Wei Wai Kum Nation
Campbell River and Loughborough Inlet
The Wei Wai Kum Nation is part of the larger Laich-Kwil-Tach First Nations group and speaks the Lik’wala language.
The Wei Wai Kum Nation’s main community is located in Campbell River on Vancouver Island
Wei Wai Kum Nation
The Wei Wai Kum Nation’s territory reaches from Topaze Harbour and the headwaters of Loughborough Inlet to Tsable River.
The Wei Wai Kum’s vision for their Nation states “Our culture, history and current success in business provides the foundations for our future generations.”
See Projects
This vision is supported by the Nation’s focus on education and recognition that children are its greatest resource. The Nation is working to ensure that the family and community are grounded in traditional language, culture, literacy, health nutrition, and education.
The Wei Wai Kum Nation is in the process of developing a land code which will allow the Nation to “resume and exercise their own jurisdiction, control, and decision making over their lands and resources.”
Wei Wai Kum Nation Projects
In partnership with Coast Funds, Wei Wai Kum Nation has invested in:
| First Nation | Applicant |
Project |
Description | Links | Type |
Year |
Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Guardian Program 2024/25 Operations | To support environmental management and monitoring capacity for the Wei Wai Kum Guardian Watchmen Program, including habitat remediation work, fish habitat mapping, cultural and ecological surveys, a kelp monitoring project with urchin removal, stream mapping, implementing salmon farm monitoring protocols, and clam garden restoration. | Conservation Fund | 2024 | $ 125,000 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Guardian Program 2023/24 Operations | To support operations of the Stewardship and Guardian Watchmen Program throughout Wei Wai Kum territories collecting environmental data and potential fish samples which will help inform goals of salmon enhancement and restoration; clam and kelp surveys to better inform food security planning; restoration activities in the Campbell River and Heydon bay estuaries; and planning for clam garden restoration initiatives. | Conservation Fund | 2023 | $ 20,000 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2021/22 Operations | To support operations of the Stewardship and Guardian Watchmen Program throughout Wei Wai Kum territories including data collection on plant and animal presence and activity; conducting Environmental DNA (eDNA) water sampling to estimate aquatic biodiversity in the Heydon Creek watershed; inventorying archeological data and cultural resources including Large Cultural Cedar; undertaking ecological restoration projects in the Campbell River and Heydon Bay estuaries; monitoring commercial fish farm activities and habitat quality through benthic and sulphide monitoring; surveying bull kelp; assessing Dungeness crab stocks; cultivating the productivity of ancestral clam gardens; and continued participation in the BearID project | Conservation Fund | 2021 | $ 50,000 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Stewardship Program – 2020/21 Operations | To support operations of the Stewardship and Guardian Watchmen Program throughout Wei Wai Kum territories that includes: detailed data collection of human, plant, and wildlife activities and water quality in Heydon Creek and Bay; ecological restoration in the Campbell River and Heydon Bay Estuary to support endangered plant species; monitoring the removal of bull kelp for commercial use; monitoring fish farms within the territory; surveying bull kelp, Dungeness crab, and cultural heritage sites; as well as installing a salmon enumeration fence. | Conservation Fund | 2020 | $ 50,000 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Stewardship Program Start-up | To initiate and operate a Stewardship and Guardian Watchman Program throughout Wei Wai Kum territories for seven months, to staff the new program, expanding monitoring research in the Heydon Bay Lake watershed in Loughborough Inlet with a particular focus on salmon enumeration, data collection, and habitat restoration initiatives | Conservation Fund | 2019 | $ 100,000 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Development of Cabin Accommodations on Tyee Spit – Phase 2 | To expand the Thunderbird RV Park and Campground through servicing 20 additional RV sites on Tyee Spit | Economic Development Fund | 2016 | $ 141,613 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Development of Cabin Accommodations on Tyee Spit | To expand the Thunderbird RV Park and Campground through construction of five cabins on Tyee Spit with views of the Campbell River estuary and Discovery Passage | Economic Development Fund | 2015 | $ 730,000 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Youth/Elders Culture and Language Camp – 2013 | To partner with We Wai Kai and Kwiakah Nations for a one week language and culture camp for youth that is led by two elders, an archaeologist/anthropologist, and a cultural mentor | Conservation Fund | 2013 | $ 8,650 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Heydon Bay Salmon Enumeration – 2012 | To conduct enumeration of six species of salmon in Heydon Creek, indicating salmon escapement trends for the surrounding area of Loughborough Inlet, and to assess Heydon Lake sockeye spawning areas | Conservation Fund | 2012 | $ 36,511 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Heydon Bay Salmon Enumeration – 2011 | To conduct enumeration of six species of salmon in Heydon Creek, indicating salmon escapement trends for the surrounding area of Loughborough Inlet, and to assess Heydon Lake sockeye spawning areas | Conservation Fund | 2011 | $ 24,895 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Heydon Bay Salmon Enumeration – 2010 | To conduct enumeration of six species of salmon in Heydon Creek, indicating salmon escapement trends for the surrounding area of Loughborough Inlet, and to stabilize a spawning channel in Heydon Creek | Conservation Fund | 2010 | $ 19,000 | |
| Wei Wai Kum Nation | Wei Wai Kum First Nation | Heydon Bay Salmon Enumeration – 2009 | To conduct enumeration of six species of salmon in Heydon Creek, indicating salmon escapement trends for the surrounding area of Loughborough Inlet, and to stabilize a spawning channel in Heydon Creek | Conservation Fund | 2009 | $ 16,409 |
| Total Projects | 12 | Total Invested | $ 1,322,078 |
Total Projects: 12
Total Invested: $ 1,322,078
Related to Wei Wai Kum Nation
Ha-ma-yas Stewardship Network Supports Guardians, Collaboration
Through Ha-ma-yas, Na̲nwak̲olas member First Nations are pooling resources and increasing their access to training, fundraising, procurement, and data storage, and technical expertise.
Wei Wai Kum Guardians: In the Steps of Our Ancestors
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.
Wei Wai Kum Nation: Seaside Cottages Boost Tourism In Campbell River
By expanding a reliably performing tourism business—Thunderbird RV Park—Wei Wai Kum Nation is investing in economic development to reach new markets, providing significant new sources of revenue and employment for its people.
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Na̲nwak̲olas Council Celebrates Guardian Graduates
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Spirits were high at the Kwanwatsi Big House as family members, community leaders, and partners filled rows of seats to celebrate and recognize graduates of the 2020/2021 Na̲nwak̲olas and Vancouver Island University (VIU) Stewardship Technician Training Program (STTP). About 100 people attended the June 12 ceremony to recognize graduates’ achievements and share words of encouragement
Wei Wai Kum Organizations and Resources
Online Resources
- Wei Wai Kum Nation
Wei Wai Kum Kwaikah Treaty Society
- Wei Wai Kum Nation
Sasamans Society - Voices of Our Children
- Wei Wai Kum Guardians
Ha-Ma-Yas Stewardship Network
- Wei Wai Kum Marine Planning
Na̲nwak̲olas Council Society
Related Protected Areas
- ƛəx̌əᵂəyəm / Forward Harbour Conservancy
- ᕈNacinuxᵂ/Phillips Estuary Conservancy
- Cetan/Thurston Bay Conservancy
- Hənʎəmdᶻi Məkola/Yorke Island Conservancy
- Pałəmin/Estero Basin Conservancy
- Qudǝs/Gillard-Jimmy Judd Island Conservancy
- Thurston Bay Marine Provincial Park
- Xᵂakᵂəᕈnaxdəᕈma/Stafford Estuary Conservancy