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

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

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

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

Following the announcement of the Great Bear Sea PFP, Coast Funds is growing its team to deliver new financing and services for First Nations. With new opportunities on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to join a team that’s committed to serving First Nations and supporting their goals for conservation, stewardship, and community

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

Following the announcement of the Great Bear Sea PFP, Coast Funds is growing its team to deliver new financing and services for First Nations. Coast Funds is hiring for two roles – Economic Development Analyst and Stewardship Funding Specialist – to support our team in delivering financial administration and project support services, highlighting the impact

In partnership with Coast Funds, First Nations invested nearly $7.8 million in conservation, stewardship, and economic development projects over the last year. And, in a landmark agreement, 17 First Nations worked with Crown governments and private funders to secure $335 million in long-term financing for the Great Bear Sea PFP. Download Annual Report> Celebrating First

Coast Funds is growing 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: Aimee Nygaard (Development Manager), Logan Griffiths (Communications Specialist), and Jessi Goss (Executive Administrator), who

The Haida Nation’s long journey to affirm their title to Haida Gwaii has reached a historic milestone. With the signing of the Chiix̲uujin | Chaaw K̲aawgaa “Big Tide (Low Water)” Haida Title Lands Agreement on February 17. The Government of Canada has, for the first time, recognized Aboriginal title through negotiation rather than litigation. This

First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii made headlines in 2024 for their groundbreaking achievements in environmental stewardship, economic development, sustainable energy, and cultural revitalization. This year marked significant progress in Indigenous rights and conservation. Nations advanced treaty and title agreements, declared new protected areas, and invested in coastal communities and economic

On the north coast of modern-day British Columbia, the Gitxaała (alongside the Ts’msyen, Nisg̱a’a, and Haida) have welcomed guests to their territories for thousands of years. With the acquisition of the Crest Hotel, a Prince Rupert landmark, the Gitxaała are continuing that tradition in a modern way, while also creating economic opportunity in the community.

Coast Funds is pleased to welcome Tamara Isaak to the leadership team as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective October 28. Tamara joins the team during an exciting time on the coast, and will provide financial leadership through period of growth and change at Coast Funds. Following the close of the Great Bear Sea

In October, nearly 300 stewardship and conservation leaders from more than 70 Indigenous Nations and Inuit organizations gathered in Vancouver for three days of peer learning on protected areas at the first-ever Indigenous Conservation Forum, led by seven Indigenous Nations. At the Forum, Indigenous leaders shared their experiences with declaring protected areas, going beyond the

Today, Coast Funds CEO Eddy Adra was honoured with a Clean50 Award in recognition of his work supporting 17 First Nations to develop the Great Bear Sea project finance for permanence (PFP) initiative and his leadership on values-aligned investing that incorporates Indigenous rights. The Clean50 Awards are presented each year by Delta Management Group and

Coast Funds has launched a community survey and is inviting community members, partners, and Talking Stick readers to share feedback on what it’s like to work with our team and how we can improve our website and communications. Take the Survey > This survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. As a thank you,

This year, Coast Funds signed a memorandum of understanding to deliver ongoing financial and administrative services for the Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP), which includes 17 First Nations and the Province of British Columbia. MaPP is a successful co-governance model that supports First Nations and the Province to develop and implement

In Phillips Arm, an inlet stretching into the mountainous south-central coast of British Columbia, Kwiakah First Nation is preparing to open a new Centre for Excellence: a floating research facility with accommodations and amenities to support up to 16 scientists and stewardship staff working in the remote region. Set to open in spring 2025, the

In 2012, Metlakatla First Nation had a bold vision: to develop a 20-kilometre wilderness trail, with three engineered suspension bridges and a viewing platform, in the heart of their traditional territory. The opening of the trail was a resounding success, drawing visitors from near and far to use the trail and frequent other Nation-owned businesses.

Earlier this month, the Province of British Columbia released its Coastal Marine Strategy, which outlines a shared vision and action plan for sustainable management of coastal environments. To build the strategy, the Province worked closely with First Nations communities, experts, and stakeholders over two and a half years. Central to the strategy is the preservation

On July 17, over 150 people gathered on the beach at Cape Mudge, on Quadra Island, to welcome paddlers bearing Na̱max̱sa̱la – a xwax’wa̱na canoe carved in the traditional way – on its 83-kilometre journey through the Johnstone Strait, which divides Vancouver Island from mainland British Columbia. Earlier that morning, Wei Wai Kum, We Wai

