Get to know Gabe Sheoships, Friends’ new executive director, through this conversation with Acting Public Engagement & Communications Director Melissa Gonzalez, exploring his connection to the Gorge, his background, and the person behind the role.

  1. Your family has been part of the Gorge for time immemorial. How does that connection inform the work ahead?
    “The connection with the Gorge is important. I grew up listening to my grandmother, Mabel Sheoships (Thompson), share stories of her time traveling and camping at Celilo Falls and visiting the many communities along the river. She spoke of things that I could only imagine, then and now. Stories and cultural history are important to share with future generations so they will know what this landscape is truly capable of.”
  2. How did you first start working in outdoor education and conservation? Has becoming a parent changed how you relate to the outdoors?
    “I knew from an early age that I wanted to work to benefit the natural world and Tribal First Foods, though the pathway to getting there was less clear at the time. For a long time, I considered attending law school and pursuing this work through the policy route. Being a parent has certainly changed how I relate to the environment. I have now been a parent for more years than I have not, and am grateful for that. I often think about what places like the Gorge will look like when my children are my age.”
  3. At Friends of Tryon Creek, you integrated traditional ecological knowledge into education programs, elevated Indigenous voices and community building, and completed a multi-million dollar education pavilion campaign. What are you most proud of from your time there? “It would be difficult to pick just one thing, as these efforts were all interconnected and part of a larger commitment to reconnecting communities, strengthening the organization, and setting it up for where it is today. The organization is in a better position because of all of these things, but what stands out most is the process of bringing the full community together in relationship building. That work is unique and will ensure these efforts continue long into the future.”
  4. You are the first enrolled member of a Gorge Treaty Tribe to serve as executive director. What does that mean to you, and what do you hope it will mean for Friends’ members and the Gorge community at large?
    “The Gorge Treaty Tribes, or River Tribes, have been dedicated to the protection, health, and legacy of the Gorge since time immemorial. It is important to recognize the historical and contemporary contributions of our local Tribes. My hope is for stronger relationships and connections on issues related to the integrity and future of the Gorge and Columbia River.”
  5. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for Friends to grow and deepen its impact? “Friends has a strong community that has advocated for the Gorge for decades. I see real opportunity in deepening relationships with local communities, stakeholders, and sovereign nations.”
  6. If there is one thing you want the Gorge community to know as you step into this role, what is it?
    “I care deeply about this place and am honored to step into this role at this moment in the world. Friends has established a strong community and organization dedicated to this work. I believe it takes everyone to do this work, we are all part of this ecosystem.”
  7. At a time when our society seems so divided on so many issues, how can conservation bring people and communities together? “We all depend on healthy rivers, resilient forests, and clean air. There is strength in numbers, and I believe this is a moment when many of us are being motivated to act on common goals and shared concerns. At the end of the day, many of us want and prioritize the same things for our communities and families.”

Meet Gabe Sheoships at our upcoming annual meeting on Sunday, May 17 at Skamania Lodge. Register here.