Meet the First Recipient of the Chief Roy Mussell Bursary!

The Fraser Basin Council Youth Program is delighted to announce Courtenay Campbell as the first-ever recipient of the Chief Roy Mussell Bursary.

Courtenay Campbell, a proud Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation student, is currently pursuing a degree in Natural Resource Sciences at Thompson Rivers University. Through her studies, work, and community engagement, Courtenay exemplifies the values of sustainability and reconciliation that the Chief Roy Mussell Bursary was created to support.

Her academic journey includes an honours thesis that integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with scientific methods to explore culturally significant plant regeneration after wildfires. This research highlights her dedication to combining Indigenous perspectives with modern approaches to address environmental challenges.

Professionally, Courtenay contributes to sustainable forestry through work she does for Second Pass Forestry, an Indigenous-owned company that balances economic development with ecological stewardship. In her role, she fosters responsible forest management rooted in Indigenous values.

Beyond her studies and work, Courtenay is interested and involved in advancing reconciliation through community activities such as youth mentorship, land-based learning, and promotion of Indigenous voices in decision-making processes.

The Fraser Basin Council, FBC Youth Program and Chief Roy Mussell Bursary Selection Committee would like to congratulate Courtenay on her well-deserved recognition and wish her continued success in her journey to advance sustainability and reconciliation in British Columbia.

Photo: Courtenay Campbell says Kukwstsétsemc,  which is thank-you in Secwepemc.

The Chief Roy Mussell Bursary was established in 2024 to honour the legacy of the Fraser Basin Council’s founding Vice-Chair, Chief Roy Mussell, his commitment to sustainability and his passion for supporting Indigenous youth in BC.

The Bursary Selection Committee — composed of members of the Mussell family and of FBC — thank everyone who applied for the 2024-2025 award and wish them the best in their studies. The calibre of applicants was high and made the selection of a single recipient challenging. Applications for the 2025-2026 Bursary will be accepted in Fall 2025 – watch for details!

Learn more about the Chief Roy Mussell Bursary.