Big Tent Committee debates wording to make 'conservation community' inclusive

Chair John Lemcool opened the meeting by reading the Big Tent Committee’s description and asking members whether it still reflected the committee’s role in seeking common ground and increasing cross‑programmatic coordination.

Commissioner Barbara Baker, who previously chaired the committee, said the words matter and urged the group to emphasize the committee’s collaborative function so no stakeholder group feels boxed out. "The words are difficult to find and put in the right order, but the discussion is what's worthwhile," Baker said.

Multiple commissioners — including Steve Parker, Lorna Smith and Gerry Anderson — suggested modest edits to avoid separating hunters, fishers and wildlife appreciators from the broader conservation community. Parker urged the committee to be proactive in seeking collaborative opportunities rather than waiting for staff to bring initiatives forward.

Several members proposed moving the phrase "conservation community" to the front of the sentence and adding clarifying language or the word "stakeholders" so the description reads as an umbrella. Commissioner Lorna Smith suggested explicitly naming tribes as part of the conservation community; the chair agreed to note that suggestion.

Deputy staff present said they heard general agreement about moving "conservation community" forward and would return to the committee with alternative phrasings for consideration.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the wording; members generally agreed to have staff draft options that reflect the discussion and bring them back for review. The chair closed the item and moved to the budget and legislation briefing.

The next step: staff will prepare draft sentence options incorporating the agreed direction (putting "conservation community" first, adding stakeholder language, and an explicit reference to tribes) and circulate them to the committee for review.