CSKT staff honored with statewide conservation awards

Four members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Natural Resources staff were recently recognized with statewide awards for their decades of leadership in fisheries and wildlife conservation.

Les Evarts, Barry Hansen and Cindy Benson were honored with the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Career Achievement Award, and Art Soukkala received the Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society Distinguished Service Award.

Awards were presented Feb. 10-13 during the annual meeting of the Montana Chapter of AFS at Fairmont Hot Springs and the annual meeting of The Wildlife Society, Feb. 23-27 at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Missoula

Career Achievement in Fisheries Conservation

Les Evarts began his career with CSKT in 1989 and served 26 years as Fisheries Program Manager. According to a press release from CSKT, over more than three decades, he led major aquatic restoration efforts, advanced bull trout recovery, and managed multimillion-dollar conservation projects “with fiscal integrity and vision.”

His most enduring legacy is the restoration of the Jocko River by screening irrigation diversions, establishing instream flows, reconstructing the river channel’s form and function, and securing tribal ownership of critical riparian lands. “Today, the Jocko River stands as one of the healthiest rivers flowing through an agricultural landscape in Montana,” writes Whisper Camel-Means, head of the CSKT Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation.

Barry Hansen has dedicated nearly 40 years to aquatic resource conservation, including more than 35 years with CSKT. His work spans instream flow protection, forestry and riparian restoration, shoreline management, and innovative habitat design on Flathead Lake.

Hansen played a key leadership role in the co-management planning process for Flathead Lake and the Flathead River and helped guide long-term efforts to restore balance between introduced lake trout and native fish populations.

“His perseverance and commitment to science-based management have left a lasting mark on the Flathead Basin,” said Means.

Cindy Benson joined the Tribal Fisheries Program later in her career and quickly became central to its success. Beginning as a creel clerk on Flathead Lake, she began directing the Mack Days fishing contests in 2002.

Under her leadership, the program grew to hundreds of participants and resulted in ther removal of nearly 1,000,000 lake trout from Flathead Lake in support of native fish conservation. Benson, who also managed the Native Fish Keepers, Inc. processing facility, “maintaining strict production and food safety standards while serving as a public ambassador for fisheries conservation across the region,” said Means.

Distinguished Service in Wildlife Conservation

Art Soukkala is being recognized for more than 45 years of dedication to habitat restoration and wildlife management. Since joining the CSKT Wildlife Management Program in 1991, Soukkala has helped reintroduce peregrine falcons and northern leopard frogs, addressed carnivore conservation and hydropower mitigation, and led acquisition and restoration of thousands of acres of prairie, shrubland, woodland and wetland habitats.

“His innovative wetland restoration work and collaborative approach have strengthened habitat connectivity and biodiversity across the Flathead Reservation,” said Means.

“Together, these four professionals represent more than a century of combined service to the lands, waters, wildlife, and people of the Flathead Reservation,” she added. “Their recognition reflects not only individual excellence, but also the Tribes’ enduring commitment to science-based stewardship and conservation grounded in Tribal values.”

    Cindy Benson and Barry Hansen of the CSKT Fisheries Program were honored for career achievement by the Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. (Photo courtesy of CSKT)