For his “dedication of more than 40 years of his life to partnering with communities and Indigenous peoples in all 12 countries the animal inhabits,” Dr. Rodney Jackson received the World Union of Indigenous Spiritual Practitioners’ sacred honorary award, The Sign of Appreciation and Respect. This special award was highlighted in National Geographic’s recent July 2024 issue (Vol 246, No 1) on Indigenous Futures.

Award Presentation (Starting at 10:12)

At the Wildlife Conservation Fall Expo, held in San Francisco in October 2024, Dr. Rodney Jackson was honored during the Snow Leopard Conservancy’s presentation with the Sign of Appreciation and Respect, the World Union of Indigenous Spiritual Practitioners’ (WUISP) highest award. The WUISP council of spiritual elders chose to honor Rodney as “a true guardian of Mother Earth for all his work to influence conservation policies and to champion indigenous peoples’ rights and knowledge, while protecting Snow Leopards and their ecosystem.”

The award was presented by Maria Azhunova, director of the Land of Snow Leopard Network, “in recognition of his incredible work in conservation and unwavering partnerships with indigenous people across the Snow Leopard’s range. His tireless efforts have advanced the conservation of the snow leopard and ecosystems and have transformed the way we think about conservation. Rodney has brought together scientists, conservationists, and Indigenous Cultural Practitioners to restore balance to Mother Earth.” – Maria Azhunova

The formal award presentation will take place at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in early 2025. As stated by Ms. Azhunova,”this honor not only recognizes Rodney’s past achievements, but is a call for an ongoing collaboration that honors indigenous guardianship.”