Heather Dawn Thompson will join World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as Vice President, Native Nations Conservation and Food Systems on September 9 where she will work across the organization to guide and advance WWF's support for and partnerships with Native Nations and Native-led organizations. An initial focus will be Tribally-led buffalo restoration efforts.
Most recently, she served as Director of Tribal Relations at the United States Department of Agriculture, where she led the Secretary of Agriculture's work on Native Nations policies and oversaw the Department's Indian trust and treaty responsibilities. While at USDA, she launched the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative and the joint USDA-Interior Tribal Buffalo Initiative.
"Indigenous lands, plants, and animals are naturally adapted to their environment. They often need fewer inputs and can hold the key both to Tribal sovereignty and to our shared food security." said Thompson"I look forward to blending WWF's capabilities and Indigenous Knowledge to continue working alongside Tribal Nations to reach our shared goals."
Heather Dawn comes from three generations of farmers on her paternal side and a family of ranchers on her maternal side. Buffalo is also in her blood. She is a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and a direct descendant of Mary Good Elk Woman and Frederick Dupree, one of a handful of families credited with saving the last remaining wild buffalo in the 1800s.
"We cannot achieve our conservation mission without the partnership and leadership of Native Nations and Indigenous people who have stewarded nature for millennia," said Carter Roberts, President and CEO. "Heather Dawn brings extensive professional expertise building partnerships and coalitions across Indian Country. And she has a deep personal connection to the food systems that feed our communities as a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. We're looking forward to her leadership as WWF continues to support Native-led conservation efforts across the country."
Heather Dawn brings to WWF expertise in Indian law, ruraleconomic development, Indigenous food systems, buffalo conservation, and theintersection of economic development, self-sufficiency, and Indigenous values.Past roles include serving as the Director of Government Affairs for theNational Congress of American Indians and former President of the NationalNative American Bar Association. Shehas a J.D.from Harvard Law School, an M.P.A from University of Florida, and a B.A. fromCarnegie Mellon University. She is also known for her TEDx Talk, "Surviving anInvasion & Understanding Your Neighbors".
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's leadingconservation organizations, working in nearly 100 countries for over half acentury to help people and nature thrive. With the support of more than 5million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-basedsolutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt thedegradation of the environment and combat the climate crisis. Visithttp://www.worldwildlife.orgto learn more and keep up with the latestconservation news by following@WWFNewson Twitter and signing up for our newsletter and news alerts here.
