Submitted by Kootenay Conservation Program

Kootenay Conservation Program is proud to announce the recipients of its annual Conservation Leadership Awards which recognize one person from a partner organization in both the East and West Kootenay who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and dedication to conservation.

Congratulations to Mark Thomas, recipient of the East Kootenay Conservation Leadership Award. As a Shuswap Band Councillor, Chair of the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative (CRSRI) Executive Working Group, Shuswap Band Salmon Chief, and Technical Lead for the Secwépemc Nation in the ongoing Columbia River Treaty negotiations, Mark has spent the majority of his 30-year long fisheries career focused on salmon restoration.

As a council member for the Shuswap Band serving in his second four-year term, and through his life-long commitment and hard work, Mark has helped to grow the Band from a handful of staff to over 60 in the past few years. Mark’s portfolio includes fish, forestry and water. Mark’s interest in stewardship with a focus on restoring salmon, burbot, native species or species of concern, including Westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, and promoting awareness on terrestrial species such as Lewis’s woodpecker, badger, Western painted turtle, and grizzly bear, has lead to protection and restoring biodiversity across the Kootenays.

Mark has played a key role in negotiations during the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) process, made up of the Secwépemc, Ktunaxa and Syilx Okanagan Nations, and the Canadian and B.C. governments.

He is determined to achieve the long-term goals of bringing salmon back home to the Upper Columbia watershed, as he sees this as an inherent responsibility. In his view, salmon restoration is key to healing the cultural, spiritual, communal, and economic losses suffered by Indigenous peoples of the Columbia Basin.

Mark supports research, assessment and monitoring for partner organizations such as the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partnership, Lake Windermere and District Rod and Gun Club, Golden Rod and Gun Club, and Nature Conservancy of Canada, as well as working laterally with other governments (Okanagan Nation Alliance, Ktunaxa Nation Council, Province of B.C. and the federal government through Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Environment and Climate Change Canada) to obtain funding for the long term assessment, restoration and monitoring of species, and reintroduction of extirpated species such as salmon and sturgeon.

Mark is an exceptional leader who provides inspiration for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth by demonstrating hard work and passion for his personal and professional roles as a steward of the lands and resources throughout the Kootenays. As an inspirational leader and mentor, Mark has worked with Indigenous Guardians, youth, Elders, biologists, local residents, and community leaders to promote values of conservation, habitat protection, connectivity and wise use of our shared natural resources.

He brings together his education in biology and his field experience, with his cultural understanding and perspective. He believes that these complement each other and help him to make informed decisions in land conservation, restoration and management.

Mark received a beautiful photo of the Columbia Wetlands with bald eagles overhead, taken by local photographer Pat Morrow.

For the West Kootenay, the 2024 honours go to Evan McKenzie, a plant ecologist who was nominated through his work with the West Kootenay EcoSociety (now Neighbours United). He received a framed photograph of the slime mold Lamproderma nigrescens taken by local ecologist Tyson Ehlers.

Lead image: Mark Thomas receiving his 2024 East Kootenay Conservation Leadership Award from KCP Board Chair Derek Petersen. Kootenay Conservation Program photo

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