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After over thirty years of service, Paul Dorn, Suquamish Tribe’s Salmon Recovery Coordinator and fisheries biologist, was formally recognized, honored, and thanked by the Suquamish Tribe.
About 150 people attended the celebration held at the Kiana Lodge Nov. 19. The crowd was full of family, friends and community members who expressed gratitude and accolades for Dorn’s numerous contributions to restore salmon and enhance habitat conditions that will safeguard their existence for generations to come.
One after another stepped up to the microphone attesting to Dorn’s dedication and devotion as a common theme resonated — Dorn’s passion and enthusiasm is both energizing and contagious spanning over three generations of citizens and students as well as multiple levels of administrations.
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Paul Dorn (center) hugs wife Linda amid 7 of his 11 siblings he jokingly refers to as the “Tribe I come from” |
At one point, Dorn, joined by his wife Linda, seven of his eleven siblings — four brothers and three sisters — hugged each other while cajoling the crowd, when Dorn exclaimed, “I work for the Suquamish Tribe but this is the tribe I come from.”
As the fisheries biologist and salmon recovery coordinator for the Suquamish Tribe in the last 30 years, Dorn has been a leading force in educating the public about these miraculous animals working closely with all local and regional government agencies, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and multiple citizens groups.
“Paul showed he could partner and cross boundaries like no one else. Right after the Boldt decision when adversity was possibly at its worst, he formed a partnership with the Kitsap Pogie Club — a sport fishing group,” exclaimed Rob Purser, Suquamish Fisheries Director and Dorn’s boss.
A spirited and tireless teacher, Dorn worked to enhance public knowledge and appreciation of Wild Salmon — in the classroom, international and regional conferences, large or small group presentations, on the ground, and in the water. If he had “free” time it was more often spent volunteering for watershed groups, restoration efforts, or advocating for salmon at public hearings.
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| Honoree Paul Dorn being presented with a gift of appreciation, a Pendleton wool blanket, from the Suquamish Tribe |
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If it’s salmon related and in Puget Sound, you’ll find the name Paul Dorn involved in it… and deeply involved. The man never says no when it helps salmon.
Dorn is well known for his tangible and measurable outcomes through his contributions to significant projects in just about every watershed across four counties influencing recovery statewide. The more folks who spoke... the more significant projects were mentioned.
Since 1978; Dorn contributed on behalf of the Tribe to numerous projects in King, Pierce, Jefferson, Mason, and Kitsap Counties. He was strategic in both garnering support and grant funding for the Barker, Cowling, Curley, Carpenter, Grovers, and Gorst creek restoration projects, the salmon bridge in Poulsbo, Gorst-Sinclair and Beaver Creek Estuary Restorations, Apple Tree Cove, Liberty Bay Foundation’s Nearshore Habitat & Enhancement Project, Bainbridge Island seining and numerous others.
Throughout Dorn’s career these actions have inspired and guided a passion for the preservation and recovery of abundant and diverse Wild Salmon populations throughout the Pacific Northwest.
In 2006, Dorn received the Senator Slade Gorton Salmon Legacy Award as a Mid-Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group Board Member who had been there to start the group 15 years ago, dedication and support for the benefit of Mid-Sound throughout the years.
He was inducted into the Wild Salmon Hall of Fame in 2004 for demonstrating an extraordinary career working in salmon recovery efforts, by fostering positive influences, and for his dedicated efforts and passion for Wild Salmon truly representing the Wild Salmon spirit.
The committee comprised of Congressman Norm Dicks, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Jeff Koenings, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chair Billy Frank Jr., and Chairman Bill Ruckelshaus of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, selected Dorn from numerous nominations sent in from across the Pacific Northwest.
He is a past president and current board member of the Miller Bay Citizens Action Group, the boards of the Mid-Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, Pogie Club, North Kitsap Aquaculture and Horticulture Educational Advisory Group, to grassroots groups large and small, the Salmon Strategy, U.S. Geological Survey, and many other environmental efforts from local, state and federal government.
Tribal member Merle Hayes, a long-time friend and fan of Dorn’s, was the MC for the event while Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman congratulated Dorn for his many years of loyalty and service to the Tribe.
Dorn was characteristically humble throughout, often interrupting the individual speakers praises to say it was the team and the efforts of others that should be honored.
Finally, after several speeches had been made, Dorn stepped forward to receive a Pendleton wool blanket from the Tribe.
Traditionally, indigenous people would not make any environmental changes until they had carefully considered how it would affect the ecology of their descendants seven generations down the line. This is because indigenous people have direct contact with the responsibilities given to their ancestors and, also, have direct contact with their own responsibilities to the generations yet unborn. Native Americans feel all generations are connected and believe we must think of the effects of decisions made today on the Seventh Generation regarding such matters as preservation of the environment. — Author Unknown
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