Terry Dorward

West Coast IPCA Conservation Director

Terry is from TLA-O-QUI-AHT FIRST NATIONS from the House of Hi-you-eah which is represented by the SEITCHER family. In 2003, when he got married to Bev Dorward (Cree/Lakota) he was given the Nuu-chah-Nulth name “Seit-Cha” (One who swims around in the water).

Terry grew up in Port Alberni and was raised by his great-grandmother, Susan Marshall from Xwisten (Bridge river) of the St`at’imc nation. At an early age of 12, Terry participated in the 1984 marches and blockades that declared Wah-Nah-Jus/Hilth-Hoo-is (Meares Island) a Tribal Park. It was this profound experience that had politicized Terry to have an awareness of the struggles to uphold and protect Indigenous title and rights. Terry was an active member of various Indigenous direct action groups in the 1990s and 2000s that supported the removal of open net fish farms in Kwakwaka’wakw territories, as well defending west coast and east coast fishing rights in Esgenoopetitj and Cheam First Nations.

In 2005, Terry graduated from Malaspina University with a Bachelors of Arts with a focus on colonization/decolonization under Professor Umeek Atleo, First Nations Arts 1 program. From 2010-2016, 2018-2022, Terry was an elected councillor for Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations and represented his nation at the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Today, Terry continues to participate in Tla-o-qui-aht Hereditary chiefs meetings to support his brother Ray Seitcher who is the Tyee Hawilth (Head chief) of Tla-o-qui-aht. From Nov 2007 to Jan 2023, Terry was the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Project coordinator that helped deliver cultural, educational, stewardship, and economic projects in the rainforest. Terry was one of the co-founders of the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardian program that continues to monitor and enforce Tla-o-qui-aht traditional laws within the region. Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks continues to be upheld nationally and internationally as a successful, ongoing developing IPCA.

T02T7SR4GR2-U04KJL571H8-cef4ec540df6-512

Other Team Members

Director of Energy, Environment & Climate Change Vancouver Island Health Authority
Pierre Iachetti is a Professional Agrologist and Registered Professional Planner. Pierre has led numerous multidisciplinary, transboundary teams ...
Research and Engagement Coordinator
In 2018, Andrew completed a Master of Arts in Human Geography from York University and has experience working with grassroots Indigenous organizations in both ...
Goldman Environmental Prize Recipient
Marilyn Baptiste is a former councillor and former Chief of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation in British Columbia, one of the six First Nations ...
Chief of T’Sou-ke Nation and Clean Energy Innovator
Gordon Planes (Hya-Quatcha) has been the elected chief of T’Sou-ke Nation on southern Vancouver Island since 2008 and has embarked on a 100-year process ...
Tla-o-qui-aht Elder and Cultural Educator
Levi Martin was born in Opitsaht, a Tla-o-qui-aht Nation village on Meares Island, on the west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino. As a ...
IPCA Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization
Dr. Justine Townsend is a community engagement professional, educator, and environmental practitioner with over 19 years’ experience working at the intersection of environmental sustainability, community ...
Officer of the Order of Canada
Dr. John Borrows is one of the world’s leading scholars on Indigenous law. Dr. Borrows is a full professor of law at the University ...
CEO & Founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Centre of Indigenomics
Carol Anne Hilton, MBA is the CEO and founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Center of Indigenomics. Carol Anne is a dynamic ...
Administrative Coordinator
Carl is a recent graduate of the University of Victoria Gustavson School of Business with a specialization in entrepreneurship. In his time at UVic ...
Videography and Storytelling
Jeremy is a professional filmmaker and photographer. Passionate about social, political and environmental issues, he possesses a diverse skill-set including written, digital and oral ...
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Monica is a highly strategic, creative, and solutions-oriented leader, acknowledged for her ability to transform visions, concepts and ideas into successful programs and initiatives. ...
IPCA Infrastructure and Systems Design
Eric is a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at the University of Victoria. His position with the IISAAK OLAM Foundation is made possible by ...
Award-Winning Producer, Author, Director and Scriptwriter
Barbara Todd (Metis/Cree), owner of Aarrow Productions, Inc., is a producer, author, documentary director and scriptwriter. She is the daughter of Judy Todd (Sharp) ...
Education and International Relations
Dr. Soudeh Jamshidian is a passionate leader, experienced in crafting dynamic and creative solutions for addressing environmental and social justice challenges. She is a ...
Co-founder, President & CEO
Eli Enns is an internationally recognized expert in Indigenous-led conservation. From Tla-o-qui-aht Nation on his father’s side, and of Dutch Mennonite heritage on his ...
West Coast IPCA Conservation Director
Terry is from TLA-O-QUI-AHT FIRST NATIONS from the House of Hi-you-eah which is represented by the SEITCHER family. In 2003, when he got married to ...