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
Why Protect Salmon?
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Healthy Forests
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Healthy Waters
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Healthy Fish
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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