In recognition of his heroic and unyielding defence of the endangered spotted owl and its dwindling old-growth forest habitat, the Wilderness Committee is awarding the 2023 Eugene Rogers Environmental Award to Spô'zêm First Nation Chief James Hobart. Hobart’s fight for spotted owls began over two decades ago, fueled by memories of traditional stories about the owl from his childhood in the 1970s. He has since stood against government inaction, persistently calling out the federal and provincial governments for allowing the owl’s old-growth habitat to be decimated by logging corporations. 

“In this province, standing up to protect old-growth forests and endangered species is never easy,” said Protected Areas Campaigner Joe Foy. “But that hasn’t stopped Chief Hobart. He’s an extraordinary leader for these challenging times when we are at risk of losing so much.” 

His support of the work undertaken by Wilderness Committee and Ecojustice in the federal courts drove Federal Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeault to recommend an emergency order to cabinet. Under Hobart's leadership, the Spô’zêm First Nation successfully pushed for logging deferrals in the Spô’zêm and Utzlius watersheds, critical habitat for the spotted owl, championing not only the owls but also the cultural heritage they represent. 

The plight of the spotted owl couldn’t be closer to home for Hobart. The owls are being given a second chance on Spô’zêm First Nation territory as captive-born owls are released from a provincial facility. 

Hobart speaks of the cultural loss that accompanies the decline of the spotted owl, whose feathers once adorned sacred headdresses. “We consider the spotted owls to be the messengers from the forest and the sky,” said Hobart. “The decline in owls is symptomatic of a wider destruction on the landscape. We used to eat what we got from our own lands and now we get our food from the supermarkets. We’re living on dead land and we don’t even know it.” 

Hobart continues to advocate for the protection of all remaining spotted owl habitat even as the government of B.C. continues to issue permits to log its habitat on Spô'zêm land. 

This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the Eugene Rogers Environmental Award. The Wilderness Committee presents it each year, accompanied by a $1,000 contribution, to individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to protecting the environment and fostering societal change. 

Learn more about the Eugene Rogers Award as well as the heroes that have won it in past years: https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/era