Every day is Earth Day in the Great Bear Rainforest. 🌱

Today, and every day, we recognize the powerful leadership of First Nations whose knowledge and guidance have stewarded these lands, waters, and wildlife for tens of thousands of years. 🫶

📸s: Andrew S. Wright

Coast Funds Presents New Strategic Plan for 2026-2028 Our new Strategic Plan outlines priorities for the next three years, with a renewed focus on service delivery, community engagement, and organizational resilience.

📋 Our new 2026–2028 Strategic Plan is here!

Learn where Coast Funds' priorities will sit over the next three years, as we support First Nations in advancing their goals for stewardship, conservation, and healthy economies.

🔗 Read the plan here: https://ow.ly/mkwy50YNA2s

Explore Indigenous-owned Businesses in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii Visitors can have life-changing experiences and fully embrace First Nations culture through Indigenous-owned tourism businesses. Tourism can benefit Indigenous communities by creating employment, linking young people to the land, and honouring traditional knowledge and practices. Explore a variety of Indigenous-owned tourism businesses, including luxury resorts and wildlife tours. JUMP TO: North-Coast Skeena | Nisg̱a’a Lands

Tourism season is ramping up! Here is a list of businesses in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii you can visit this summer: https://ow.ly/gYRO50YFfW2

Did we miss your favourite business on the list? Let us know below!

Watch: First Nations lead B.C.’s clean energy shift The journalists behind The Narwhal’s Generating Futures series share what they learned about communities leading the way on renewable energy

Here's a great video from The Narwhal on how First Nations are leading the clean energy shift in BC, developing sustainable power sources that balance local needs with environmental and economic concerns.

📹 Watch here: https://ow.ly/rErt50YFcbI

Oolichan and the Changing Season As oolichan return to spawn, First Nations on the coast mark the transition from winter to spring with celebrations such as Hoobiyee and the spring equinox. For millennia, First Nations on the coast of British Columbia have sustainably harvested oolichan, a finger-sized oily fish that is a member of the smelt family. Oolichan (also spelled

Spring on the coast means oolichan are back in the rivers! For millennia, First Nations across the coast have marked winter's end with the return of these small, oil-rich fish.

Learn how First Nations are stewarding these fish populations back into abundance: https://ow.ly/fYXZ50YF9sZ

Last week, the federal government announced they are earmarking $3.8 billion in funding over five years for stewardship, conservation, and nature protection programs. $231 million of that will support Indigenous Guardians program from coast to coast to coast.

Read more: https://ow.ly/1LbU50YGFIu

Partners in protection Combining ecological and cultural values, and nearly two dozen planning partners, British Columbia’s Great Bear Sea is a model of con­ser­va­tion cooper­a­tion

“We’ve moved mountains in the last three years,” says Danielle Shaw, chief councillor of Wuikinuxv Nation. “We achieved things I didn’t think we could achieve.”

🐋 Dive into the Great Bear Sea in the latest feature from Canadian Geographic:

canadiangeographic.ca/articles/par...

Gitga’at Nation responds to Tugboat grounding near Sainty Point; third vessel to run aground near Hartley Bay in as many months Yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, March 3rd, The Gitga'at Nation had responded to a tugboat that had run aground o...

“We are watching. We are responding. And we will continue to protect our Territory.”

Gitga'at crew respond to a tugboat grounding near Hartley Bay: www.cfnrfm.ca/2026/03/04/1...

17 First Nations. 2 Crown governments. Dozens of partners. One shared vision for protecting the Great Bear Sea and investing in coastal communities.

New report shares lessons learned from the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence initiative.

🔗 Learn more: https://ow.ly/F6KX50YpsmU

The herring spawn is here! 🐟

A keystone species, these small oily fish are essential to the health of the ecosystem and have been long valued by First Nations as a culturally important food source.

Learn more about this year's spawn: https://ow.ly/ZkEc50YoWvg

GREAT BEARS AND GREAT WORK IN THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST - Nanwakolas We last spoke to Nanwakolas Council wildlife biologist Dr. Melanie Clapham back in March 2020 about the collaborative grizzly bear research work she is

In the Great Bear Rainforest, First Nations Guardians and researchers are using remote cameras and facial-recognition tools to better understand grizzly bear movements and habitat use.