This summer, our team has been fortunate to have Vanessa Parnell, Project Coordinator, with us for a summer internship supporting First Nations communities in reaching their goals for stewardship and conservation. As the Project Coordinator, she works closely with the Director of Stewardship Funding and the Project Review Committee and assists with grant funding administration,

JOINT NEWS RELEASE: Coastal First Nations – Great Bear Initiative, Na̲nwak̲olas Council, and Coast Funds The Great Bear Sea PFP, led by 17 participating First Nations, launches a new era of collaborative governance in marine conservation and stewardship. A total of $335 million for the PFP —$200 million from the Government of Canada, $60 million

Today, Coast Funds, an Indigenous-led conservation finance organization serving First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, releases Finance for Forests, a guide to financing First Nations’ conservation, stewardship, and Guardian programs. The report addresses a key question facing First Nations and other governments – how can communities conserve forest ecosystems without compromising

Eligible remote and Indigenous communities seeking to decarbonize their electricity sources are invited to submit applications for the second intake of the Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) program. Applications open today and eligible communities are encouraged to apply ahead of deadlines (see below). Launched in 2022, CEDR is a $59-million program to deliver funding and

From releasing an action plan to protect their marine territories to launching new sustainable energy projects, First Nations are building a conservation economy in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. Coast Funds is proud to serve First Nations and partner on projects that achieve their goals for stewardship, conservation, and economic development. DOWNLOAD ANNUAL

Coast Funds is expanding its team in alignment with our goals to serve First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. With additional staff capacity, we’re preparing for new partnerships in the Great Bear Sea, broadening our storytelling and knowledge sharing, and enhancing our support for First Nations’ fundraising efforts. In the last

Coastal First Nations, Na̲nwak̲olas Council, and Coast Funds are welcoming the provincial government’s announcement of a $60 million investment in support of Indigenous-led marine conservation, stewardship, and sustainable economic development in the Northern Shelf Bioregion, also known as the Great Bear Sea. BC’s investment forms part of a broader initiative that will bring hundreds of

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

On the central coast of modern-day British Columbia, rainforest ecosystems have always been a source of wealth. That legacy continues today in Great Bear Rainforest Essential Oils, an Indigenous-owned business that draws on traditional stewardship knowledge and demonstrates how non-timber forest products – that are regenerative, not extractive – can create wealth and support families

With new opportunities on the horizon, it’s an exciting time for coastal communities. First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii are declaring new protected areas, scaling up their Guardian programs, investing in sustainable energy infrastructure, and working with partners to secure protections and conservation financing for the Great Bear Sea. Coast Funds

A report released today identifies job creation, economic diversification, and other outcomes from 15 years of First Nations’ investments in stewardship and economic development in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. Sustaining People and Place, published by Coast Funds, describes how conservation financing has benefitted communities and supported the protection of rainforest ecosystems that

In 2022, First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii have made headlines for their Guardian and stewardship programs, leadership in sustainable energy, and investments in culture and community-owned businesses. Looking back over the last year, there were many bright spots and important wins. Three First Nations declared Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas

This fall, Coast Funds welcomed Zahra Laarif to the staff team. As the Director, Finance, Zahra leads on accounting and budgeting, financial reporting, and disbursement of funds, ensuring careful stewardship of funds for First Nations’ conservation, sustainable energy, and economic development projects. Zahra is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) with more than 15 years

Coast Funds welcomes the Government of Canada’s $800-million commitment, announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the COP15 conference in Montreal, to supporting four Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, including one in the Great Bear Sea. Along the Pacific coast, 17 First Nations are working through Coastal First Nations and Na̲nwak̲olas Council, with support from Coast Funds

In recruiting for a new CEO, Coast Funds’ board of directors oversaw an extensive and thoughtful recruitment process and partnered with an executive recruitment agency that works with First Nations. Eddy joined Coast Funds in 2018 and served as Director, Finance and Chief Financial Officer before stepping into the role of Acting CEO, following the

Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) is a key part of the Province’s CleanBC Remote Community Energy Strategy, which aims to reduce diesel consumption for generating electricity by 80 per cent by 2030. To deliver this program, the Province has partnered with the New Relationship Trust (NRT) to facilitate investments with remote communities for community energy

Coast Funds is pleased to welcome Laanas Tamara Davidson, a member of the Haida Nation and a highly respected planning and governance professional, to its board of directors. The Council of the Haida Nation nominated Tamara for a two-year term, and her appointment was approved by Members at Coast Funds’ annual general meeting on July

