In October of 2019 the Heiltsuk Nation officially opened the first new Big House in their territory in 120 years. As we move into the next decade, CCIRA is excited for the new beginnings the Big House signifies. Speaking to reporters at the time of the opening, Heiltsuk’s William Housty said, “there’s a sense of…
In June 2018, on National Indigenous People’s Day, representatives from 14 First Nations gathered near Prince Rupert, along with officials from Canada’s Federal Government, to announce a landmark agreement for working together to protect and manage the North Pacific Coast. The Reconciliation Framework Agreement for Bioregional Oceans Management and Protection, often referred to simply as…
Together, the project partners conducted an extensive assessment of current crab science. This included the science our Nations have conducted within our territories that incorporates our Indigenous and local knowledge. This illustrates DFO’s willingness to accept Indigenous knowledge and Western science as complementary ways of knowing…
In February of this year a really big film hit theatres around the world. Three years in the making, the Great Bear Rainforest IMAX showcases the wild beauty and rich wildlife of the coast. Importantly, it also features Central Coast First Nations people and our strong ties to this place as its original stewards…
Bears, salmon, indigenous rights, and local management of resources all converge in this beautiful and moving video.
Five months ago the Nathan E. Stewart made headlines when it ran aground in Heiltsuk territory spilling 110, 000 litres of diesel into coastal waters. The news reports may have faded but the impact of the spill has not…
Last year our Nations had some major challenges with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) with respect to the management of crab and herring. This is nothing new. In our attempts to protect the resources in our territories, our Nations have often gone head-to-head with DFO. We’ve had to.
Over the past two years the herring fishery on the central coast has been a source of controversy. Disagreements between our Nations and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) have led to peaceful but persistent conflicts…