New Orleans, Louisiana Jul 2, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - BCT, a land and cultural heritage conservancy, presented its Evangeline Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert Brevelle. Robert was recognized for his lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation, environmentalism, and the preservation of Louisiana and Native American culture.
The award is named for Evangeline, Henry Wadsworth Longfellows epic poem of the odyssey of the Acadian people. Evangeline is the namesake of a Louisiana town and parish, the first state park in Louisiana, and one of the historic companies that formed BCT decades ago.
I can think of no other person who better represents and lives the values of BCT and Longfellows Evangeline than Robert, said Sylvain Martel, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Robert, a descendant of one of the early French explorers of Louisiana, honors his Creole, Indian, and Cajun ancestors through his many charitable and civic acts to preserve and promote the history, culture, and beauty of Louisiana.
Robert has helped oversee thousands of acres of wildlife habitat across Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, which were part of the Louisiana Purchase. These fragile ecosystems include Native American heritage sites. Robert leads a team of ecologists, wildlife biologists, and silviculturists to work with private landowners, timber companies, government agencies, and nature conservancies to create innovative solutions to conservation challenges that benefit the landowner, wildlife, and the community at large while preserving the cultural history of the area. BCT has been recognized for providing economically and environmentally sustainable conservation programs.
I am deeply honored to receive this award, said Robert. I have always taken great pride in being a steward of the forests, wildlife, and heritage sites of La Louisiane. My family has been a part of Louisiana since time immemorial. My father fostered in me a love and an unbreakable bond with this land and with the rich, diverse cultures of its people. I would like to thank everyone who made it possible for me to be involved in what has been personally and spiritually fulfilling in ways I cannot express in words.
Robert is active across the Pelican State. He serves on the board of directors of BCT and is an active member of the National Guard Association in New Orleans. In Baton Rouge, he serves as the Chairman of the Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society (LGHS) and President of the Baton Rouge Genealogical and Historical Society. He has been inducted into the Order of Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, the historical societys highest honor.
In Vernon Parish, he is a lifetime member of the Leonidas Polk Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, Leesville High School Alumni Association, and the Old Stage Post 3106 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He serves on the Tribal Council of the Adai Caddo Indian Nation in Natchitoches Parish, where he was recently featured in the news for the Caddo Parish Commissions resolution supporting the tribe in their fight for federal recognition with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He brought national attention to their plight in May while being a featured guest on Native America Calling, a radio show linking over 52 public radio stations in North America. That episode of the 30-year-running Native American-focused radio show discussed hurdles and opposition that tribes face with the federal recognition process.
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Robert explains how he first got involved in conservation. Over 20 years ago, my military police unit was tasked with the protection of several Native American sites in East Texas, said Robert. These sites included burial mounds. I was shocked to see the devastation to the environment and the Indian mounds at the hands of profiteering grave robbers. The graves of my ancestors had been desecrated and their bones strewn about. That was my wake-up call to do what I could. Besides doing my duty in uniform, I saved up money and started purchasing my ancestral lands in East Texas and Louisiana. I became active in conservation groups and took every class and read every book I could to learn how to responsibly manage land. Now I start the process of preparing my son to one day take my place as the steward of these lands and our people.
Robert has presented at universities and conferences in the U.S. and abroad on sustainable forestry, the economics of wildlife management, Louisiana history, and Native American history.
His first book, The Savages Creed, is scheduled to be released this year and honors Native American military veterans of Louisiana.
Source :BCT Conservation Trust
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