Celebrating leadership in conservation and Indigenous law

November 21, 2024

Vancouver, BC – The St’át’imc Chiefs Council’s Director of Operations, Art Adolph, has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Andrew Thompson Award in the category of Indigenous conservation leaders / Indigenous law defenders. The West Coast Environmental Law hosted its 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art to honour the recipients of the 2024 Andrew Thompson Award and to celebrate the milestone of their legal research, advocacy and action in service of nature and communities.

Art Adolph, former Chief of Xáxli’p, began his education in St’át’imc language, culture, and traditions, including law and ecological knowledge from a very young age through custom adoption by Xáxli’p Elders, the Late Chief Sam and Susan Mitchell. Art was instrumental with initiating the Traditional Use Study (Ntsuwa7lhkálha Tl’ákmen – “our way of life,”) for Xáxli’p and negotiating for implementation of an ecosystem-based plan for Xáxli’p’s survival area.

For close to four decades as a political leader, policy analyst/political advisor, director, negotiator, and researcher, Art has worked tirelessly to uphold St’át’imc inherent Title and Rights, culture and way of life, and to restore ecological and cultural sustainability in the territory, including protection of wild salmon and the Fraser River.

We raise our hands to you, Art.

“Our chief and council on behalf of our members are forever grateful for work that Arthur has done for our community and nation at large. We are so proud of him and all the accomplishments that he has made in the work he does for the people”. – Chief Darrell Bob, Xáxli’p

ABOUT THE ANDREW THOMPSON AWARD

The Andrew Thompson Award was established in 2002 by West Coast Environmental Law and the Thompson family as a legacy to Dr. Andrew Thompson, a groundbreaking BC environmental lawyer who was one of West Coast’s first directors. The Andrew Thompson 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.”

ABOUT WEST COAST ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

West Coast Environmental Law is a non-profit group of environmental lawyers, strategists and communicators dedicated to safeguarding the environment through law. West Coast harnesses the power of law to solve complex environmental challenges. We are transforming environmental decision-making and strengthening legal protection for the environment through collaborative legal strategies that bridge Indigenous and Canadian law. By putting the law in the hands of communities and creating legal risk for those who would harm our land, air and water, we are building the collective power to achieve a more just and sustainable future for all. https://www.wcel.org/