Penobscot Nation official receives environmental honor

INDIAN ISLAND – John Banks, Penobscot Indian Nation environmental director, has been presented an award for his outstanding leadership in tribal environmental issues.

Selected from a national field of nominees, Banks was presented the award in a May 3 ceremony during the National Tribal Environmental Council’s 13th National Conference in Temecula, Calif. The conference was hosted by the Pechanga Band of Luise?o Indians.

Banks has been the Penobscot Nation’s environmental director since 1980 and is the only person to hold the position for the tribe.

He was nominated for the award by Steve Crawford, environmental director for the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

“Banks has been a strong leader for his tribe at the local, state and national levels,” Crawford said in his nomination.

Banks facilitated the growth of the tribe’s environmental department, that now has seven divisions.

“In accepting the award, Banks said he was especially appreciative as Michael Frost had been a friend of his,” according to a press release from the National Tribal Environmental Council.

Frost was the director of the Environmental Programs Division of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe from October 1991 until his death in 1998.

“His contributions and leadership touched not only those who worked with him, but earned him respect throughout the country for his work on tribal environmental issues,” the release said.

In accepting the award, Banks also thanked Penobscot Indian Nation Chief James Sappier for allowing him to “think outside the box.”

This year’s award was a handcrafted Luise?o-style arrow made by Cherokee artist Josh Smallwood of California.

In addition, Banks was presented with a blanket by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Environmental Programs Division head Ethan Hinkley, in recognition of Banks receiving the Frost Award.

The National Tribal Environmental Council was established to promote each tribe’s ability to protect, preserve and promote the management of air, land and water for the benefit of present and future generations.