Through changes to the governance of Coast Funds, an Indigenous-led conservation finance organization, several private funders are working through Nature United to reduce their roles and transfer power to the 27 First Nations and regional alliances leading the stewardship efforts that the funds were designed to support. “These changes are leading the shift to a

On June 22, Kitasoo / Xai’xais Nation announced the creation of a new, Indigenous-declared marine protected area (MPA) in Gitdisdzu Lugyeks Kitasu Bay, covering 33.5 acres of the Nation’s marine territory. Gitdisdzu Lugyeks, located less than 20 kilometres from Klemtu, is a spiritually significant place for Kitasoo and Xai’xais peoples, and provides rich habitat for

Please join us in welcoming Patricia Sayer, Manager, Economic Development, to the Coast Funds team. In her new role, Patricia will work with First Nations to identify opportunities, create business plans, manage risks, and evaluate the impacts of their economic investments with Coast Funds. Patricia is a proud Cree-Métis Saulteaux woman from Treaty 4 territory

Within the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, there are 11 “off grid” First Nation communities that aren’t connected to British Columbia’s electrical grid. These communities generate their electricity locally and many rely on diesel fuel for all or part of their energy needs. To gain a better understanding of these First Nations’ priorities, and

Through the many challenges 2021 brought, First Nations demonstrated incredible leadership and resilience, working together and with partners to uplift youth, launch businesses, and steward their traditional territories. In our annual report, you’ll hear from community leaders who are managing Guardian programs, investing in ecotourism businesses, and transitioning to renewable energy. In 2021, Coast Funds’

Outside of the city of Courtenay, the K’ómoks Guardians are working with Project Watershed Society to restore a former sawmill site, turning the land back into a saltmarsh estuary. Once restoration is complete, the estuary will connect with the Hollyhock Flats and provide quality habitat for fish, birds, and native plants. K’ómoks First Nation has

Coast Funds is pleased to welcome two new staff members: Melissa Sevigny, Executive Assistant, and Stephanie Butler, Communications Manager, who joined the team in recent months. With the addition of Melissa and Stephanie’s skills and capacity, Coast Funds remains well positioned to continue providing valued program and funding supports to First Nations in the Great

After nine years with the organization, Coast Funds CEO Brodie Guy will depart on April 15 for a new role, joining Island Coastal Economic Trust as their incoming CEO. “On behalf of our board and staff team, we want to thank Brodie for his leadership and impact over the past decade with Coast Funds,” said

Through a first-of-its-kind conservation financing model, First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii are demonstrating how a conservation economy can protect forest ecosystems while creating jobs and providing clarity for forestry operations. How did we get here? Last week, Coast Funds’ founding partners, board Chair, and CEO were invited to share learnings

This month, Coast Funds was featured in Securing Sustainable Financing for Conservation Areas, a newly-published World Bank and World Wildlife Fund guide to project finance for permanence (PFP). The PFP model is designed to create the conditions needed for permanent, sustainable conservation of globally important ecosystems and is being increasingly considered around the world to

Coast Funds is pleased to announce that Ross Dixon has joined our team as Director, Development. Ross will work in service of First Nations governments to build their endowed funds with Coast Funds to sustainably finance their stewardship authorities.

Coast Funds is pleased to welcome two widely respected and diversely experienced new directors to our board. Angela Wesley and David Egan were appointed by Members to the board of directors on July 7, 2021.

Coast Funds’ board of directors is pleased to announce Dallas Smith has been elected to the role of Chair. Smith has been actively involved with Coast Funds’ since its inception and has spent most of his career working to strengthen the well-being of coastal First Nations people.

Coast Funds’ CFO, Eddy Adra, will be speaking at an upcoming webinar on best practices in mission aligned investing and asset management for conservation trust funds.

Follow along with the amazing stories unfolding in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. Sign up to receive the Talking Stick email.

The Hith’alis Agreement, a partnership between the B.C. government, KHFN and Coast Funds, provides $721,000 to enhance stewardship and management activities in KHFN territory in the Broughton Archipelago.

The Nisg̱a’a Village of Gitwinksihlkw is investing in and developing their tourism infrastructure to bring people into their community and keep them coming back. In late 2020, they opened the Welcome House Café and Gift Shop, operated by entrepreneur Sally Nyce.

Coast Funds’ 2020 annual report highlights First Nations’ investments in healthy and thriving communities and ecosystems throughout the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

An upcoming documentary by Nuxalk filmmaker Banchi Hanuse shines a spotlight on the sputc eulachon—a fish essential to the cultural and physical well-being of the Nuxalk—and features research by Coast Funds’ director and Nuxalk scientist Ts’xwiixw Megan Moody.

