Governor's Heritage Award - Irene Martin

Irene Martin is a scholar, historian, archivist, gillnetter, Episcopal priest and author of several critically acclaimed books and articles. A resident of Skamokawa, she has long been active in the documentation of the community’s history, serving as the historian for the Friends of Skamokawa Foundation. As an outsider raised in Eastern Canada, Martin was able to witness and appreciate the uniqueness as well as the universality of Skamokawa community life. “Irene Martin through her compassion, concern and impeccable scholarship has become a remarkably effective voice for the heritage of the people of her county,” says Hobe Kytr, administrator of the Ilwaco Heritage Museum. “She repeatedly has demonstrated that sensitive, caring people who live in isolated, rural communities do indeed have something to teach us all. And we are the richer for it.”