Tribal biologists win wildlife award

From the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes 

Montana Audubon, a state chapter of the National Audubon Society recently announced that Tribal Wildlfie Biologists Whisper Camel-Means and Stephanie Gillin were selected to receive the organization’s 2016 Science Outreach Award. Stephanie and Whisper work together as a team to bring an understanding and knowledge of science to school children, as well as the general public, on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Some their achievements include:

• Planning and oversight of the annual Community Bird Festival, which coincides with National Migratory Bird Day and draws between 400 and 500 people each spring;

• Presenting interactive presentation on a variety of wildlife and habitat topics at the annual Flathead River Honoring, which reaches up to 1,000 students each spring;

• Hosting a Science Learning Tent at the Arlee Pow-wow each summer;

• Serving as an environmental education resource for Reservation teachers;

• They were awarded the 2015 Paul Shinn Memorial Award for communicating science to the public;

• Assisting with the founding of Sci-Nation, which reaches over 4,000 youth and families each year on the Flathead Indian Reservation to foster a passion for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning, while respecting tribal cultural values; and

• Continuing their work as accomplished scientists and wildlife biologists.

Montana Audubon noted that “Whisper and Stephanie are both amazing advocates for wildlife conservation, as well as wonderful role models for Flathead Indian Reservation communities. We are pleased to recognize this duo for their outstanding work”.

Dale Becker, Tribal Wildlfie Management Program Manager, who nominated Whisper and Stephanie for the award, noted that “These ladies do outstanding work with Reservation students and families in communicating science and other information related to wildlife ecology and habitat values to the general public. They are well-trained in science and wildlife biology, plus both are great mothers of young children, so they communicate extremely well with their audiences. They are valuable assets to the Tribal Wildlife Management Program and the wildlife resources of the Reservation.”