Learn more about the cutting-edge research that is helping to protect grizzly bears:
https://ow.ly/apKw50YhfvL

A snapshot of life in Alert Bay, B.C. | The Narwhal Off of Vancouver Island’s rugged north coast, the tiny community of Alert Bay, on ‘Na̱mg̱is territory, is a place of deep connections to the land and waters

A wonderful feature story on life in ‘Na̱mg̱is territory from The Narwhal.

Read it here: https://ow.ly/j4kv50Yhfkt

"For every dollar of direct investment, the protected area has generated $5.61 in revenue in sectors like eco-tourism, fisheries and manufacturing."

We don't hear enough about the economic benefits of conservation & respect for Indigenous rights & title.

@michellecyca.com makes the case.

Building a Conservation Economy: First Nations Generate $1.77 Billion in Economic Output for BC In the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii, First Nations’ investments in the conservation economy, supported by a $60-million Economic Development Fund, have contributed $808 million to provincial ...

📊 Data comes from an independent study Coast Funds published in November: coastfunds.ca/news/economi...

Protecting the environment is good for B.C.’s economy | The Narwhal Job creation, tax revenue, small business support: why don’t B.C. politicians value the economic benefits of environmental protection?

"The Great Bear Rainforest has been supporting 373 full-time jobs for 17 years, with no end in sight, while also protecting the environment."

Early investments in First Nations' economic development have netted $1.77 billion in gross economic output since 2008.

thenarwhal.ca/environment-...

Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw Carvers Uphold Millennia-Old Traditions First Nations carvers are working with wilkw / k ̓ wa’x̱ tłu Large Cultural Cedar to create cultural works, like an ocean-going xwax'wa̱na, that celebrate the revival of traditions.

We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and K’ómoks carvers are utilizing wilkw / k ̓ wa’x̱ tłu (Large Cultural Cedar) to create canoes and poles that celebrate the traditions of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw First Nations.

https://ow.ly/qBYY50XZPzh

Winter Funding Opportunities: Round-up for First Nations 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

New year, new projects 💪

Kick off new work with help from these grants and funding opportunities, available for First Nations’ projects in stewardship, sustainable energy, ec dev, and more.

https://ow.ly/4Mz050XVKCn

Get the latest updates on Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship, delivered straight to your inbox. 🌊

Sign up to Talking Stick here: https://ow.ly/vREE50XVLjV

Gitga’at’s 2025 State of the Ocean Report Highlights Ecosystem, Cultural Stewardship Gitga’at First Nation has released its 2025 State of the Ocean report, which features contributions from Gitga’at Guardians, researchers, students, and community members. Each chapter highlights research and data from projects that support marine animal protection, ecosystem stewardship, and management of cultural sites. The 105-page report includes Gitga’at Guardians’ annual patrol summary, along with updates

Last year, Gitga’at Guardians:

✅ Spent over 1,430 hours patrolling more than 17,500 kilometres of marine territory
✅ Recorded over 1,000 sightings.

And that's not all. See the full impact of their work here: https://ow.ly/mZfO50XVKb1

Wind energy project empowers Vancouver Island First Nation The Yə̓yus Energy wind project will deliver clean power with less environmental impact than legacy dams while super charging First Nations rights and Vancouver Island’s energy independence, says Wei W...

“To be meaningfully involved as an owner and at the table and making key decisions, that’s super important.”

Wei Wai Kum First Nation will own a 51% share in Yə̓yus, a new wind energy project.

via @nationalobserver.com @rochellebaker1.bsky.social
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/07/n...

How Indigenous stewardship is guiding a new era for Canada’s tour operators From salmon restoration on the Pacific Coast to cultural education in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, Indigenous-led efforts are offering new models for how conservation can work

“We are the land and the land is us. That means when we take care of this land, we take care of this territory and we’re taking care of everyone who is a part of it.”

📰 via @theglobeandmail.com: www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

Restoring a Rainforest, Reclaiming a Home Discover how the Kwiakah First Nation is using a floating research station to heal a damaged inlet and promote regenerative forestry in the Great Bear Rainforest.

