Ronda Rutledge is Ecotrust’s first Indigenous executive director. The Portland nonprofit focuses on environmental stewardship and economic growth, especially among Pacific Northwest tribes.
Earlier this month, KCAW spoke with Brady, who was recognized for her work with the Herring Protectors, a local advocacy group that’s grown exponentially over the last seven years.
Ecotrust’s role will be to grow access and trust in USDA programs among farmers who’ve been historically underserved or discriminated against by the agency.
A coalition of partners has secured a $2.5M grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture to support tribal agroforestry.