Ecotrust recognizes Indigenous conservationists

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Two Aboriginal leaders from British Columbia were recognized by Ecotrust with the Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership on Nov. 13 in Portland, Ore.

The Buffett Award honors First Nations members over the age of 35, who make significant contributions in conservation and community development and improve social, economic, political or environmental conditions in their community.

Kelly Brown, a member of the Heiltsuk Nation, from Bella Bella was honored with a fellowship of $25,000 for his work as a negotiator, planner and educator in the areas of conservation and cultural restoration.

He has worked for six years as a senior negotiator for the Heiltsuk Tribal Council in intergovernmental negotiations. Last year, he was developing a cedar protection strategy. He has also been working with the Ainu people of Hokkaido Island in Japan on asserting their Aboriginal rights, title, and culture for a few years now. In the past, he worked as an instructor at Heiltsuk College and as a teacher at Seabird Island Community School.

"Kelly Brown exemplifies the remarkable leadership that has always existed in our First Nations communities. Kelly serves as a bridge between the teachings of his Elders and the aspirations of Indigenous peoples whose culture and self-determination is resurgent all along the coast," said Ian Gill, president of Ecotrust Canada.

Brown said it was a mixture of activities that earned him the award. "In-between the land-use planning or conservation, and working with our young people in Bella Bella on their culture and building some respect in that regard, and also working with the Ainu people of Japan, I think those three areas, you know, concentrating on the economy and self-healing and all that, I think, has really helped me in at achieving this award."

He said he will use the money to do a study on Indigenous Law for the Ainu as he pursues a law degree.

John D. Ward of the Tlingit First Nation in Atlin was honored as a finalist for his leadership in protecting the Taku River Tlingit territory as well as his watershed planning and salmon conservation efforts.

The second annual award ceremony "was a good time to share with one another basically what we're doing, and it's good to see a lot of different people from such a large geographical area attempting to do the same things," said Ward.

He said he might keep in contact with the other finalists, especially from Canada. "I can see us working together in the future."

Five finalists were chosen out of 18 nominees. The other finalists were all from the United States.

Ecotrust, based in Portland, was created in 1991 as a non-profit organization to work on conservation and economic development in the greater Pacific Northwest of the United States and British Columbia.

An Ecotrust Canada council member, Howard Buffet, and his brother Peter established the award last year. They are both philanthropists interested in Indigenous rights and conservation issues.