Mr. Merkel’s purpose is simple: to create better ways to look after the land. He believes the missing ingredient is a common philosophical base that worships the land, and he works with others to build practical land management tools, organisations, education and public policy that incorporate this land ethic.

His formal education includes a Forest Technologist Diploma, Selkirk College, Castlegar, B.C. (with honours)and a B. Sc. Forestry, U. of A., Edmonton, Alberta (with distinction)

Work experience includes: Thirty years in most aspects of land management and community development including: surveyor; fire boss on campaign fires; duty officer; parks design and maintenance; inventory forester; silviculture contractor; development planner; road engineer; teacher; timber supply analyst; forest economist; forest policy analyst; natural resource developer; community planner; business developer; entrepreneur; manager/director/president; consultant, First Nations treaty negotiator, facilitator.

Garry comes from the Tahltan Nation in the Stikine River area of northwest British Columbia, and currently lives with the Ktunaxa Nation in Kimberley, British Columbia. He has worked with various First Nations across Canada, the United States and internationally in various areas such as political advocacy, building organizations, negotiating treaties, developing governments, strategic planning, creating and managing administration, business development, education infrastructure and program development, managing businesses and programs, creating land management infrastructure, negotiating a wide spectrum of agreements, traditional ecological knowledge inventories and use and others.