Kurt Grinnell
Kurt Grinnell was a proud descendent of Chief Chetzemoka, who was one of the signers of the Point No Point Treaty, and a beloved member of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. As a strong advocate of Tribal food security and sovereignty, he recognized that aquaculture– whether shellfish, finfish, or plants such as algae– is a necessity if the Tribes of the Pacific Northwest were to continue to harvest seafood in their usual and accustomed areas, as guaranteed under Federal Treaties. He also viewed aquaculture through the lens of his Tribe’s cultural value of planning “Seven Generations Ahead”, meaning that with each deliberate action taken there is a consideration for the impact that action will have on the seventh generation from now.
Kurt and his wife and business partner, Terri Grinnell, were pioneers in the Tribe’s aquaculture, including the addition of shellfish spat production and finfish cultures, and working on research and development to produce native finfish (steelhead and black cod) and shellfish (oysters and geoducks). They worked hard to ensure a sustainable source of native fish and shellfish species for their Tribe.
As a member of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council, Kurt was regarded as an effective peacemaker, always respectfully seeking mutually acceptable and productive solutions to conflicts and disagreements, whether between Tribes, Tribes, and government agencies, or individuals. Because of this, Kurt was the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s representative on the Northwest Aquaculture Alliance, where he served as Vice President of the Board of Directors. He was also an active member of the National Aquaculture Association.
It is evident in his life and work that Kurt was committed to his wife and family, to his many friends, to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, to his business partners, and to his greater community in Clallam and Jefferson Counties. Kurt was instrumental in helping to implement a drug treatment center in Clallam County (Sequim).
A life-long learner, Kurt embraced challenges and was known for his intellectual curiosity, his kindness, and his unwavering honesty and integrity. A leader in his community, well-respected by everyone he knew, Kurt Ginnell’s legacy will live on through the giving of this scholarship to Tribal members who emulate what Kurt was all about: integrity, aquaculture, and the preservation of Tribal tradition and culture.
