2007 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award
Finalist: Carol Craig
Carol Craig (Photo by Dave Hall). Download a hi-res image: right-click here and select Save As (1.1mb JPG)
"The Yakama people have used traditional environmental knowledge to guide the preservation of natural resources that continue to sustain us today."
—Carol Craig
Carol Craig is an honored 2007 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award finalist for her work educating the public about tribal treaty rights, salmon recovery and environmental protection. As part of her public education efforts over the past twenty years, Craig has addressed civic organizations, government employees and Pacific Northwest students from kindergarten through college. She is an enrolled Yakama Nation tribal member.
Since 1995, Craig has worked as the Public Information Manager for the Yakama Nation Fish and Wildlife Resource Management Program in Toppenish, Washington. She also writes, edits and takes photographs for the Yakama Nation publication Sin-Wit-Ki. Craig has coordinated film projects about the tribe's fisheries and wildlife programs. She served as a script consultant for the award-winning 2003 documentary, Sacred Salmon — A Gift to Sustain Life. In 2006, Craig was selected as one of the inaugural year speakers for the Conversations in Indian Country series at Willamette University, Salem, Oregon. She spoke on the topic of tribal sovereignty with Louie Pitt, Jr. of Warm Springs, Oregon.
Craig's community service activities include giving her time both locally and regionally. She recently put together a photo essay for an Oregon Historical Quarterly special issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of the flooding of Celilo Falls. Craig serves on the Salmon Corps Board of Directors and on the KYNR Radio Advisory Board. She also serves as a mentor to Yakama tribal students who want to learn more about becoming a photographer and journalist.
In 1998, the Yakama Tribal Council requested that Craig provide assistance to the Makah Nation in working with the media after they announced they would revive their whale hunting tradition. She worked extensively on this issue at that time and continues to educate the public about the Makah whale hunt.
From 1986 to 1994, Craig worked for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) in Portland, Oregon as the Tribal Information and Education Coordinator. She also was a contributing writer to Wana Chinook Tymoo and edited an award winning in-house newsletter.
In 1993, Craig was among the first 13 tribal journalists to receive the Howard Simon Fellowship Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Her numerous awards include the CRITFC 2003 Spirit of Salmon Award for Education and a 2006 Enduring Spirit Award from the Native Action Network. Craig is a member of the Native American Journalists Association, Washington State Association of Press Women and the National Federation of Press Women.
Craig is a graduate of Portland State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1994. She raised two children as a single parent and has three grandchildren. In addition to being an enrolled Yakama tribal member, Craig is also part Puyallup, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Squaxin, Snohomish, Snoqualmie and Stillaquamish. She currently resides in the ceded area at Zillah, Washington.