The International Funders for Indigenous Peoples released a landscape scan report that brings together knowledge about Indigenous-led funds and the wisdom of Indigenous leaders in philanthropy.

Coast Funds’ board of directors today announced that Huux Percy Crosby has tendered his resignation as Chair and is stepping down from the board of directors. We thank Percy for his many contributions to Coast Funds and his dedication to the coastal First Nations we serve.

Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours (HWCT) announced an exciting new expansion for their business coming this spring including a new Whales, Wildlife and Culture Tour.

The winter 2021 edition of Talking Stick features the Nawalakw Healing Society and Culture Project, the renewable energy projects of Dzawadaʼenuxw First Nation and Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation, and introduces Trevor Loke as our new Director, Partnership Development.

Coast Funds’ CEO co-authors latest Issues in Ecology, a publication released by the Ecological Society of America. The issue explores how privately financed conservation projects can generate both financial returns and positive conservation outcomes.

First Nations’ stewardship departments are leading efforts to ensure salmon populations are managed with the best available data.  

Recognizing the Indigenous leadership central to our history and governance, along with a range of achievements by First Nations and Coast Funds since our inception, the Conservation Finance Alliance featured Coast Funds as a case study in its new global report on conservation funds.

The member Nations of Na̲nwak̲olas Council have been enhancing their research capabilities to best manage and steward their territories, which include the diverse habitats of grizzly bears. Part of that work involves investing in and developing a research partnership with the BearID Project, a project that is developing bear facial recognition software.

Coast Funds, along with a group of investors representing approximately $1.1 trillion in assets under management, congratulated the B.C. Government on its passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, an important first step in recognizing Indigenous Rights and strengthening the path to self-determination.

Tlowitsis First Nation publishes report highlighting important archeological sites throughout their territories. The work deepens cultural understanding and ensures protection of these places from human and natural disturbances.  

A recent McKinsey & Company report examines the significant benefits of protecting our natural world. Coast Funds contributed a case study to the report which explores one of the first “large-scale, multi-party Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiatives”—the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements.

Great Bear Scallops, owned-and-operated by Metlakatla Nation, recently received the 2020 Sustainability Award from BC Food and Beverage. The award was given in recognition of the company’s leadership in sustainability and contributions to helping the environment.

Watch a new video that highlights the outcomes of five years of marine plan implementation by First Nations on the North Pacific Coast, in partnership with the Province of BC.

Coastal First Nations (CFN) has announced a new Guardian Watchmen Strategic Plan that outlines the shared goals and objectives of CFN Guardian programs and presents eight Strategic Priorities to sustain and enhance their work into the future.

Xwémalhkwu Nation has acquired a building at a remote camp near Bute Inlet, an important first step in re-establishing the Nation’s roots in its traditional territory.

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network recently aired a feature story on APTN National News about Kitasoo/Xai’xais Nation’s Klemtu Hydropower facility – one of the two Indigenous-owned clean energy projects funded in part through the first round of funding made available under the Renewable Energy for Remote Communities Program.

A new guide by the Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative outlines how Indigenous trustees and other investors can ensure that their investments align with their community’s values and long-term vision.

Coast Funds, Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation, Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation, and the Province of British Columbia announced over $25 million in new First Nations’ investments to transition coastal communities from dependence on fossil fuel-powered electricity to sustainable, locally powered renewable energy systems, eliminating over 175,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

News Release: The Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation (KHFN) has purchased Pierre’s at Echo Bay Lodge & Marina, located on Gilford Island in the beautiful Broughton Archipelago and in the heart of KHFN’s traditional territory.

A new article by CBC Unreserved highlights how growing concern about the fate of Western Red Cedars has prompted First Nations in northeastern Vancouver Island to develop new policies to help protect them for future generations.

A new interactive educational resource that connects children across Canada to the value of the ocean and the blue economy highlights the traditional ocean harvesting practices and technologies of coastal B.C. First Nations, including the history and significance of oolichan harvesting by the Nisg̱a’a Nation throughout history.

Haíɫhzaqv Elder and Knowledge Keeper Hilistis Pauline Waterfall shares her personal story of self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explains why living through the current health crisis is a familiar experience to many First Nations Peoples.

The Haida Gwaii Management Council—a joint decision-making body that includes equal representation from the Haida Nation and the Province of B.C.—has determined an Allowable Annual Cut of 804,000 cubic metres for the Haida Gwaii Management Area.

