Dzawada’enuxw Nation

Kingcome Inlet

The Dzawada'enuxw Nation is located in Kingcome Inlet within the Queen Charlotte Straight region, north of Vancouver Island.

Dzawada'enuxw Bighouse in Gwayee. Photo by Ryan Dawson

Click to Explore

The Dzawada’enuxw Nation’s main community is located in the village of Gwayee at the mouth of the Kingcome River, on BC’s South Central Coast

Dzawada’enuxw Nation

The Dzawada’enuxw Nation (formerly Tsawataineuk First Nation) is located in the Queen Charlotte Straight region, north of Vancouver Island.

Dzawada’enuxw members reside both in the traditional village of Gwayee at the mouth of the Kingcome River as well as throughout BC.

See Projects

Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw Chiefs at the raising of the MD pole in 1938. Photo courtesy of Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw Tribal Council — Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Chiefs at the raising of the MD pole in 1938. Photo courtesy of Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Tribal Council

The Dza’wada’enuxw Nation belief system is based on four traditional laws and values:

Spirituality, which recognizes the existence of a higher power and provides the foundation for the three other laws and values.

Respect for all creation, underpinned by the understanding that all creation is interconnected; this belief directs the Nation’s land and resource stewardship.

Relationships, specifically the relationship between the Nation and all creation; recognizing that all creation can survive without the Nation but the Nation cannot survive without all creation.

The importance of self brings the focus to the individual; it supports the self-determination of the Dzawada’enuxw Nation reinforces the practice that the greatest duty of any individual is to give of one’s self.

Dzawada’enuxw Nation Projects

In partnership with Coast Funds, Dzawada’enuxw Nation has invested in:

First Nation	Applicant	Project	Description	Links	Type	Year	Funding
Dzawada’enuxw Nation	Dzawada'enuxw Development GP Ltd	Water Taxi Business Start Up	To support Dzawada'enuxw in operating a water transportation business that will benefit the community through the purchasing of a water taxi, business planning, and the hiring of a transportation coordinator and water taxi drivers.		Economic Development Fund	2024	$ 318,417
Dzawada’enuxw Nation	Dzawada'enuxw Development GP Ltd.	Start-up of Dzwada’enuxw Development GP Ltd.	To support operations of the Dzawada’enuxw Development GP Ltd. during its start-up period, hire a part-time General Manager, recruit a full complement of directors for the Board, and develop a long-term business plan for the development corporation and its future subsidiary operations		Economic Development Fund	2021	$ 70,000
Dzawada’enuxw Nation	Dzawada'enuxw First Nation	Padakus Creek 350kW Hydropower Facility Development	To replace the existing fossil fuel-dependent electrification facility serving the 95 residents of the village of U'kwanalis with a new 350kW hydroelectric project on Padakus Creek, a tributary to Gwa'yi (Kingcome River); this will supply 97% of the community’s electricity needs and is expected to displace over 265,000 liters of imported diesel fuel annually, reducing the cumulative greenhouse gases by approximately 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over the project life, while also providing employment and training opportunities for community members during the construction and operation of the new facility.	Media Release	Sustainable Energy	2020	$ 3,300,000
Dzawada’enuxw Nation	Dzawada'enuxw First Nation	Planning for Acquisition of Pierre’s Marina and Lodge at Echo Bay	To plan the acquisition for the largest full service marina in the Broughton Archipelago located on Gilford Island including an operational and training plan that was subsequently acquired by the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation with the support of Dzawada'enuxw First Nation.		Economic Development Fund	2018	$ 50,000