Who are you and what are your land relations?
My name is Mae Whyte and I am a settler-descended guest in Treaty 8 territory; I live in Fort St. John, BC. My (mostly-Scottish) ancestors settled in Mi’kma’ki, so I grew up near Tewapskik (Annapolis River). I adore the Acadian and boreal forests, but rivers have always been my happy place.
What kind of work do you do?
These days, I work mostly on the administrative side of things. I’ve done a fair bit of work as a program or project manager keeping work trickling forward behind the scenes. My current role is Restoration Community of Practice Coordinator for northern BC. Basically, helping connect people with one another as well as leading practices across sectors and ecosystems.
Yep, I’m a CERP and an RPBio and I sit (or stand!) at a desk most of the time. The interdisciplinary and human aspects of ecological restoration are my focus, including especially working with multiple ways of knowing and spotlighting Indigenous-led restoration.
Do you volunteer for any environmental organizations?
All our Directors for SER Western Canada are volunteers! I also volunteer locally with the Charlie Lake Conservation Society and sit on the Program Advisory Committee for BCIT.
What has been your greatest accomplishment or what are you most proud of?
When I worked for Blueberry River First Nations and the Blueberry River Restoration Society, I participated in the Treaty 8 Restoration Advisory Committee. Great things happen when Indigenous Nations gather. I remember fondly many conversations that informed Chapter 1 of the BC Energy Regulator’s Ecologically-suitable Species Guideline, and having the privilege to attend the inaugural Healing the Land conference at Saulteau First Nations in 2024.
What advice do you have for students and emerging professionals?
Whether or not you yourself are Indigenous, attend open events hosted by Indigenous communities where you live, work, and play. Getting to know your hosts and building relationships with your neighbours just makes sense. Plus, listening and learning are a great foundation for cultural appreciation.
Mae Whyte (Director) – Fort St. John, BC
Mae (RPBio, CERP) counts herself blessed to live, work, and play in the traditional territory of Dane-zaa peoples including Blueberry River First Nations. She is passionate about reciprocal restoration, landscape ecology, freshwater conservation, and the wonders of our boreal forests. Mae is designated as a project manager in the CABIN wadeable streams protocol and holds certificates in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Low-tech Process-based Riverscape Restoration.