Vancouver – Five Coastal First Nations community members are the recipients of the West Coast Environmental Law’s Andrew Thompson award for Indigenous conservation leadership and the defense of Indigenous law.
The Andrew Thompson Award was established in 2002 by West Coast Environmental Law (West Coast) and the Thompson family as a legacy to Dr. Andrew Thompson, a ground-breaking BC environmental lawyer who was one of West Coast’s first directors. The award honours individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to environmental protection and sustainability in British Columbia though the law.
In recognition of West Coast’s 50th Anniversary, the theme of this year’s Andrew Thompson Award is “50 Years of Changemakers for Environmental Justice.” CFN community award winners in the category of Indigenous conservation leaders / Indigenous law defenders include Nuskmata (Jacinda Mack), Nuxalk Nation, Iris Siwallace, Nuxalk Nation, Chief Councillor Doug Neasloss, Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, Giindajin Haawasti Guujaaw, Haida Nation, and Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett, Heiltsuk Nation.
The awards were presented on November 21 during West Coast’s 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, in Vancouver.
Nuskmata is a Nuxalk and Secwepemc land defender, community organizer, researcher, and human rights advocate. She is well known in BC and Alaska and beyond for her critical work in response to the 2014 Mount Polley Mine Disaster in her Secwepemc homelands. She lives in her ancestral village of Nusq’lst, where she is a leader in the establishment of Nuxalk Protected Areas and the restoration of Nuxalk Ancestral Governance and Jurisdiction.
Iris Siwallace is a Nuxalk Ancestral Governance Researcher with the Nuxalk Nation. She is a lifelong environmental advocate who has dedicated her life to protecting the lands and waters of her ancestral territory. From standing up during the Ista crisis with her granny Nunanta, to ending the bear trophy hunt and resisting mining and clear-cut logging, Iris has tirelessly worked to uphold Indigenous governance, laws and environmental justice.
Chief Doug Neasloss has served for years as elected chief of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation and stewardship director of a growing stewardship department. He has worked tirelessly to elevate Indigenous governance in stewardship and conservation spaces. He is a true visionary – always looking ahead for the next big idea that will improve the lives of Indigenous peoples and protect their territories. Along the way he shares openly about what is working and how – lifting up others in this work.
Guujaaw is a Raven of the Haida Nation; his clan is the Gakyaals Kiigawaay of Skedans, Haida Gwaii. He has been at the inner circles of Haida culture and politics all of his adult life. A trapper with his uncle in his formative years, and like most of his people, he is a hunter, fisher and food gatherer for living. Guujaaw has a long history as a Rights, Title and Earth Advocate. He was a founding member and served as the president of Coastal First Nations and spent many years with the Council of the Haida Nation including 13 years as President of the Haida Nation. Today, serving as a Hereditary leader, he is always true to culture and keeping priority for the wellbeing of his people and the Earth.
Marilyn Slett is a Heiltsuk changemaker working at the intersections of Indigenous and Canadian laws, and the environment. As Chief Councillor, she has stewarded Heiltsuk’s strategic litigation and law reform work with support of Heiltsuk’s joint leadership. Environmental justice for Marilyn includes advancing the protection of Indigenous women. Marilyn recently presented to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women about Canada’s ongoing systemic discrimination against Indigenous women.
Recipients from other communities included ʔaʔsiwɬ (Ascasiwt), Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, syilx Nation, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Kukwpi7 Art Adolph, Xáxli’p, Director of Operations, St’át’imc Chiefs Council, Bea Silver, Semá:th Nation, Na’Moks, Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief of the Tsayu Clan, and Naxginkw (Tara Marsden), Gitanyow Nation, Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions.
The awards were presented by Gidahl-Gudsllaay (Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson), K.C. a past ATA award and colleague of Andrew Thompson. The award was presented on November 21st during West Coast’s 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art.
The full press release from WCEL can be found here.
