Ecotrust in the News
Vancouver Sun
July 04, 2006
By Emily Chung
Haida leader to receive award
Ecotrust, a Portland-based organization, will honour Guujaaw for improving lives of his people
Guujaaw, president of the Council of the Haida Nation, will receive a $25,000 award for more than 30 years of work to improve the lives of the Haida people and protect the future of the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Ecotrust, a Portland, Ore.-based non-profit organization, has announced it will present Guujaaw with this year's Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership at a ceremony in Portland, Ore. July 19. The award is intended to provide resources to outstanding leaders in indigenous communities along the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska.
The award recognizes Guujaaw for fighting to protect land on the islands -- which aboriginals call Haida Gwaii -- from activities such as logging and to gain for the Haida control over their traditional territory. He also helped establish the Gwaii Trust, a fund that pays for economic diversification and sustainable development on Haida Gwaii.
Elizabeth Woody, Ecotrust's indigenous leadership program director, said Guujaaw is also very dedicated to the Haida culture and tradition. He has worked hard to preserve and pass on Haida music and traditions, and his traditional carvings have been displayed as far away as Indonesia and Japan.
Guujaaw was nominated by Michael Yahgulanaas, 52, who said he grew up with Guujaaw in Massett on the northern part of Haida Gwaii, but now lives and works in Vancouver. A panel of aboriginal professionals and Ecotrust staff selects five finalists from 18 to 28 nominations each year, and the winner is selected by a jury panel of five aboriginal leaders.
Yahgulanaas, an artist who draws comics based on Haida art and stories, said he was extremely happy to hear his nominee won.
"It's kind of nice to get that kind of thumbs up," said Yahgulanaas, who said he admires Guujaaw's charisma, caring, sound decision-making and long-term vision. "I think it just encourages Guujaaw and encourages the [Haida] nation to keep moving ahead. It's not easy doing the work that he's doing."
Another B.C. leader, Chief Judith Sayers of the Hupacasath First Nation in Port Alberni, is one of four finalists who will each receive $2,500.
"She's an outstanding communicator," said Woody. "She is also a ceremonial person and … is spiritually conscious of trying to bring about ways for her people to receive services for healing."
Woody said judges were also impressed with her work to help victims of domestic violence and were aware of her international work through the United Nations on human rights and improving the lives of indigenous populations.
Other finalists this year included Harold Gatensby of Carcross, Yukon, who has worked to protect the Yukon River watershed and to improve treatment of aboriginals in the justice system by helping develop tradition-based judicial alternatives; Ilarion (Larry) Merculieff of Anchorage, Alaska, who has helped increase aboriginal involvement in scientific research and environmental protection; and Tawna Sanchez of Portland, Ore. who has helped native women and children deal with domestic violence.
Ecotrust is a Portland-based non-profit organization dedicated to environmentally sustainable economic development along the Pacific coast from California to Alaska.
echung@png.canwest.com
