The Ubuntu Fly Anglers (Ubuntu) is gathering for the first time at the inaugural “We Are Here” event in Spokane, WA, from October 10-13th. This gathering marks an important step toward envisioning the future for 2025, strengthening community engagement, and increasing the visibility of Black and Brown people in outdoor spaces.
Ubuntu works to change the complexion and larger perception of Black and Brown people outdoors by educating, creating safe spaces, increasing representation, and advocating for our communities. Committed to making the invisible visible, we aim to hold one annual in-person gathering each year to support our purpose, mission, and collective identity. These gatherings are essential for building our community and fostering engagement wherever we meet. Thank you to our friends, donors, and sponsors for making this event possible.
“We Are Here, Where Are You?” is an initiative dedicated to making the invisible visible within the fishing community. It uplifts Black and Brown anglers by recognizing their presence, celebrating their expertise, and affirming their role as the next generation of leaders and educators in the sport.
Emma Brown shares her journey as a transracial adoptee, rancher, and fly fishing guide, reflecting on identity, inclusion, and building community in the outdoor world.
Joyce’s fly fishing journey, which began in the 1990s with the International Women’s Fly Fishers, has grown into a lifelong passion for teaching, conservation, and community leadership—culminating in her Hall of Fame induction for her dedication to empowering youth, women, and veterans through the sport.
Nicole, an angler from Montreal now living in Ottawa, discovered fly fishing a decade ago, and since then has become deeply involved in the community—tying her own flies, mentoring others, and fishing across North America—all while advocating for greater inclusivity and representation of BIPOC anglers in the sport.
