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 Institute.

The award recognizes years of innovative research by the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department (HIRMD) crew members who work at the Koeye River weir.

The research, which involved AI machine learning to identify and monitor wild sockeye salmon stocks in Haíɫzaqv territory, was a direct response to rapidly declining sockeye salmon populations and reduced monitoring programs by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The weir, which operates like a series of fence panels that span the river, was designed based on images and archeological evidence of traditional sockeye salmon weirs. Coast Funds covered a story about the revival of traditional fishing practices in 2017.

More recently, Haíɫzaqv Nation installed a solar-powered, satellite-connected AI monitoring system at the Koeye River weir. The system enabled real-time fish counts and species recognition, allowing Haíɫzaqv researchers to make culturally and ecologically supported harvesting decisions.

Combining Traditional Knowledge and modern science, the Nation was able to harvest and share sockeye salmon with their community for the first time in years.

Haíɫzaqv Nation’s commitment to environmental stewardship and food security has been unwavering, leading to the return of sockeye salmon in abundance.

“This project has been ongoing for over a decade with many different partners and there have been many, many people who have contributed to this successful program,” stated the Heiltsuk Tribal Council in a Facebook post on May 30, 2025.

The prestigious Innovative Community or Organization Award is recognition for the research and years of work involving many hands across Haíɫzaqv Nation. Present-day weir crew members, Mel Brown, Jeremy Jorgenson, Kai Schooner, and Will Atlas travelled from Bella Bella to accept the award at Microsoft’s Vancouver office.

First Nations Technology Council’s Amplify Awards are a celebration of Indigenous innovation, recognizing the outstanding achievements of Indigenous technology leaders and programs. First Nations Technology Council is an Indigenous-led non-profit dedicated to advancing digital literacy, improve internet connectivity, and provide guidance on data and digital technology for all 204 First Nations across the province of British Columbia.

The Koeye weir program is one of many initiatives delivered by Haíɫzaqv Nation. Recently, the Nation has been strengthening their monitoring of fish farms and commercial fishers, updating equipment to support shipyard upgrades, and investing in infrastructure and environmental improvements to marina float and surrounds, supported through funds administered by Coast Funds.

Coast Funds staff recently attended a community celebration hosted by Haíɫzaqv Nation to mark the Nation’s new constitution and celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Nation’s ƛiác̓I Big House. The celebration included special presentations and storytelling, delicious meals, dances, speeches, and the signing of the Constitutional MOU.