Our People

?ikaatius (Tyson Atleo)

Natural Climate Solutions Program Director

headshot of a young man smiling at the camera

Areas of Focus

Working on Natural Climate Solutions, and leading stewardship and development in Ahousaht.

Media Contact

Jacqueline Nunes
ph. +1 416 526-7353
Email:

Quote

The Natural Climate Solutions report reinforces lessons from my Ahousaht culture about the importance of carefully maintaining respectful relationships with the life-giving forces of the natural world.

Biography

Tyson Atleo is a hereditary chief-in-line of the Ahousaht Nation, and considers himself fortunate to be raised in a family that honoured Ahousaht cultural traditions. As a result, he cares deeply about the relationship with and the wellbeing of the natural world, and enabling positive change. As the Natural Climate Solutions Program Director for Nature United, Tyson leads our work advancing nature-based strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through our Natural Climate Solutions program.

He started at Nature United in 2016, as Community Economic Development Lead, integrating economic development into our conservation work along the Emerald Edge—a 100-million-acre landscape that stretches from Washington, up the British Columbia coast to southeast Alaska.

Before this, Tyson served a four year term as the youngest elected Councilor in Ahousaht history. He led the development of, and continues to serve as the vice-president for, Ahousaht’s stewardship and sustainable economic development corporation, the Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society. Tyson also worked for many years with the Government of Canada and as a consultant focused on Indigenous community development and engagement, is a successful entrepreneur in the housing sector, and co-founded The Gathering Voices Society, a charity focused on advancing innovative Indigenous led solutions to conservation and development challenges.

Tyson balances his commitment to enabling change with enjoying athletics, adventure, naturalism and good food, and sharing those things with the human and non-human beings in his life.

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