Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations
Smith Inlet, Seymour Inlet and Blunden Harbour
The Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations belong to the Wakashan language group and are part of the Kwakwaka'wakw group of nations.
The main community of the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations is located close to Port Hardy. Their territory encompasses Smith Inlet, Seymour Inlet and Blunden Harbour, on BC’s South Central Coast.
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations are an amalgamation of two tribes, including the Gwa’sala people who lived around Smith Inlet and the surrounding islands, and the ‘Nakwaxda’xw people who inhabited Seymour Inlet and its surrounding islands.
Today the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations’ main community is located near Port Hardy on the north east coast of Vancouver Island.
See Projects
The Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations belong to the Wakashan language group and are considered a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw group of nations.
The Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations are committed to preserving their distinct culture, language, and traditions. The vision for their community encompasses the importance of culture, the value of community well-being, and the importance of caring for the natural environment.
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations’ vision:
Exist forever as the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw people, building on the legacy left to us by our ancestors and moving towards a bright future.
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations Projects
In partnership with Coast Funds, Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations has invested in:
| First Nation | Applicant |
Project |
Description | Links | Type |
Year |
Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2024/25 Operations | To support the Guardian program, including managing and monitoring lands and marine resource activities in the territories, planning and referrals, and a wide variety of research projects aimed at protecting valuable fish, wildlife, and habitat resources for future generations. | Conservation Fund | 2024 | $ 175,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2023/24 Operations | To support all aspects of the Lands and Resources Office, which includes coordinating, managing, and monitoring lands and resource activities in the territories, Guardian programming, land use planning, referrals assessment and evaluation, and a wide variety of research projects aimed at protecting valuable fish, wildlife, habitat, and cultural resources for future generations. | Conservation Fund | 2023 | $ 125,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2022/23 Operations | To support all aspects of the Stewardship Program, which includes onsite inspections of commercial and recreational activities within Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw’s traditional territory; building baseline ecological data on priority species and their habitat including herring, abalone, clam, crab, and groundfish; assessing salmon returns and habitat health; monitoring aquaculture farms in the territory; and furthering collaborative territorial management and compliance enforcement. | Conservation Fund | 2022 | $ 125,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2021/22 Operations | To support all aspects of the Stewardship Program and resources management programs which including monitoring commercial and recreational activities within Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw’s traditional territory; building baseline ecological data on priority species and their habitat including salmon, herring, shellfish, and groundfish; undertaking a Dungeness crab population assessment; monitoring forestry sites and adjacent streams to understand the impact of logging on the ecosystem; undertaking stream restoration activities to protect and improve salmon habitat; monitoring aquaculture farms in the territory; and undertaking a traditional knowledge and use study. | Conservation Fund | 2021 | $ 125,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2020/21 Operations | To support all aspects of the Stewardship Program and resources management programs including territorial monitoring; data collection on priority species and their habitat (salmon, herring, clam, abalone, geoduck, crab, rockfish, ling cod, halibut); habitat monitoring and restoration in forestry areas; continuation of the Nekite Estuary West Biodiversity Area grizzly bear project; Guardian Watchman cabin upkeep; and compliance enforcement. | Conservation Fund | 2020 | $ 250,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2017 Operations | To support all aspects of the Guardian Watchman Program and resource management programs including juvenile sockeye salmon research in the Docee River and Long Lake, abalone abundance surveys in Smith Inlet, grizzly bear research in the Nekite watershed and Seymour Inlet, and steelhead and chum salmon monitoring in the Nekite watershed | Conservation Fund | 2017 | $ 334,756 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2015 Operations | To support operations with a change in emphasis from developing the Nation's regional monitoring strategy to implementation of marine and conservancy management plans, to continue the junior guardian program, and to partner with universities on stewardship training and a bear identification pilot program | Conservation Fund | 2015 | $ 250,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Hotel Acquisition and Redevelopment in Port Hardy | To purchase and redevelop an existing business in Port Hardy into a four star tourism-oriented hotel and conference centre | Economic Development Fund | 2015 | $ 866,192 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | k̓awat̕si Economic Development Corp. – 2014/15 Operations | To continue the start-up of operations for k̓awat̕si Economic Development Corporation through 2014/15 | Economic Development Fund | 2014 | $ 193,250 