About us

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation has lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island since time immemorial, in relationship with the ocean, rivers, and forests that sustain our way of life. Our territory is one of the largest on Vancouver Island, and at the centre is Yuquot, situated in Nootka Sound.

OUR STORY

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN), one of several nuučaan̓uł Nations, is governed by ḥaw̓iiḥ, hereditary leaders whose rights and responsibilities were given by n̓aas (creator) to protect, steward and govern the ḥaḥuułi (chiefly territories). ḥaw̓ iłp̓ at̓ak ḥaw̓iiḥʔi, meaning governance of the chiefs, has been upheld since time immemorial, never ceded or surrendered.
Over the course of many decades, forestry activities have led to the removal of millions of cubic meters of timber from the territory, disrupting and unravelling the interconnectedness of the lands, waters, plants, fish, and wildlife that make up these coastal forest ecosystems.

The threat to the remaining old growth salmon watersheds in the territory led the Mowachaht/Muchalaht Council of Chiefs to declare protection for 9 watersheds through the Salmon Parks Declaration and establish the Salmon Parks Stewardship Society. Salmon Parks is dedicated to a whole-of-watershed approach to restoration, protection, and conservation of salmon habitats and interconnected ecosystems in MMFN and nuučaan̓uł traditional territory for the benefit of future generations.

Our Laws

Salmon Parks is guided by the foundational principles of the nuučaan̓uɫ people:

hišukʔiš c̓awaak

Everything is One, Everything is Connected

ʔiisaak

Respect with Caring

ʔuʔaałuk

Taking Care Of

The Mowachaht/Muchalaht people have been living according to these foundational principles since time immemorial. These principles constitute living legal processes that inform relationships to self, to families, communities, and with all living and supernatural beings who are part of the territories, and provide instruction for how to behave on the land and sea.

What are
Salmon Parks?

Salmon Parks are culturally and ecologically significant areas that have been identified for restoration, protection, and conservation. These are areas where Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation is prioritizing restoration of salmon-bearing watersheds and riparian areas, estuary enhancement, and establishing long-term sustainable and selective logging practices.

Salmon Parks are made up of approximately 66,500 hectares of coastal rainforest, of which close to 40,000 hectares are old growth forest. Salmon Parks is protecting key watersheds within MMFN ḥaḥuułi including:

  • Marvinas Creek, Gunpowder Creek, Musket Creek and Kendrick Creek on Nootka Island,
  • the Tahsis, Liener and Perry Rivers at the top end of Tahsis Inlet,
  • the Gold, Muchalat and Burman Rivers that empty into Muchalat Inlet.

What we do

Work in collaboration with Provincial and Federal Governments to establish Salmon Parks within Mowachaht/Muchalaht territory.
Engage with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht community to learn about and incorporate MMFN stewardship practices.
Care for the lands and waters in our territory including re-planting vegetation, reinforcing unstable banks, clearing and maintaining trails, and establishing baselines for ecological and cultural data.
Monitor the health of vegetation, species, infrastructure, and resources in our territory.

Provide employment opportunities for MMFN and local residents.

Caring for salmon and all our relations for the benefit of future generations.