May 29, 2007 

The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society last week named Mitch Hicks, a patrol sergeant with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Enforcement, as this year’s Conservation Officer of the Year.

Awarded annually, the society’s Conservation Officer of the Year Award is bestowed upon a NAFWS member who “exemplifies dedication and hard work to the enforcement field.”

“Every year the NAFWS makes it a point to recognize tribal members that excel in their field,” said Ted Lamebull, NAFWS board member. “This award — which is only presented at the national level — recognizes Mitch’s accomplishments.

“Mitch is a self-motivated sergeant,” said Chief John Johnson, captain of CRITFE and Hicks’ longtime supervisor. “There is little need to supervise him much since he’s usually a step ahead of me. He is truly a talented and very intelligent individual. If he doesn’t know something about a particular issue, he educates himself thoroughly; anybody in the enforcement field wants troops just like him.”

A member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe from the Fort Hall Reservation, Hicks’ nomination stems from his 14 years of devotion to the protection of tribal treaty fishing rights, the enforcement of fishing regulations on the Columbia River and the protection of tribal fisheries. As a member of CRITFE’s team of officers, he is responsible for assigning river patrols to his officers, monitoring investigations, tracking the training needs of his staff, offering advice and consultation on complex cases and maintaining interagency communications.

“In the spirit of tribal service I humbly accept this award,” said Hicks. “I remember the harassment my family, friends and I were subjected to as tribal members exercising our hunting and fishing rights — having our camp shot at; even being held at gunpoint. Now it is my warrior duty to do what I can to deter these things from happening to anyone else.”

Hicks’ wife, Tiffany, is a Hood River Police officer.

Mitch can add his new honor to his National Safe Boating Council Region 6 Award of Merit, which he received at the International Boating and Safety Summit in 2003.

“I really attribute my honor to the Indian people throughout time that have sacrificed to preserve our heritage, customs and sovereignty,” Hicks said. “Especially to my grandfather, who served in tribal government for many years. He set an example of the connection between Mother Earth and Indian people, and taught me to be an honorable person. The work I do today is in honor of the fish that we are blessed with and in honor of the people who have made noble sacrifices before us.”

Hicks’ award was presented during the annual awards luncheon at the NAFWS annual meeting in Reno, Nev.

The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society is a nonprofit membership organization with 224 tribes represented.

The society’s mission is to assist Native American and Alaska Native tribes with the conservation, protection and enhancement of their fish and wildlife resources.