The Pacific Salmon Commission is pleased to announce that it has established a scholarship in memory of Lorraine Loomis.
Lorraine, an elder in the Swinomish Tribe, passed away in August 2021, ending a decades-long career advocating for Indigenous fishing rights and their intersection with salmon conservation. She served on the PSC Fraser River Panel since its inception in 1985, with several terms as Panel Chair and Vice Chair.
Lorraine was also one of the first women to play an active role in fisheries policy and management, rising to prominence at the tribal, state, national, and international level. Her achievements and consensus building led to her replacing the esteemed Billy Frank Jr. as chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission upon his passing, receiving the inaugural PSC Larry Rutter Award for Pacific Salmon Conservation, and other accolades.
The new PSC scholarship seeks to honor Lorraine’s legacy and her many contributions to the fisheries community, with a view to inspiring and enabling future leaders in this arena.
A scholarship of USD$5000 will be awarded annually to a selected American or Canadian student enrolled in a post-secondary program in fisheries or a related field with preference given to female and Indigenous candidates.
The United States National Marine Fisheries Service has generously provided initial funding and the inaugural scholarship will be awarded in 2024.
