I was glad to see ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak Barbara Blake recognized as one of the 2025 Forbes Sustainability Leaders. Her work as Vice President for Arctic & Northern Waters at Ocean Conservancy focuses on protecting Indigenous lands, Arctic ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them.
What stands out to me about Barbara’s approach is how she connects environmental protection with cultural heritage. She reminds us that sustainability isn’t just about technology or policy—it’s also about respect for people, traditions, and the natural systems that sustain us.
Her leadership in advocating for responsible stewardship of the Arctic and for thoughtful collaboration across science, industry, and Indigenous voices is both timely and important. Congratulations to Barbara Blake on this well-deserved recognition.
“This isn’t a career path, it is an ancestral responsibility I was born into,” said ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak. “Every space I serve, from Ocean Conservancy to the boardroom at Sealaska, is an extension of that responsibility. My ultimate goal is not just to protect what we have, but to help co-create a world where Indigenous Peoples lead with the wisdom of our ancestors and the vision of our youth.”
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