For millennia, the Wei Wai Kum, part of the Laich-Kwil-Tach group of First Nations, have watched over and cared for the lands and waters in their territory. Today, the Nation’s Guardians combine traditional knowledge with scientific tools to carry out that responsibility in a modern way, bringing their findings back to decision makers.
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As governments and conservation groups around the world move to protect biodiversity and nature, project finance for permanence offers a model for securing long-term funding and lasting ecosystem protections, benefitting both people and place. On the coast of modern-day British Columbia, 17 First Nations worked with provincial and federal governments, and with partners in conservation
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As oolichan return to spawn, First Nations on the coast mark the transition from winter to spring with celebrations such as Hoobiyee and the spring equinox. For millennia, First Nations on the coast of British Columbia have sustainably harvested oolichan, a finger-sized oily fish that is a member of the smelt family. Oolichan (also spelled
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Coast Funds is pleased to welcome Eau-Vive Heppenstall to the leadership team as the new Senior Director of Projects and Operations, effective February 24, 2026. Eau-Vive joins the team during a period of growth and, in this new role, will lead internal operations, strengthening Coast Funds’ capacity for serving First Nations in advancing conservation and
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First Nations working to manage their territories and invest in their communities may be eligible to apply for funding from Crown governments, philanthropic foundations, and corporate community investment programs. And, through Coast Funds, participating First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii may have funding available for stewardship, conservation, and economic development projects in addition
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Gitga’at First Nation has released its 2025 State of the Ocean report, which features contributions from Gitga’at Guardians, researchers, students, and community members. Each chapter highlights research and data from projects that support marine animal protection, ecosystem stewardship, and management of cultural sites. The 105-page report includes Gitga’at Guardians’ annual patrol summary, along with updates
First Nations carvers are working with wilkw / k ̓ wa’x̱ tłu Large Cultural Cedar to create cultural works, like an ocean-going xwax’wa̱na, that celebrate the revival of traditions.
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This year, First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii were recognized for their leadership in stewarding their lands and waters, strengthening governance and partnerships, and revitalizing languages and cultural traditions. Nations ratified new treaties and constitutions, advanced Indigenous-led conservation financing, expanded Guardian and stewardship programs, and led historic clean-energy transitions. Communities also
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Khasalus Kolten Grant is a multidisciplinary artist with family ties to the Musgamagw Dzawadaenuxw, Kwakiutl, Tlowitsis, Squamish, and N’Quatqua St’at’imc Nations. He works across a range of artistic practices including cedar wood carving, silver jewelry making, digital art, printmaking, and painting. His mentors include Klatle-Bhi Charles Sam, Kevin Cranmer, Phil Gray, and the late Richard
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In the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, First Nations’ investments in the conservation economy, supported by a $60-million Economic Development Fund, have contributed $808 million to provincial GDP and netted $1.77 billion in gross economic output. These findings, supported by independent analysis and released in a new report – Building a Conservation Economy –
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New address: Coast Funds 800 – 925 W Georgia St Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L2 Over the past few years, Coast Funds has grown its team to support First Nations’ priorities, including the Great Bear Sea PFP, and our new office will have space for our team to collaborate and host First Nations and partners.
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In October, First Nations leaders – including Hereditary and elected Chiefs, business leaders, and representatives from Nation’ economic development corporations – gathered in Vancouver for the Great Bear Rainforest Economic Summit, a conference marking more than 15 years of collective investment in sustainable businesses, infrastructure, and economic development on the coast. Participating First Nations have
Along the Nass River, Nisg̱a’a Nation is using fishwheels annually to collect baseline data on salmon populations, helping to ensure food security and economic prosperity for their citizens.
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On September 10, Tlowitsis Nation hosted a small open house in their new community, Nenagwas, which translates from Kwak̓wala to “a place to come home to.” The open house welcomed guests from the federal and provincial governments, contractors, sector partners, and local non-profits that played a part in the development of Nenagwas. In 2018, Tlowitsis
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Coast Funds has grown its team to build capacity to deliver new funding through the Great Bear Sea PFP and to enhance services for all the First Nations we serve. In recent weeks, Coast Funds has welcomed three new staff members: Landon Gilmour (Finance Manager) and Raven Stierle (Stewardship Funding Specialist) who will support participating
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Over the summer and fall of 2025, yáqʷa Development Corporation (x̄á’isla Nation’s economic development corporation) will carry out a series of extensive renovations of Gizuá Market, previously known as Sunrise General Merchandise. Located in Kitamaat Village in x̄á’isla Haisla territory, the market and restaurant space will offer upgraded amenities for x̄á’isla’s community and visitors. As
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Through an incubator program, Wuikinuxv Nation is partnering with Coast Funds and the Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA) to assess the feasibility of conservation finance mechanisms that could generate long-term revenue for the Nation’s salmon and watershed priorities. This project was recently awarded seed funding and project support through the CFA’s 2025 Incubator cohort, announced in
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With the grand opening of the Ocean House at Tlaga G̲áwtlaas, located in the north end of X̱aadáa Gwáay | X̱aada Gwaay.yaay* Haida Gwaii, on June 1, Haida Tourism celebrated a major milestone in its shift towards ecotourism and cultural tourism. Haida Tourism is one of three businesses operated by Haida Enterprise Corporation (HaiCo). Ocean
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Over three days in June, in lək̓ʷəŋən territory Victoria, hundreds of Guardians gathered with their family members and supporters for the sixth annual First Nations National Guardian Gathering — an event grounded in community, culture, and shared commitment to stewardship. Attendees heard from Guardians leading stewardship programs across their territories, with topics ranging from restoring
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Indigenous communities have been leading environmental stewardship for millennia using Traditional Knowledge that inherently protects the planet’s biodiversity. Using the project finance for permanence (PFP) model, Indigenous communities are securing lasting protections for sensitive ecosystems and long-term financing to sustain stewardship, Guardian programs, conservation efforts, and community-led economic development. In Canada, four groups of Indigenous
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After more than a decade of ongoing conservation research, a wild sockeye salmon monitoring program run by Haíɫzaqv Heiltsuk Nation has been awarded the Innovative Community or Organization Award by the First Nations Technology Council. The award recognizes years of innovative research by the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department (HIRMD) crew members who work at
