Conservation that Protects First Nations Values
Coastal First Nations communities are working to collaboratively plan for and manage 130 land conservancies in our Territories.
These areas give First Nations the right to continue traditional practices, such as harvesting cedar, hunting and fishing.
They allow for conservation-based activities – wildlife viewing, guided-fishing and small-scale hydro for tourism and local use.
Conservancies came into being in 2006 when Coastal First Nations negotiated a change to the provincial Parks Act – the first of its kind in British Columbia. Areas that were once parks in our Territories became ‘conservancies’ giving priority to First Nations’ interests.
Conservancies now protect village sites, mortuary poles, burial sites and stone fish-weirs. They also safeguard traditional practices by protecting places where we harvest seaweed, salmon and roe-on-kelp.