Advisory Council

Sam Barr

Sam Barr is a Samish tribal citizen whose ancestors are both indigenous Coast Salish and European. A native of the San Juan Islands, he currently lives in Anacortes with his partner and their daughter. Sam has served as a Tribal Canoe Skipper for Samish and Stillaguamish Nations, and is the Co-Director of the Coast Salish Youth Corps. Sam has been a powerful voice for indigenous knowledge and empowered youth environmental education. Sam has a B.A. in Environmental Science and Resource Management from the University of Washington, and has previously worked as a GIS Analyst/Natural Resources Technician for the Samish Indian Nation Department of Natural Resources. Sam currently serves as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer/Cultural Resources Specialist for the Stillaguamish Tribe.

Lori Ann David

Lori Ann David is the working visionary behind Aurora Farms. Her educational pursuits from USC, UCSB, and UW led her to traditional and organic polyculture farming and preservation in the Pacific Northwest and New Jersey. “Aurora”, as her friends call her, is an author, lifetime aviatrix, and regular contributor to Women in Business thru seminars and business plan development. Her passion lies in training farmers to farm through regenerative agriculture including holistic pasture and livestock management, applying the principles of permaculture to every area of life, and recently launching Aurora Farms SJI (on facebook/#aurorafarms on instagram). She can be contacted at la(at)lorianndavid.com or farm(at)aurorafarms.org.

Dr. Deborah Giles

Dr. Deborah Giles, affectionately known as Giles, is one of the world's leading experts on Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW's). Currently, she serves as the Science & Research Director for Wild Orca, where she and Eba, the whale dog, frequently sniff out and collect orca scat from the Salish Sea. Her research helps us understand starvation, hormone, and stress levels in the SRKW's, and informs policy and practices local to the region. Giles has worked with the University of Washington's Center for Conservation Biology, and is a frequent lecturer and advocate for SRKW's and Chinook Salmon protections. You can find out more about Giles & Eba here.

Kaeley Pruitt-Hamm

After graduating from Willamette University with a BA in International Conflict and Communications, Kaeley Pruitt-Hamm worked for five years in the non-profit world as a Seattle and DC-based community organizer with Seattle CIPES, Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation, and as a trainer in environmental lobbying in DC with Friends Committee on National Legislation. Kaeley has formed the environmental justice themed musical community called “KPH & The Canary Collective.” With grants from King County’s 4Culture, Kaeley organized concerts and recorded albums like “The Canary Collective: Vol 1” and her recent 2022 “Canary Orca-stra” virtual concert fundraisers for Indigenous-led river restoration activism. She seeks to infuse her skills as a community organizer and lobbyist, her passion for music and story telling to help heal our ecosystems within our bodies and on Earth. She currently is building out an eco-conscious community, artist residency, and sound healing events center in Joshua Tree, Ca.

Sarah Severn

Sarah began her career in marketing, and later joined Nike where she advocated strongly for the company to pay attention to environmental issues. This led to her re-appointment as Global Director of the Environmental Action Team at the Nike World Headquarters in Portland, Oregon. Sarah catalyzed the introduction of sustainability into Nike's production and held senior sustainability roles to engage stakeholders and build toward collaborative change in the industry. During Sarah's tenure, she led the development of Nike's climate change advocacy strategy and initiated the BICEP coalition (Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy). Sarah continues to work part-time as a sustainability consultant, and as outreach director at Clean and Prosperous Washington. She serves on the board of the Madrona Institute and the steering committee for Transition SJI on San Juan Island.

Lee Taylor

Lee Taylor began her career as a seasonal interpretive ranger for the National Park Service in Sequoia National Park in the mid 1980's. Lee has been a witness and participant to changing National Park policies through wildfire seasons, climate change, and increased visitor use. Her career includes being at the helm of Mt. Rainier National Park's education, interpretation and volunteer programs during a park rebuilding phase following major flooding and road washouts. Lee helped lead San Juan Island National Historical Park into better inclusion and co-leadership with Coast Salish tribes as Superintendent, and oversaw Covid management as Olympic National Park's Deputy Superintendent. She currently travels broadly and calls San Juan Island home.

Matt Wickey

Matt has worked as an outdoor educator and conservation biologist for the past 25 years in programs centered around adventure, advocacy of indigenous traditional knowledge systems, and community building. He has taught in Hawai'ian immersion schools, ocean-based experiential therapy, worked as an international expedition guide, directed University outdoor programs, and has extensive experience as a field biologist in the main Hawai'ian islands. Matt is dedicated to community building and bringing youth, families, and individuals to a greater awareness of the natural world. He is part of the international mentor network as a graduate of the Nurturing the Roots program through the Tracking Project. Matt is currently an active firefighter/EMT with San Juan Island Fire & Rescue. Matt, his wife Melissa live on San Juan Island with their sons Finn & Conlan.