Innovative research and development centre will drive economic growth and Indigenous stewardship, reestablishing Kwiakah Nation’s presence in Phillips Arm.
Matsayno, Kwiakah Territory, Phillips Arm, January 30, 2025: Kwiakah First Nation takes an innovative step towards re-establishing a permanent presence in their territory and driving a stewardship-based economy by establishing the Kwiakah Centre of Excellence in the southern Great Bear Rainforest. The initiative will benefit from a new project investment in partnership with Island Coastal Economic Trust.
Kwiakah members were displaced from their territory for almost 100 years and the Kwiakah Centre of Excellence will become the first permanent presence established in the area since its last members left Matsayno in Phillips Arm in the 1930s.
The project will establish significant opportunities to integrate traditional ecological knowledge into the research and stewardship activities. It also advances Kwiakah’s key economic development priority to successfully address its need for sustainable employment, environmental improvement, and safety of Kwiakah members, staff and partners.
By redeveloping a former fish farm located near Matsayno, in Phillips Arm, the Nation will create a hub for research and development. Upon completion, the Kwiakah Centre of Excellence will include a dedicated research centre, experimental kelp farm, regenerative forestry operations, and a territorial Guardian program.
Through partnerships with academic institutions, the Centre hopes to foster scientific advancements while promoting environmental sustainability, generating employment and retaining skilled workers. The project is projected to create 12 full-time equivalent jobs. Additional employment opportunities will be created to help with seasonal kelp harvesting and environmental monitoring.
This project builds on Kwiakah First Nation’s leadership in sustainable forestry. Recently, the Nation established the first Special Forest Management Area of its kind, under a co-governance agreement with the Province of BC. This initiative created carbon offset opportunities by retiring Annual Allowable Cut quotas, enabling the Nation to monetize the living tree rather than participating in an extractive economy.
In addition to research activities, the Centre will support regenerative forestry on two woodlots the Nation is acquiring in neighbouring Frederick Arm.
As the Centre expands its research activities, new revenue opportunities are anticipated through joint research projects and the commercialization of its outcomes. These will focus strategically on kelp farming and regenerative forestry. The goal is to promote innovative approaches to environmental stewardship and aquaculture, with a focus on practical solutions for marine and land-based ecosystems.
The renovation project is scheduled to begin soon, with a targeted completion in May 2025.
Island Coastal Economic Trust is investing with Kwiakah First Nation towards the Kwiakah Centre of Excellence through its Capital and Innovation Program. The Trust will contribute $200,000 towards a total project investment of $1,050,000. The Trust is committing this investment with its focus on Innovation and Technology, highlighting the initiative’s goal to advance research in sustainable aquaculture.
Quotes about the Project:
“Kwiakah First Nation is proud to partner with Island Coastal Economic Trust to establish the Kwiakah Centre of Excellence, a vital step in re-establishing our permanent presence in our traditional territory and advancing our stewardship-based economy initiatives. This investment will support our vision of integrating traditional ecological knowledge with cutting-edge research in sustainable seaweed cultivation, and regenerative forestry, while creating meaningful employment and economic opportunities for our members. We are excited to lead with innovation and sustainability at the forefront of our efforts to protect and revitalize our territory for future generations.” – Frank Voelker, Band Manager and Economic Development Officer, Kwiakah First Nation
“This is such an exciting step forward for Kwiakah First Nation, and I am so thrilled to see a permanent Kwiakah presence in Phillips Arm after so many years. Despite their size, Kwiakah Nation has made massive strides in the conservation and restoration of ᕈNacinuxᵂ Conservancy and the Phillips River watershed, and beyond the amazing work I know will come out of this space, the centre is an important symbol and reminder of Kwiakah’s resiliency and dedication to this land.” Hon Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship
“This partnership between Kwiakah First Nation and Island Coastal Economic Trust will encourage the growth of innovative and sustainable industries while supporting ongoing efforts to build a stronger, more diverse coastal economy.” Hon Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
“Partnering with Kwiakah First Nation on this investment is truly exciting, as the Nation continues to establish itself as a leader in a stewardship-based economy within their territories. This project will enable new, diversified revenue streams for the Nation through long-term academic partnerships that empower Kwiakah First Nation members by creating new employment opportunities in their core territory.” – Brodie Guy, CEO, Island Coastal Economic Trust
Media Contacts
Jeff Bartlett
Communications and Impact Manager
Island Coastal Economic Trust
250-871-7797
jeff@islandcoastaltrust.ca
Frank Voelker
Band Administrator
250-923-1556
frankvoelker@kwiakah.com
