The Forest History Society awarded Trent University Indigenous Studies Professor Dr. Lynne Davis with the 2012 Theodore C. Blegen Award for the best article in environmental history. Her paper, "Home or Global Treasure? Understanding Relationships between the Heiltsuk Nation and Environmentalists" first appeared in BC Studies: The British Columbian Quarterly.

“It’s an honour to have this piece of work get recognition,” said Professor Davis of the award. “This research was done through a collaborative process with the Heiltsuk Nation. Hopefully, this will introduce more people to the struggles of the Heiltsuk people. At Trent, I have been very pleased to be able to teach a senior undergraduate course on Indigenous-non-Indigenous alliance-building, which has furthered my research on alliance-building between Indigenous peoples and social and environmental justice organizations. Many Trent students want to understand how to support Indigenous self-determination, and this research offers important guidance in addressing difficult questions related to alliance-building."

The award was presented in Vancouver and the Heiltsuk Nation sent Traditional Chief Harvey Humchitt to accept the award jointly.

Prof. Davis’s piece takes up the story in the 1990’s – a tumultuous period when the Heiltsuk Nation faced an uncertain treaty process, the collapse of the commercial fishing industry, the BC Government’s looming Central Coast Land and Resource Management Process, and the increased attention of environmental groups on West Coast territories.

The Heiltsuk, wanting to reclaim control of fishing and forestry in their traditional territories, were being squeezed by highly regulated fishing policies as well as a convergence of clear-cut forest companies. Meanwhile, environmentalists were lobbying for hard-line conservation regulations, leading to several land-use pilot programs and a successful temporary moratorium on logging in the Great Bear Rainforest. 

In 2000, eight First Nations – all feeling similar pressures – came together to form Coastal First Nations.

According to Prof. Davis, “their decision to speak with one voice had immediate results.  governments, industry, and environmentalists understood the power of a coalition of First Nations.”

Prof. Davis notes that the ensuing years have seen a wide range of relationships between the Heiltsuk and conservationists. With an economic need for resource extraction-based industry, Indigenous self-determination has cause for complicated partnerships with environmentalists.

“Environmental and social justice groups may offer potential support,” wrote Prof. Davis, “but First Nations’ decisions to enter into such relationships will be contextual and strategic.”

Her piece goes on to offer examples of successful harmony, but also incidents of discord – such as the Sierra Club lobbying campaign opposed to First Nations logging in Clayoquot Sound.

“It has indeed been a complicated relationship,” she explained, “which is one of the reasons it was so interesting to research and write about. It speaks to the complex relationship that many First Nations have with social justice and environmental groups across Canada.”

Davis taught at Trent in the Native Management and Economic Development Program from 1986-1991, and then joined the department full-time in July 2000 after teaching part-time from 1996-2000. She was the program director of the Indigenous Studies Ph.D. Program from 2002-2004 and from 2005-2009. She has an Honours B.A. from Queen’s University, a M.A. from the University of Alberta in Interdisciplinary Studies (Community Development) and an M.A. from Sussex University in Social Psychology. Her Ph.D. is from the University of Toronto.

Copies of “Home or Global Treasure? Understanding Relationships between the Heiltsuk Nation and Environmentalists” are available here: http://www.bcstudies.com/issues.php?issues=173&backissue=1