2021 Canadian River Heritage Award Recipient: Bobbi Rose Koe
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The Canadian Heritage Rivers System in partnership with the Canadian Canoe Museum honour mother, river woman, and proud Teetl’it Gwitch’in business woman Bobbi Rose Koe with the 2021 Canadian River Heritage Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made a profound and lasting influence to celebrate, protect, and conserve river heritage for future generations in Canada.
Photo: Mark Kelly Photography
Born in Fort McPherson, Bobbi Rose Koe began her formal leadership training at 15 when she joined the 2007 Students on Ice Arctic Expedition. In the patterns established from the day she was born, Bobbi Rose has travelled her traditional lands in all seasons, adding her voice to campaigns to preserve and protect the Peel River watershed. On a youth leadership trip on the Peel River in 2015, sponsored by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, she teamed up with fellow participants and created the Youth of the Peel. The cultural and environmental action and advocacy that grew out of this initiative led to other connections and creations, including in 2020 the formation of the Western Arctic Youth Collective, which won the 2021 Youth Arctic Inspiration Prize of $97,000 to continue programs dedicated to mental wellness and community empowerment. That same year, the Students on Ice Foundation presented Bobbi Rose with their Alumni Inspiration Award.
Continuing to push herself and to lead by example, in May 2021, Bobbi Rose launched her own outfitting company called Dinjii Zhuh, powered by her own passion and partnerships, with the respect, love and permission of her elders. The work allows her to guide Gwich’in youth on river trips to teach cultural connections and foster river advocates and connects people to the rivers and waterways in Yukon with Indigenous-led trips for youth, community, and visitors.
We congratulate Bobbi Rose Koe on her dedication to the preservation and promotion of Teetl’it Gwich’in traditional ties to the Peel River watershed and for her tireless and exemplary work as an organizer, community member, and advocate for youth engagement in river conservation and connection.
About the Canadian Heritage River System
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System is Canada’s national river conservation program. Established in 1984, the CHRS gives national recognition to Canada’s outstanding rivers and encourages their long-term management to conserve their natural, cultural and recreational values for the benefit and enjoyment of Canadians, now and in the future. There are currently 40 Canadian Heritage Rivers totaling over 10,000 km spread across the country.
About the Canadian Canoe Museum
On behalf of the citizens of our country, the Canadian Canoe Museum stewards the world’s largest and most significant collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft. These craft, more than 600 in number, and their stories of national and international significance, have a pivotal role to play in our collective future.