Coast Funds’ 2019 Annual Report reflects on the work that First Nations are undertaking in collaboration with Coast Funds, through new investments that further healthy and thriving communities and ecosystems throughout the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

A new outreach booklet created by the Metlakatla Nation provides a comprehensive guide to First Nations on how to measure the far-reaching impacts of resource development on their territories.

Coast Funds is striving to uphold the First Nations we serve amidst the challenges we all face with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On behalf of Coast Funds board and staff, we are wishing you and your loved ones health, safety, and stability in this precarious time.

La’goot Spencer Greening, an Indigenous scholar from the Gitga’at Nation, draws on his personal experiences as an Indigenous hunter and angler to highlight the value and effectiveness of Indigenous harvesting practices in developing a sustainable path forward.

Our mission is to partner with First Nations in achieving their goals for conservation, stewardship, and economic development in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

A new feature in Canadian Geographic showcases how Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours has expanded their successful business model by offering visitors a new way to experience Xwémalhkwu (Homalco) culture – while also providing the Nation with an opportunity to heal.

The fall 2019 issue of Talking Stick features West Sea Otter Water Taxi in Rivers Inlet, Bella Guest Cabins in Haíɫzaqv territory, and the appointment of three First Nations women to Coast Funds’ board of directors.

Coast Funds today announced new shareholder proxy voting guidelines that set a new standard with specific and directive proxy voting guidelines to ensure recognition of Indigenous Rights by the boards of publicly traded companies.

Coastal First Nations has signed a Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement with the Government of Canada. The agreement will enhance First Nations’ access to existing commercial fishing licenses and quota, and deliver an enhanced role in fisheries governance.

Leaders of the Haíɫzaqv Nation and the Government of Canada signed a groundbreaking agreement that provides an investment of $36.96 million over three years in four Haíɫzaqv priority “House Post” areas, and additional funding for fisheries management, including increased training, enforcement authority and joint management of crab and salmon fisheries in Haíɫzaqv Territory.

Nawalakw Healing Society holds a vision of hope for Chief Maxwiyalidizi K’odi Nelson. Chief Maxwiyalidizi’s vision is that Nawalakw will serve as a catalyst for social change and become the first place on earth where Kwak’wala is again spoken immersively. 

Over the last decade, First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii have created a new conservation economy that links a healthy environment with the prosperity and well-being of their communities, according to a report released today by Coast Funds.

Coast Funds is working to align our investment strategies with our values, including recent work to conduct a proxy voting audit. Responsible investment has emerged as one of the many paths organizations can take to advance reconciliation.

Na̲nwak̲olas Council member Nations have developed a strategy to protect the largest and most culturally significant cedars in their territories. The work of the Council was featured in a recent video and article by Hakai Magazine.

A new video series from Connected Communities BC explores place-based and identity-rich stories showcasing how connectivity can and is changing the way communities operate.

The Council of the Haida Nation (CHN) and communities on Haida Gwaii have worked collaboratively for many years to manage a community forest based on shared principles of stewardship and community benefits and aim to have the forest’s tenure allocated in the coming year. 

Coast Funds’ newly released 2018 annual report highlights the impacts Indigenous-led conservation finance in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

New federal standards for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Canada prohibit industrial activities within the areas, including oil and gas activities, mining, dumping and bottom trawling. The new standards also ban ocean mining and ocean dumping in MPAs.

The Haisla Fisheries Commission released its 2018/19 annual report detailing the wide range of activities its crew conducts over the course of a year. From stock assessments to food fish distribution, it’s all in a year’s work.

The Guardian Watchmen programs that collaborate through the Ha-ma-yas Stewardship Network are working to define, identify, verify, and highlight potential protection measures for the rich, cultural and heritage resources within member-nations’ territories.

A new educational website immerses students in learning about the people, plants, and animals of Great Bear Rainforest from the comfort of their classrooms. The Great Bear Rainforest Education & Awareness website explores the rich human cultures, biological diversity, stewardship endeavours of the region.

In the fall of 2017, 13 journalists from across North America descended on the Great Bear Rainforest.  Their journey was part of the Great Bear Institute organized by the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources (IJNR).

A feature-length documentary about the Great Bear Rainforest and the First Nations whose territories span the region premieres in Vancouver on February 12, 2019 and opens to the public in four Canadian cities—Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, and Sudbury—on February 15.