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Commercial Cold Storage Warehouse Start-up | To invest in the start-up of a new cold storage warehouse facility in Port Hardy in partnership with a commercial seafood processor | Economic Development Fund | 2014 | $ 300,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Start-up of k̓awat̕si Economic Development Corporation | To commence operations of the Nations' new development corporation, staff the organization, and develop operating business plans for the corporation and its subsidiaries | Economic Development Fund | 2014 | $ 218,750 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2014 Operations | To support operations of the field program, continue the junior guardian program, create an adaptive approach to managing conservancies and protected areas, and partner with universities on stewardship training and a bear identification pilot program | Conservation Fund | 2014 | $ 250,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2013 Operations | To support operations of the program including regional monitoring, staff training in partnership with Vancouver Island University and the Coastal Stewardship Network, and construction of watchmen stations in Smith and Seymour Inlets | Conservation Fund | 2013 | $ 225,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Small Vessel Operator Proficiency Training Course | To design and deliver a competency-based Small Vessel Operator Proficiency Training Course to ensure that Guardian Watchman staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to safely perform stewardship activities | Conservation Fund | 2012 | $ 70,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2012 Operations | To support operations of the program including expanding from four to five Guardian Watchmen, creating an additional Junior Guardian position for youth, and integrating the program with the Nations' Natural Resources Office | Conservation Fund | 2012 | $ 120,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2011 Operations | To initiate and operate a new stewardship program in Smith and Seymour Inlets including the launch of a Junior Guardians program that engages the Nations' youth | Conservation Fund | 2011 | $ 125,553 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2010 Pilot-Stage | To pilot a three-month stewardship program in order to develop practical experience to launch the Nations' long-term Stewardship Program | Conservation Fund | 2010 | $ 114,000 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Community Strategic Planning and Development Corporation Setup | To engage the community in the creation of a five year strategic plan for the Nations' economic development and to establish a development corporation | Economic Development Fund | 2010 | $ 328,815 | |
| Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations | Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation | Establish a Conservancy Stewardship Program | To develop a new stewardship program in the conservancies and biodiversity areas located in the Nations’ homelands in Smith and Seymour Inlets | Conservation Fund | 2009 | $ 60,000 |
| Total Projects | 19 | Total Invested | $ 4,256,316 |
Total Projects: 19
Total Invested: $ 4,256,316
Related to Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations
Return to the Homelands: Establishing the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Guardian Watchmen Program
After a forced relocation separated the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations from their homelands, the creation of a Guardian Watchmen program is helping strengthen the Nations’ stewardship practices and cultural connections.
Reclaiming Control: How the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw are Determining their Economic Future
Through in-depth community consultations, the establishment of the k̓awat̕si Economic Development Corporation reinvigorated the economic heartbeat of a community.
Explore Indigenous-owned Businesses in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii
Estimated Reading time
13 Mins
Visitors can have life-changing experiences and fully embrace First Nations culture through Indigenous-owned tourism businesses. Tourism can benefit Indigenous communities by creating employment, linking young people to the land, and honouring traditional knowledge and practices. Explore a variety of Indigenous-owned tourism businesses, including luxury resorts and wildlife tours. JUMP TO: Prince Rupert | Nisg̱a’a Lands
Coastal Guardian Watchmen Network Featured in Sierra Magazine
Estimated Reading time
3 Mins
First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, and across the entirety of what is now called Canada, have been stewarding their lands and waters for millennia. The pivotal work of Coastal First Nations in laying the groundwork for Indigenous Guardian programs was featured in a recent article by Sierra Magazine.
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Showcase Culture and History in Unique New Hotel on Vancouver Island
Estimated Reading time
2 Mins
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation creativity and entrepreneurial optimism shone May 17 in Port Hardy during a ceremony to officially launch the Kwa’lilas Hotel, a game-changing economic venture for its people and a significant contribution to the tourism offerings of Vancouver Island.
Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw builds Kwa’lilas, a new First Nations hotel in Port Hardy
Estimated Reading time
2 Mins
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw is developing a new First Nations hotel to provide a level of luxury northern Vancouver Island has never had.
Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Organizations and Resources
Related Protected Areas
- Allison Harbour Marine Provincial Park
- Catto Creek Conservancy
- Duke of Edinburgh Ecological Reserve
- Mahpahkum-Ahkwuna Deserters-Walker Conservancy
- Neǧiƛ/Nekite Estuary Conservancy
- Tsa-Latl / Smokehouse Conservancy
- Ugʷiwa’/Cape Caution Conservancy
- Ugʷiwa’/Cape Caution-Blunden Bay Conservancy
- Ẁaẁaƛ/Seymour Estuary Conservancy
- Biodiversity, Mining and Tourism Areas