodall. She remains an inspiration of mine and someone who reminded us again and again that we are not separate from nature.

We are nature. We are the forest, we are the ocean, we are the sky, we are the soils.

And the truth is for me: heshook-ish tsawalk – in our language, that everything is one and interconnected.

This event today is not just a graduation. It's a culmination of a long ceremony.

A true ceremony—from the perspective of this Ahousaht person—mirrors the ancient rites of our collective ancestors.

Ceremony has been and always will be a sacred journey of transformation, often undertaken to acquire knowledge. Ceremony is never easy. It demanded struggle, sacrifice and of course humility.

But through that hardship, and when lead with a good heart, participants are often blessed with wisdom — wisdom not for personal gain, but to serve, to heal, and to do good in the world.

In this same spirit, graduates, you all have endured years of challenge and growth in pursuit of rich and powerful knowledge.

And now, in this moment in particular, you are welcomed back into society transformed, not just with new credentials, but with new understanding and purpose, and with new responsibility to act.

You return at a time when the planet is hurting, when politics polarizes us, and when biodiversity loss is so staggering that it does brings tears to my eyes.

But return you do. Transformed you are.

And as you step forward, remember that your education has equipped you not only to navigate these challenges but also lead the way towards solutions that will shape a better future for all and one another.

It's not going to be easy. But today you are more ready than ever before thanks to Royal Roads of course, and thanks to your efforts.

And so please, I really do beg of you, let your education be a tool for transformation.

Let your knowledge be rooted in humility and let your leadership be guided by love for one another and all that sustains us.

And let your legacy be one of reconciliation and restoration.

And so with that, congratulations, graduates, on the culmination of your ceremony.

This beautiful world really does await your light. Thank you.