Updates from Coast Funds Welcome to the winter 2018/19 edition of Talking Stick, a magazine that showcases the stewardship, conservation science, and sustainable development initiatives led by First Nations throughout the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. Download the print issue: Winter 2018/19 This issue features two projects that reconnect First Nations with their culture by renewing

As a director and board chair for Coast Funds, Merv Child has guided the organization to provide the highest possible standards of support for the First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

In 2018, Coast Funds’ board of directors approved $4.8 million to support 23 First Nations-led projects. Each endeavour is making a big impact on the well-being of First Nations communities and showing the world that a sustainable economy is vitally linked to conservation efforts.

Randy Frank is making a big impact on the territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. Frank is both a Guardian Watchman and one half of the team erecting Guardian totem poles throughout K’ómoks territory.

Kitasoo Stewardship Authority and the Kitasoo/Xai’xais Guardian Watchmen busy patrolling their territories, and tracking oversoaked crab traps.

A new feature in Canadian Geographic showcases the work of the Nuxalk Nation’s Guardian Watchmen program and ancestral governance project.

Na̲nwak̲olas Council has selected Wally Eamer as its nominee on Coast Funds’ board of directors. Eamer has served as a Coast Funds director since 2013 and will continue his current term, shifting into the role of Na̲nwak̲olas nominee effective December 5, 2018.

Haisla Nation is restoring important riparian ecosystems, thus safeguarding important salmon habitat and providing employment for Haisla members.

After being displaced from their territories, the Tlowitsis Nation has searched for a new place to call home. In spring 2018 that search ended as the Nation purchased a 635-acre property outside Campbell River.

The Great Bear Rainforest framework could play a role in protecting the Leuser Ecosystem, the last place on Earth where rhinoceros, elephants, orang-utans and tigers all co-exist in the wild.

Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations will soon start building a Big House across from their reserve at Tsulquate, adjacent to Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island.

Journalist Ian Gill examines the Haíłzaqv Nation’s seasonal herring harvest that took place in spring 2018 and the Nation’s efforts to secure control and management of the fishery.

The fall 2018 issue of Talking Stick features Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations’ economic development corporation, Nisga’a Nation’s oolichan research project and how First Nations are developing highly skilled workforces.

The Southern Dakelh Nation Alliance, including Ultkatcho First Nation, signed a reconciliation agreement with the provincial government.

This year marks 25 years since the Council of the Haida Nation and the Government of Canada signed the Gwaii Haanas Agreement. The agreement was the first of its kind and was constructed without compromising Haida rights and title.

Coast Funds’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce Percy Crosby has been elected to the role of Chair.

In early June 2018, the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government opened the doors of the newly-renovated Vetter Falls Lodge, inviting visitors to share the natural beauty and cultural resources of the Nass Valley.

‘Waadlux̲an KilG̲uhlG̲a (Talking About Everything), a land-sea-people management plan, aims to protect Gwaii Haanas’ ecological and cultural values while also ensuring that livelihoods are protected.

The first ever Reconciliation Framework Agreement for Bioregional Oceans Management and Protection was announced today by Marilyn Slett, Chief Councillor of the Heiltsuk Nation and President of Coastal First Nations, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Through their Coast Funds investments, First Nations have established 17 Guardian Watchmen and regional monitoring programs in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. These programs monitor 4.1 million hectares of land and water, combining traditional stewardship practices with modern science and regional monitoring.

Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett of Heiltsuk Nation has been appointed co-chair of a new Wild Salmon Advisory Council. The Council, announced by the BC government on June 15, is tasked with providing insights and guidance on how best to protect wild salmon and maximize its value.

Coastal Shellfish Corporation  is a shellfish hatchery facility and farm owned by Metlakatla Nation. Shellfish farming is considered a sustainable fishing practices and thus is inline with the Nation’s commitment to the sustainable economic activities.

Coast Tsimshian Seafood employs 100 people from Lax Kw’alaams full-time, and during peak season employment reaches 170.

The Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance (CCIRA), is expanding on work instigated by Heiltsuk Nation to eradicate invasive species along the central coast of British Columbia.

A recently announced $10 million investment in the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) provides First Nations on Vancouver Island with an additional funding partnership opportunity. 

More than 1,200 hectares will be added to the Duu Guusd Heritage Site/Conservancy on Haida Gwaii following a unanimous recommendation by the Haida Gwaii Management Council.

Spencer Greening, a member of the Gitga’at First Nation and PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University, is harnessing Indigenous knowledge to fight for land sovereignty.

Coast Funds’ newly released 2017 Annual Report highlights the impacts First Nations are having on community well-being in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

The spring 2018 issue of Talking Stick features Kitasoo/Xai’xais’ Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu, Nisga’a Nation’s innovative cultural tourism and marketing initiative, and how First Nations are growing resilient economies across the coast.

