Corey Hinton
Hinton named 2023 Gerda Haas Award Recipient
The HHRC is delighted to announce the 2023 recipient of the Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Human Rights Education and Leadership is Corey Hinton. Corey’s life is dedicated to changing the legal, political and societal systems that cause harm, seeking to protect people. Our community will honor Corey at our Annual Meeting on September 21, 2023.
Gerda Haas, a Holocaust survivor and founder of the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine, inspired many with her passion for human rights education. When she learned that students weren’t being taught about the Holocaust in Maine’s public schools, she took action—traveling around the state telling her story and then persuading Governor Brennan to require it in school curricula. Former recipients of the award include: Mary Bonauto, Grace Valenzuela, Rachel Talbot Ross, Richard Blanco, Christopher Meyers Asch, Pious Ali, ILAP, Tim Wilson, and Betsy Parsons.
Corey is a passionate advocate for civil and human rights, nationally and here in Maine. A citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe (Sipayik), Corey draws from a deep, personal well of experience as he helps clients, those working to further equality, Indigenous communities, and the young members of Tribal Nations. Corey gives generously—his time, talents and heart.
Leader of Drummond Woodsum’s Tribal Nations Practice Group, Corey advises Tribal Nations and Tribe-owned entities on federal Indian law and policy, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, employment matters, economic development, environmental and natural resource issues, and the fee-to-trust process.
Corey has substantial experience related to natural resources, including Improved Forest Management (IFM) carbon offset projects. In 2016, he assisted the Passamaquoddy Tribe to establish an IFM that was recognized in California for removing 3.8 million tons of greenhouse gases in furtherance of California’s “cap-and-trade” program.
A separate focus of Corey’s work is with non-profit entities that serve indigenous, underserved, and under resourced communities. He advises and assists non-profit clients on a wide range of subjects including strategic planning, internal governance, employment, fundraising, programmatic development, and transactional issues.
Prior to joining Drummond Woodsum, Corey spent time at the National Indian Gaming Commission and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. He is the former president of the Native American Bar Association of Washington, D.C. He’s also a former Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse team member.
In his free time, Corey enjoys spending time with his family, their dog and two cats. He takes Passamaquoddy language classes, organizes sports/life skills camps for Tribal Nations youth, and volunteers for the Maine Justice Foundation. Corey also serves on the Executive Committee for the Thompson Brothers’ 4 the Future Foundation, which inspires youth by creating community-based opportunities at the intersection of culture and healthy lifestyles.
We hope you will join us on September 21st to hear from this incredible force for justice and positive change in our world—and offer gratitude for his life’s work.
To learn more and purchase tickets to the Annual Meeting, visit hhrcmaine.org.