BEND, Ore. — April 29, 2026 — The inaugural Schnitzer Prize of the West has been awarded to Brad Parry, vice chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, for his leadership in ecological restoration and cultural healing efforts at a historic site in Idaho.
The $50,000 award, presented by the High Desert Museum, recognizes innovative and collaborative solutions to longstanding challenges across the American West. Parry will be formally honored during a ceremony in Portland on May 16.
Parry was selected for his work transforming the site of the Bear River Massacre near Preston—where more than 400 Northwestern Shoshone tribal members were killed—into a place focused on environmental restoration and cultural remembrance. The tribe purchased the 350-acre property in 2018, bringing renewed attention to one of the deadliest acts of violence against Native Americans in U.S. history.
Through the Wuda Ogwa Cultural and Land Restoration Project, Parry has led efforts to restore the landscape while fostering reconciliation. The project includes removing invasive species, planting more than 70,000 native plants, restoring wetlands, and reestablishing the natural flow of a tributary to the Bear River. The work is expected to return an estimated 10,000 acre-feet of water annually to the Great Salt Lake, which has faced severe ecological strain amid ongoing drought conditions.
Parry’s approach emphasizes collaboration, bringing together tribal members, local farmers and ranchers, scientists, and government agencies to address water management and land restoration challenges.
“How we view the restoration is a project not just of restoring the land, but restoring the spirit of forgiveness,” said Rios Pacheco. “Restoration brings brightness, hope, resilience, and remembrance, but most of all, it brings forgiveness of the past to continue forward in the future.”
Supporters say Parry’s leadership has helped create a model for watershed restoration in the region. Katie Newburn, of the FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake, said his work bridges disciplines and communities.
“He understands that this work is intersectional and has brought together a coalition of stakeholders to make this ambitious project possible,” Newburn said.
The prize was launched in partnership with Jordan D. Schnitzer and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation to highlight leadership addressing issues such as sovereignty, environmental restoration, and water security.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be the inaugural recipient,” Parry said in a statement, noting the recognition reflects the resilience and unity of his tribe and community.
The selection was made by a panel of 13 advisors representing fields including tribal leadership, agriculture, water policy, and academia. Nearly 100 nominations were submitted from across 12 states.
Four finalists—Amy Bowers Cordalis of Talent, Oregon; Kelley Delpit of Bend; Julie Rentner of Chico, California; and Laura Van Riper of Bend—will each receive $2,500 at the May ceremony.
Administered by the High Desert Museum, the Schnitzer Prize of the West will open nominations for its 2027 award cycle in May, with submissions due by Dec. 31, 2026.
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