19 individuals from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) are being awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for their contributions to nature conservation in Canada.

One of the medal recipients from NCC is Philip Brass, a Saulteaux artist and hunter whose knowledge and influence has contributed to several conservation and reconciliation initiatives, such as the Treaty Land Sharing Network and the Buffalo Treaty.

Brass says receiving the award is an honour, but adds that the chance to work with others to conserve the prairies is an even greater honour.

“For me, the important part is that we continue to do this good work and preserve what little we have left of native prairie here in Saskatchewan.”

He adds that the southern part of the province in particular has very little of it’s natural plant and wild life left.

“It just starts with recognizing that we do have a serious problem in southern Saskatchewan. We live in one of the most altered and damaged ecosystems anywhere in the world here in southern Saskatchewan. We have as little as 10 per cent, maybe even 8 per cent of native prairie left.”

Brass says that for conservation efforts to be successful, there has to be indigenous voices at the table.

“If we want a robust sort of perspective and strategies that are going to be sustainable long-term, we need to make sure that those voices are part of the equation. By continuing to ignore or exclude Indigenous peoples voices, that would just be a continuation of the wrongs of the past.”

The King Charles III Coronation Medal is being awarded to 30,000 Canadians and highlights themes the king holds dear, including service, the environment and sustainability.