our story.
Meet the People who Make the Magic Happen
reciprocity trusts society.
reciprocity.trusts. is the product of hundreds of conversations over coffee, bannock, moose stew and jarred salmon.
This project was initiated by a small group of B.C. based social scientists and ecologists who have collectively worked with Indigenous communities on projects related to the protection of their territories and future generations for over 35 years. It’s through working with Indigenous communities that we learned the importance of reciprocity as a principle that guides relationships with lands, waters, non-living beings and between individuals, families and communities.
Reciprocity is the intangible, connective fabric that holds kin networks together. Reciprocity is a transformative ethic of care.
Inspired by similar initiatives like the Sogorea Te Land Trust and Real Rent Duwamish, we formed the registered non-profit organisation, Reciprocity Trusts Society (Reciprocity Trusts) in 2023, to formally dedicate ourselves to bringing the idea of reciprocity with Indigenous Peoples to the Canadian public and changing the culture of private property ownership on Indigenous lands. We are grateful every day to be the administrators of Regional Reciprocity Trusts, to learn from the Nations we work with, to provide public education, to model honest self-reflection, and to build responsible, active awareness of Indigenous land rights in urban centres.
We all sit down at the table with colonialism every day, whether we recognize it or not. We know that reciprocity is at the heart of historic treaties and relationships that we are all part of. We know that our colonial past has had too little reciprocity, and our colonial present needs a lot more.
“When I think about reciprocity, it’s not just about providing back to those who are with us today, but honoring those who came before, who stewarded the land before, and then also making sure that there’s something here for future generations as well.”
– Sammy Kent, homeowner and board member
Reciprocity Trusts Society has been lovingly incubated and brought to life with financial support, staff time and resources from Reciprocity Research Inc. Learn more about our extended family at reciprocityconnects.ca.
Sarah Reid (MA) (she/her)
Executive Director
For over fifteen years, Sarah has partnered with Indigenous communities across BC to map out socio-economic impacts, stewardship goals, and strategic land-use plans. While she I loves this work, it revealed a systemic gap: reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination can’t just live on papered agreements between corporate, government and Indigenous leaders –, it requires a fundamental shift in understanding and perception from all. She was inspired to lead Reciprocity Trusts because she sees room for growth around the general public’s ability to participate in creating a more equitable future that upflits and honours the Indigenous Nations whose lands we live, work and play on. When not working to translate complex systemic realities into grassroots community action, Sarah can be found exploring the nuučanuł territories she now calls home with her husband, two kids and pup.
Dorothy (Dot) Hodgins (BA) (she/her)
Communication and Engagement Coordinator
Dot grew up on Anishinaabe and Huron-Wendat territory on mnidoo-gamii, singing lovesongs to the bay and reading past her bedtime. Drawn to the South Island, like many, for its beauty, mild weather and slower pace of life, she learned that to love and truly belong to a place requires also embracing a sense of responsibility towards it. This desire to deepen her relationship to the South Island and the First Nations who steward it led her to Reciprocity Trusts. From organizing community events to designing newsletters, Dot is passionate about harnessing creativity, compassion, media arts and humour towards meaningful decolonial work.
Naomi Devine (she/her)
Storyteller, Strategic Advisor & Board Chair
Naomi is a climate planner and engagement strategist who has spent more than twenty years guiding transformative sustainability policies across North America. From advising on city-level net-zero frameworks to designing spaces for meaningful public participation, her work is always anchored in human-centered design. Naomi employs visual communication and collaborative problem-solving to help communities look at systemic crises and collectively map a path forward. As part of Reciprocity Trusts, she channels her passion for strategic storytelling into building welcoming, practical pathways for decolonizing our backyards and honoring the lands we share. When not facilitating change-making, Naomi can be found swimming in the nearest, coldest water body.
Sammy Kent (he/him)
Board Vice Chair
Sammy is an Indigenous researcher, professional agrologist (PAg), and entrepreneur. Sammy has started several businesses including currently serving as President of Reciprocity Restoration Inc. Sammy is a founding director of Reciprocity Trusts Society and the Smokehouse Foundation. He currently lives on the shared territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən, MÁLEXEȽ, Sc’ianew, T’Sou-ke, Xwsepsum Nations. Born in Whitehorse, Yukon and living there for much of his youth, he was exposed from a young age to a life rooted in the natural world and a deep respect for local Indigenous people and cultures. As a descendent of Cree & Dene peoples, Sammy is a proud member of the Fort McMurray #468 First Nation who also carries European ancestry (English, French, & Swedish). Sammy is always walking, learning, and working in the boundary between Indigenous and Western cultures. Sammy has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria, with a Double Major in Geography and Environmental Studies. His research interests are focused primarily on ecological design and restoration, Indigenous food sovereignty, Indigenous Guardian programs, and collaborative stewardship initiatives. When not at work you can find Sammy cherishing the days with his two kids, loving partner, and loyal pup in the forests, streams, gardens, waves, trails, and mountains of Vancouver Island.
Carolyn Whittaker (she/her)
Board Treasurer
As an entrepreneur, ecology researcher and film producer, Carolyn develops stories, builds teams and finds ways for science to have impact particularly to further social justice and conservation. Carolyn splits her time between her family home in Ktunaxa territory in the Kootenays and her place on the coast in Lekwungen territory. Carolyn is a proud mama of two amazing daughters, grandmother to little Isaiah, and respite foster mom to Chuzyaz. Raising kids and grandkids has reinforced for Carolyn the importance of raising the next generation to truly understand reciprocity.
Craig Candler (PhD) (he/him)
Founder, Board Secretary
Reciprocity Trusts was founded in Summer 2019 by Craig Candler (PhD), a second-generation Canadian born on the prairies in Treaty six country and now settled on the west coast. Craig is a dad, a home and business owner, and a community-based researcher and cultural anthropologist. He helped found the Firelight Group and has worked for more than 25 years with and for Indigenous communities across what is now Western Canada. Since moving to Esquimalt 20 years ago, Craig and his family have been looking for a way to express the responsibility and gratitude they feel to the Nations whose ancestral lands they own property on, particularly recognizing the wealth generation associated with their ownership. He knew that many people felt the same way, but were missing a clear, simple and direct way to contribute to the Nations on whose territory they live. This is what inspired him to start Reciprocity Trusts. Craig believes that if we’re not doing anything to make a difference, we’re just continuing a colonial history that we don’t want to continu