An Indigenous-led conservation initiative to protect wild salmon, the waters they thrive in, the forests that support them and the animals that depend on them. Hishuk-ish tsa’walk – everything is connected

Vision: Healthy Forests - Healthy Waters - Healthy Fish - Healthy Communities  

Mission Statement: To protect and restore expansive areas of forest habitat surrounding key salmon streams and to improve forest practices on the rest of the landscape.

Goals:  

  • Ecological: To restore the ecosystem functions in key cultural salmon watersheds

  • Governance: To return recognized effective decision-making authority to the Ha’wiih

  • Economic: To build long term sustainability in the local economy

  • Social/Cultural: To support the revitalization of Nuu-chah-nulth cultural practices, language and food supply

  • Health: To support and improve health outcomes, increase access to local traditional foods and medicines

“It’s not about laying blame or pointing fingers … working together is the way to go … for those wild stocks to be able to survive and be sustainable …” tayii hawił Mike Maquinna, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation

“Stewardship is educating our people about our resources and protecting them at the same time.” Jordan James, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation

“I really believe we have no choice but to create Salmon Parks if the salmon are going to survive” Clifford Atleo, Sr. Chair, Nuu-chah-nulth Council of Ha’wiih

What are Salmon Parks?

Salmon Parks are an Indigenous-led conservation tool to restore wild salmon by recovering key watersheds in Nootka Sound, on Vancouver Island’s west coast. The muwač̓atḥ (Mowachaht/Muchalaht) First Nation is working to protect the waters and surrounding forest habitat and secure a healthy future for salmon for everyone by managing the Ḥaḥahuułi (ha-ha-hoolthee) of the Ha’wiih in a sustainable way, consistent with Nuu-chah-nulth knowledge, values and guiding principles:

HISHUK-ISH-TSA’WALK Everything is connected  

ISAAK Respect for all  

UU-A-THLUK Taking Care Of  

Image: © TJ Watt

Salmon Parks Mowachaht Muchalaht territory

Why are salmon at risk?

For decades, industrial logging has disturbed forests that once upheld strong riverbanks and pools — the very streams that salmon need to survive. Between low river flows, overfishing, and a warming climate, salmon in Nootka Sound have been in trouble for decades. 

Without action, salmon could go extinct in Nootka Sound within 20 years.

Watch the Salmon Parks documentary to learn about local First Nations’ plan to reverse the damage done to this sacred habitat. 

Image: © TJ Watt

Why Protect Salmon?

  • Healthy Forests

  • Healthy Waters

  • Healthy Fish

  • Healthy Communities

Salmon Parks Declaration (November 2023)

The ḥaw̓iiḥ of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation declare that all the lands, waters, skies and what is below the ground within the following watersheds: Burman River, Muchalat River including the Oktwanch River, Liener/Perry and Tahsis Rivers, Kendrick Creek and Marvinus Creek, Upper Gold River and Upper Conuma River, as shown on the attached map titled Map of MMFN Salmon Parks, are held up, protected and revered as Salmon Parks under Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation inherent law and authority.

Jamie James, MMFN

Image: © TJ Watt