The Kitasoo Xai’xias Nation’s main community is located in Klemtu on BC’s Central Coast
Kitasoo Xai’xais territory contains some of the last remaining pristine, coastal temperate rainforest on the planet. Our lands and waters, which include 13 conservancies, provide rich habitat for salmon, herring, grizzly bears, marbled murrelets, and the rare cream-coloured Spirit (Kermode) bear, a subspecies of the black bear that’s only found in parts of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Our Guardians patrol our territory to carry out biodiversity research and monitor the impact of industry and recreation.
Our Vision
The wealth of forests, fish, wildlife, and the complexity of all life will be here, forever. It also means we will be here forever.
To make this Vision a reality, we’re strengthening the Kitasoo Xai’xais Stewardship Authority, a multi-disciplinary team tasked with planning, managing, and monitoring our Nation’s lands, waters, and natural resources.
Beyond our territory, our Nation’s stewardship work benefits everyone on the coast by maintaining vast carbon stores, supporting productive ocean ecosystems, and protecting endangered and critical species.
Our Priorities
Over the next 10 years, our Nation is planning major investments in stewardship, including:
Guardian Programs
Patrols to monitor protected areas, fisheries, forestry, and recreation. Boats, cabins, and equipment to increase presence on our territory, support research programs.
Land and Marine Use Planning
Indigenous protected and conserved areas, marine protected areas, ecosystem protections and restoration initiatives
Science and Research
Applied research and restoration projects to benefit grizzly bears, Spirit bears, mountain goats, and salmon. Habitat and cultural resource mapping.
Culture, Language, and Youth
Employment and training programs for the next generation of stewardship leaders. Language revitalization programs.
Blazing a Trail: Milestones on Our Stewardship Journey
| Year | Milestone |
| 2000 | Land and Resource Plan We released our land and resource protection and management plan – one of the first developed by an Indigenous Nation in British Columbia. |
| 2001 | Spirit Bear Lodge We founded Spirit Bear Lodge, a premier ecotourism resort that employs 15 community members. |
| 2011 | Stewardship Office We opened a new office for the Kitasoo Xai’xais Stewardship Authority. |
| 2011 | Spirit Bear Research Foundation We established a research foundation to advance knowledge on grizzly, black, and Spirit bears, and their habitats. |
| 2012 | Marine Use Plan We released a marine use plan that identifies spatial zones for new protected areas, along with comprehensive management strategies. |
| 2017 | Grizzly Trophy Hunting Ban Following an Indigenous ban on trophy hunting in the Great Bear Rainforest, we supported a province-wide ban on grizzly bear trophy hunting. |
| 2021 | Building Our Team Our stewardship department grows to 25 people (in a community of 400), who quickly earn a reputation for conservation leadership and innovation. |
| 2022 | Black Bear Hunting Ban We worked with Gitga’at First Nation and the Province of BC to ban hunting of black bears that may carry the recessive gene for Spirit bears. |
| 2022 | Enforcement Authority We signed an agreement with the Province of BC to share enforcement authority within our territory. Today, our Guardians carry the same authority as BC Parks officers. |
| 2022 | Gitdisdzu Lugyeks Marine Protected Area We declared a marine protected area in Gitdisdzu Lugyeks Kitasu Bay, protecting 33.5 acres of marine habitat. |
| 2023 | Keepers of the Land We debuted our film, Keepers of the Land, at festivals and events in Canada and the United States. |
A Plan for Forever
As Kitasoo and Xai’xais people, our stewardship responsibilities will be ours forever. That’s why we’re building endowment funds as one way to sustain our stewardship programs – in perpetuity.
We’ve partnered with Coast Funds to raise $10 million for our stewardship priorities over the next decade – and $2.5 million of our fundraising goals will be dedicated to supporting community well-being.
To complement our endowment returns, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Stewardship Authority will also draw from other revenue sources like carbon credits, stewardship fees, and grants.
We are also keen to build relationships with partners and funders who share our values and can support our work.
Partner With Us
Your gift to the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation will help us protect the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Meet With Us
Interested in learning more about how your support makes a difference? Let’s meet.
Published On February 29, 2024 | Edited On March 25, 2024