1998 was the last time members of the Nuxalk Nation witnessed a healthy eulachon run in Bella Coola. This year, Nuxalk are seeing the biggest eulachon run in Bella Coola in 20 years.

The Tlowitsis Nation runs a sustainable aquaculture operation that is part of the natural marine ecosystem at Twin Islands and contributes to enhanced water quality for organisms in adjacent waters.

In October 2017, photographer Richard Sidey visited Gitga’at territory to photograph the rare, white Spirit Bear. He wrote about his experience for SevenSeas Magazine.

Kitasoo/Xai’xais Nation youth have written and recorded a song that explores life, culture, and community in place these youth call home, Klemtu in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest.

Last summer 17 youth from Haisla Nation spent ten days participating in a cultural revival camp. The focus of the camp was to teach participants about Haisla culture and to be respectful of Haisla resources.

The Nisg̲a’a Lisims Government has won an Open for Business Award in the First Nations category. Over the past two years, Nisga’a Lisims Government invested over $1.2 million in infrastructure for tourism and six Nisg̲a’a entrepreneurs.

The Heiltsuk Nation is pleased with Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s announcement on that it is suspending the 2018 commercial roe herring fishery on the Central Coast. The decision will give stocks an opportunity to recover on the central coast.

Representatives of two First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and a conservation financing group are in Colombia this week to share what they’ve learned about supporting environmental stewardship and sustainable economic development.

In Spring 2017 a new Gitga’at Cetacean Research Station was built on Fin Island, Gitga’at Territory. The station allows researchers and Gitga’at Guardians to gain a deeper understanding of whale abundance in the area, and marks the first time Guardians will be able to scan for whales during daylight hours from May to September.

In place of grizzly hunting Homalco and Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nations are building a tourism economy that honours bears, benefits the First Nations and takes their cultural heritage into account

A $45 million investment to provide new and faster internet connections to 154 communities—including 44 First Nations—along the BC coast will be transformative for many First Nations communities.

A new management plan is being developed for Gwaii Haanas that is as unique and interconnected as the place itself. The plan recognizes the interconnectedness of land, sea, and people the region and incorporates Haida priorities and perspectives.

Nuxalk Nation is having a big impact on the landscape of Bella Coola and its members living there. The Nation has developed a groundbreaking housing program designed not only to build homes for its members, but to do so in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable way.

The Gitga’at First Nation celebrated the grand opening of their newly acquired office building in downtown Prince Rupert on December 16, 2017. Purchase of the building allows the Nation to more easily service their community and members living in Prince Rupert.

Spirit Bear Lodge has won the Indigenous Adventure Award at the 2017 International Aboriginal Tourism Awards. The awards recognize and honour Aboriginal tourism leaders from across Canada.

Coast Funds’ director Wally Eamer and the role he played in the ground-breaking Great Bear Rainforests Agreements were recently the subject of an in-depth profile on the Harvard Business School Alumni website.

On our new Facebook space, you’ll hear inspiring stories and see the latest news from First Nations across the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. 

Wuikinuxv Nation has developed the 350 kW Nicknaqueet River Hydropower Project, utilizing abundant hydro resources to displace diesel in the remote community of Rivers Inlet. This clean energy projects supplies over 97% of the electricity in Rivers Inlet, does not impact Wuikinuxv’s globally significant salmon runs, and saves the community over $1 million in operating costs a year.

A wild, two-year journey through B.C.’s breathtaking Great Bear Rainforest will soon grace the largest screens in the world as a feature-length IMAX movie.

Na̲nwak̲olas is thrilled to be acquiring the ‘platinum standard setting’ Knight Inlet Lodge – a business that, under the guidance of Dean and Kathy Wyatt, has become the leader in the eco-adventure lodge business in British Columbia, with an international reputation that is second to none.

This October, Sevenseas Marine Conservation & Travel Magazine is featuring stories previously published by First Nations in Coast Funds’ Talking Stick as well as features on Marine Planning Partnerships in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

Coastal First Nations and the Government of Canada have announced new steps towards reconciliation with a new fisheries agreement during a special ceremony on October 11, 2017.

Featured on the business section cover in this week’s Campbell River Mirror, the Wei Wai Kum Nation is serving up a powerful example of how First Nations are investing in the expansion of reliably performing tourism businesses to create significant new sources of revenue and jobs for their people.

