Fulfilling our ancestral rights and responsibilities to take care of our lands, waters, wildlife and food sources for future generations
Fulfilling our ancestral rights and responsibilities to take care of our lands, waters, wildlife and food sources for future generations
We are a collective of First Nations working to fulfill our stewardship responsibilities within our traditional areas on North Vancouver Island and mainland coast, off the Pacific coast of what is now British Columbia, Canada.
It’s not hard to do things the right way, says long-time K’òmoks Guardian Watchman Cory Frank. “Based on my experience,” says Cory, “the best thing to do if you have a project or something you want to do in the territory, is come and talk to us.” It’s a pretty simple formula for best practice on...
Read More
Being a Guardian Watchman is not just a career but a way of life, say Mamalilikulla Chief Richard Sumner and Guardian Watchman Darren Puglas. “Anyone doing this job is someone who isn’t scared of working hard,” says Mamalilikulla Chief Richard Sumner adamantly. “It isn’t 9 to 5! Anything can happen...
Read More
Ha-ma-yas First Nations host a field trip for visitors into the territories to see what’s happening on the ground. “When you see for yourself what it is you and everyone else is working for, it switches on the light,” observes Mamalilikulla Chief Richard Sumner. “There’s no better way to achieve...
Read More
Ever wondered what it’s like to be a Mamalilikulla Guardian Watchman? Ever thought about why you might want to learn how to be one, and join us in our work? Darren Puglas, who is one of our Guardians and who graduates this March from Vancouver Island University as a certified Stewardship Technician...
Read More
It doesn’t matter much if it is raining when tourists see their first grizzly bears, says Da’naxda’xw Guardian Watchman Stanley Beans. “There’s usually quite a bit of high-pitched screeching and then lots of picture-taking,” grins Beans. “It’s a pretty exciting moment.” Beans and his fellow Da’...
Read More
“Shellfish are a food source that could feed the world,” says Gina Thomas enthusiastically. Along with Brandon Wilson, Thomas is one of Tlowitsis’ two fulltime Guardian Watchmen. “We have such pristine waters here in our territory,” Thomas continues.” It’s an ideal place to put people to work...
Read More
The first cohort of students in Vancouver Island University’s Stewardship Technician Training Program graduated with flying colours in March: creating a pathway that First Nations students following in their footsteps can walk with confidence and pride. “You have to be committed to the course and...
Read More
Mamalilikulla’s vision for a sustainable stewardship future “We want to be present on our lands and waters in a way we have not been able to be for generations,” says Mamalilkulla First Nation Chief Richard Sumner emphatically. “We want to let people know that we’re here, taking care of our...
Read More
Putting Training into Action Tlowitsis Guardians Gina Thomas and Brandon Wilson have a large territory to cover, lots to do, and only two of them to do it all. “So we have to be very strategic about what projects we undertake,” says Gina. “Last year, the strategy was to make sure we spent our time...
Read More
The Snowball Effect: K’òmoks Guardians are building on their 2015 successes By the time the festive season rolled around at the end of 2015, K’òmoks Watchman Cory Frank had a great deal to celebrate on the work front. Thanks to some key strategic partnerships forged by Cory and his team,...
Read More
