Secretary Salazar Presents Sheldon Sankey of BIA-Oklahoma with Partners in Conservation Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today presented a Partners in Conservation Award to Sheldon Sankey of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Oklahoma region, for developing fire prevention and education programs that promote partnerships at the local, state and Federal levels.”

It was one of 26 national awards to individuals and organizations presented at a ceremony at Interior headquarters in Washington, D.C. to honor “those who achieve natural resource goals in collaboration and partnership with others.”
The 26 Partners in Conservation Awards recognize conservation achievements resulting from the cooperation and participation of a total of 600 individuals and organizations including landowners; citizens' groups; private sector and nongovernmental organizations; and federal, state, local, and/or tribal governments.

“The Partners in Conservation Awards demonstrate that our greatest conservation legacies often emerge when stakeholders, agencies, and citizens from a wide range of backgrounds come together to address shared challenges,” the Secretary said.”

Sankey has developed numerous alliances with organizations throughout the state of Oklahoma to promote fire awareness and education. His active participation in cultural events and his dedication to establishing supportive partnerships within the communities has furthered his vision of proactive stewardship of the land. He has been very successful in uniting the various interests of agencies and local communities, especially children, with more than 22 events that promoted and educated the Secretary's Stewardship goals to more than 6,000 children.

“These 26 awards recognize the dedicated efforts of thousands of people from all walks of life, from across our nation– and from across our borders with Canada and Mexico,” Salazar noted. “They celebrate partnerships that conserve and restore our nation's treasured landscapes and watersheds, partnerships that engage Native American communities and partnerships that engage youth.”