Kwiakah Led Community Gathering and Knowledge Sharing Workshop

Project Title: Kwiakah led community gathering and knowledge sharing workshop

Recipient: Kwiakah First Nation

Region: Vancouver Island/Coast Region

Awarded Amount: $15,000

Project period: 2025-2026

Description: The Capacity Building Grant will support the expansion of Indigenous science knowledge and strengthen relationships with Kwiakah Elders by integrating Indigenous forest management into ongoing research. Funding will enable participation in an Indigenous-led workshop to broaden academic networks and understanding. A community workshop in Campbell River, including ceremony and a feast, will align the Kwiakah Nation’s vision with the project and facilitate knowledge sharing on land management and cultural connections to forests. A site visit to Phillips Arm will help reestablish personal ties to traditional territory, reinforcing the research’s relevance. The grant will also support honoraria, travel, catering, and venue costs to create a welcoming space for community engagement and capacity building.

Halfway Reporting:

The following is based on halfway reporting by the grantee.

December 5th, 2025

As the Kwiakah First Nation begin a major Regenerative forestry project in their core territory, the SIP funds were used to host a community knowledge sharing workshop where community members were able to listen to presentations from University academics doing research, and provide input and thoughts about the future of this large-scale project. The event hosted over 40 people over two days with facilitators, a graphic recorder, videographer, catering, and water taxi costs to bring members from Campbell River, to Phillips Arm (Kwiakah’s core territory). The final steps are to compile the comments from members into a document for students to refer to later down the road in their research. The event was a great way for both community and academics to learn and understand the significance of the work and ensure it remains a Kwiakah led project. As Kwiakah’s core territory is only accessible via boat, membership is unable to connect with their land, so to bring them out there brought heavy emotions mixed with optimism and excitement for the restoration of the scarred landscapes that are still spiritually considered home to the Kwiakah.

Photo: Walking to Forest Garden in Kwiakah Territory. Credit: G. Woodburn

Photo: Community Members and Academics on boat to Kwiakah Territory. Credit: G. Woodburn