“If we can heal one inlet — if we can prove regeneration is possible and economically sustaining — others can follow.”

In the southern #GreatBearRainforest, the Kwiakah are using regenerative forestry to restore their territory: bluedotliving.com/kwiakah-centre-excellenc...

Wind project set for northwest of Campbell River given Ligʷiłdaxʷ name - Campbell River Mirror New Indigenous name represents Wei Wai Kum’s identity, culture and its position as an equity partner

“We are proud to see our language and art woven into the future of this project, and we look forward to continuing this work in a way that honours our people, land, and the generations that will follow.”

campbellrivermirror.com/2025/12/11/i...

Khasalus Kolten Grant’s Art Gives “Spiritual, Physical, and Emotional Strength” Khasalus Kolten Grant is a multidisciplinary artist with family ties to the Musgamagw Dzawadaenuxw, Kwakiutl Tlowitsis, Squamish, and N’Quatqua St’at’imc Nations. He works across a range of artistic practices including cedar wood carving, silver jewelry making, digital art, printmaking, and painting. His mentors include Klatle-Bhi Charles Sam, Kevin Cranmer, Phil Gray, and the late Richard

“I’ve always been an artist. Ever since I was a little kid.”

Khasalus (Kolten Grant) shares moments that influenced him to become an artist and the inspiration behind his latest mural, The Undersea Kingdom, on display in our office: https://coastfunds.ca/news/kolten-grant-mural

Indigenous Journalism Awards - Jack Webster Foundation | Celebrating the Webster Awards

New Jack Webster financial awards for Indigenous journalism students at any of B.C.'s 5 J-schools (UBC, BCIT, KPU, TRU, Langara) and freelance Indigenous journos in the first five years of their careers. Deadline for application is Dec 14.
jackwebster.com/indigenous-j...

Indigenous names revealed for new ferries coming to Quadra Island route - Campbell River Mirror Ferries will hit the water in 2027, representing First Nations’ profound connections to the ocean

⛴️ Two new diesel-electric ferries will carry Kwak'wala names shared by the We Wai Kai and We Wai Kum Nations.

Island Gwa’yam (whale) and Island K’asa (otter) will sail between Campbell River and Quadra Island, starting in 2027.

🔗 https://ow.ly/2Z5h50XBEG9

4 New Indigenous-Led Tourism Experiences In British Columbia, Canada These Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC)-recommended outfitters and experiences will open for travelers starting in early 2026.

Spirit Bear Lodge, owned and operated by Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, was featured on Forbes website as one of 4 Indigenous-led tourism experiences to book for 2026. 👏

🔗 https://ow.ly/uHxR50XBCXp

Charting a Course Through Bears' Eyes - bioGraphic In British Columbia, First Nation stewards are using computational models and Indigenous knowledge to protect bears’ access to salmon.

Charting a Course Through Bears’ Eyes

In British Columbia, stewards from the Heiltsuk First Nation are using computational models and Indigenous knowledge to protect bears’ access to salmon.

by @tjanepalmer.bsky.social

www.biographic.com/charting-a-c...

‘NDN Giver’ exhibition showcases the art — and responsibility — of potlatching From mugs to prints, masks and blankets, a new Bill Reid Gallery display celebrates the ancient Northwest Coast gift-giving tradition

The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art's exhibition 'NDN Giver' celebrates the Potlatch. For many First Nations, the Potlatch is a central system of governance, ceremony, and social life.

📅 Open until February 2026
🔗 https://ow.ly/zUt350XuoSl

River Of Abundance: How Fishwheels Are Driving Nisg̱a’a Nation’s Salmon Stewardship Along the Nass River, Nisg̱a’a Nation is using fishwheels annually to collect baseline data on salmon populations, helping to ensure food security and economic prosperity for their citizens.

On the Ḵ’alii-Aksim Lisims (Nass River), the Nisg̱a’a are using fishwheels to monitor salmon migration, mortality, and population trends. These river-based wheels gently catch salmon so technicians can identify and record each fish before safely returning it to the water.

🔗 https://ow.ly/hKSO50XrnPy