(Top image: Grant Callegari / Hakai Institute)
‘Mimkwa̱mlis Village Island is a historic winter village and the place of the Mamalilikulla creation story.
Mamalilikulla territory lies in what’s known today as the Broughton Archipelago, an area renowned for its cultural and ecological treasures, and includes Compton Island, Village Island, a portion of Gilford Island, and a large portion of Knight Inlet. At the heart of our territory is ‘Mimkwa̱mlis Village Island, a historic winter village and the place of the Mamalilikulla creation story.
Our Guardians patrol our territory to conduct archaeological research, monitor ecosystem health, restore important habitat, and monitor the impacts of industry and tourism.
Our Vision
As the original occupants of our unceded lands and waters, the Mamalilikulla First Nation will uphold our rights and our responsibilities to steward our territory in a manner that supports our natural resources and our people sustainably and in perpetuity for our future generations.
To bring our Vision to life, we’ve declared a new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area at Gwa̱xdlala/Nala̱xdlala Lull Bay/Hoeya Sound and are strengthening our Guardian department, which carries out our Nation’s stewardship responsibilities within our traditional territory.
This important work requires us to hire and train new Guardians, purchase equipment and boats, build cabins and infrastructure, and develop new revenue sources.
Our Priorities
Over the next 10 years, our Nation is planning major investments in stewardship, including:
Gwa̱xdlala/Nala̱xdlala Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA)
Carrying out ecosystem monitoring and habitat restoration. Building infrastructure for a new stewardship base that can host Guardians, community members, and guests.
Territorial Stewardship and Supporting Guardians
Hiring and training additional full-time Guardians and seasonal Guardians to carry out monitoring, restoration, and emergency response. Developing a mentorship program for new Guardians.
Cultural Reclamation and Archeological Research
Supporting archeological assessment of the territory, with a focus on identifying historically significant regions, collecting stories from Elders, mapping, and undertaking active projects.
Mamalilikulla Stewardship Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
| 2015 | Guardian Program We launched our Guardian program, with # Guardians, one boat, and a base on Compton Island. |
| 2019 | ‘Mimkwa̱mlis Guardian Base We built a permanent dock on Village Island, extending our Guardians’ reach into the territory. We also acquired a float camp near Village Island, where Guardians now stay throughout the year. |
| 2021 | Gwa̱xdlala/Nala̱xdlala IPCA We declared an IPCA in Gwa̱xdlala/Nala̱xdlala Lull Bay/Hoeya Sound, to protect and restore three watersheds. |
| 2023 | Marine Refuge Declared The federal government declared a marine refuge in the Gwa̱xdlala/Nala̱xdlala IPCA, protecting sensitive habitat from fishing. |
| 2025 | Totem Pole Raising We raised the first totem pole at Village Island in over 140 years. |
Explore Our Territory
A Plan for Forever.
As Mamalilikulla, we have always lived in, cared for, and relied upon the lands, waters, and life in our territory. To carry out our stewardship responsibilities in a modern way, we are growing our Guardian department and reasserting our presence in our homelands.
We’ve partnered with Coast Funds to raise funds for our stewardship endowment. By doing this, we will be able to generate funding to purchase vessels and equipment, fuel, staff salaries, and carry out stewardship work.
To complement our endowment returns, we also draw from other revenue sources like philanthropic support, carbon credits, stewardship fees, and research grants.
Partner With Us
Your gift to the Mamalilikulla First Nation will help us protect the lands, waters, and wildlife in our territory, for all time.
Meet With Us
Interested in learning more about how your support makes a difference? Let’s meet.
Published On July 18, 2025 | Edited On August 14, 2025