Don Russell
Don Russell came to the Yukon from Williams Lake in 1976. He did graduate research at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska on the Central Arctic caribou. He joined a small group of biologists to set up Yukon's first wildlife research and management program. As the department grew, Russell did more management and less science. The Canadian Wildlife Service recruited him as caribou biologist in their small Whitehorse office where two biologists were already working. Russell built up a complete picture of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, starting with habitat and impact on individual animals and progressing to how the herd adapts to vegetation changes, insect harassment, weather, hunting, and development. After a number of years with Environment Canada, the staff grew larger and Don took on the job of local manager.1)
In 2000, Don became Environment Canada's research manager and devoted most of his time to asking and answering questions about caribou. In 2005, he won the Northern Science Award given by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. Some University of Alaska researchers described him as a luminary among Arctic animal ecologists and well respected for the quality of his work, this leadership, and the generosity of his mentorship.2)
Don retired from the Canadian Wildlife Service in 2006. He was given an “Emeritus” position with Environment Canada with an office and his chosen hours of work. In 2006, he was a coordinator for the new CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment Network (CARMA) which he helped found. CARMA brought indigenous people, researchers, and resource managers together to cooperatively ensure the future of the great herds of the north.3)