The fall 2017 issue of Talking Stick features the Wei Wai Kum Nation’s new seaside cottages in Campbell River, Old Massett Village Council’s longhouse village at Tlielang (Hiellen), and how First Nations are creating family-supporting jobs across the coast.

New solar panels at the Haida Heritage Centre at Ḵay Llnagaay move Skidegate toward energy independence.

Indigenous communities across Canada have partnered with Nature United (TNC Canada) to produce a first-of-its-kind Indigenous Guardians’ Toolkit.

Working with the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department, scientists from Simon Fraser University’s Department of Biological Sciences, University of British Columbia’s Department of Statistics, and the Hakai Institute, the Qqs Projects Society built a traditional fish weir in the lower Koeye River—and then used it to generate a wealth of useful data about salmon health. The

A new study in the peer-reviewed open-access journal Ecosphere deepens our understanding of the connections between salmon and bear populations. Using a chemical technique known as stable isotope analysis, researchers examined samples of hair left by more than 1,400 grizzly and black bears from 1995 to 2014 at the places they feed on salmon in more than 690,000 square

On National Aboriginal Day June 21st, Old Massett Village Council is welcoming all community members to participate in a joyful event: the raising of a totem pole at Hiellen Longhouse Village. Located at the mouth of the Hiellen River in Haida territory on Graham Island, this site hosts a thriving Haida-owned business that rents longhouse-styled cabins

The Spring 2017 edition of Talking Stick features a story on the origins and accomplishments of the Coastal Stewardship Network, and reflections from the Council of the Haida Nation on its implementation of the Kunst’aa Guu-Kunst’aayah Reconciliation Protocol.

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.

Coast Funds’ newly released 2016 Annual Report includes highlights of an analysis of community well-being outcomes of investments by First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Indigenous guardians programs’ delivery of multiple public benefits merits recognition in the Government of Canada’s annual budget.

The State of the Gitga’at Ocean Report aims to present Gitga’at members, leaders and research partners with the outcomes of key monitoring activities that have been occurring in the territory in recent years.

Applications are being sought for Indigenous economic growth and clean technology under a new call for proposals from Western Economic Diversification Canada.

The Nisga’a Nation has launched a comprehensive new destination marketing program with a new website, auto tour, and international marketing campaigns.

We’re pleased to announce that Coast Funds has moved to a new downtown Vancouver location.  The original location served us well, and our new location is the start of a new chapter in Coast Funds’ history.

The federal government plans to establish Indigenous Canadian Coast Guard auxiliary units to expand its marine emergency response in partnership with coastal First Nations.

Westcoast Resorts, a Haida owned and operated premium fishing resort operator, announces major enhancements to fishing lodges based on Haida Gwaii and the launch of a new eco-adventure Haida cultural lodge in 2017.

The Súa Youth Cultural Program is providing opportunities for Kitasoo/ Xai’xais youth to explore their culture while fostering values that will prepare them to be successful in school and work.

Featuring the Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Homalco, Heiltsuk, and Haida Nations, the Globe and Mail explores how Coast Funds supports human well-being in the Great Bear Rainforest.

First Nations are developing a conservation-based economy throughout coastal British Columbia and have announced the latest results from their ongoing environmental stewardship and sustainable development efforts today.

“Everything you do in our culture is tied to the land and the sea. So when you’re managing salmon or grizzly bears, you can tie that back to stories in our culture and be able to connect the two in a way that government scientists can’t do.”

On the first day of summer the original Watchman, Captain Gold arrives by floatplane to witness the blessing of a new cabin at SGang Gwaay. Captain Gold has been working on a dream since he stepped into his canoe and paddled over 250 km to this small island in South Moresby many years ago.

Scientists show for the first time that there are 15% more individual plants and animals and 11% more species inside terrestrial conservation zones.

Coastal Revival is a new documentary series that tells the story of how First Nations, conservationists, researchers and ecotourism are combining to protect some of the most emblematic wildlife on BC’s coast.

In 2015, Coast Funds continued to make good progress in supporting First Nations to implement projects. In particular, 2015 saw $6,406,189 approved from the economic development fund and $5,063,632 approved from the conservation fund—the second highest combined volume of annual funding since our inception.

“We had a belief that you can create long-term sustainable employment in a community without cutting down a tree, taking out a fish, and that there’s people all around the world that would pay to view what we have in the Great Bear Rainforest”

In February 2016, the BC government announced a landmark agreement with First Nations to permanently protect 85% of the Great Bear Rainforest.

My Hamat’sa name, passed down to me through our Potlatch, is Tayanaxwalis. My everyday name is Mulidzas, and my English given name is Curtis Wilson.