Chowéthel Wetlandkeepers, 2022
Reconciliation is more than just a word.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation is a province-wide organization, and as such, we are privileged to live and work across what is known as British Columbia. We acknowledge and respect the 203 First Nations who live in and have stewarded these lands since time immemorial and continue to do so today.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation and Indigenous communities have made considerable progress toward a shared vision of maintaining healthy fish and wildlife populations. By integrating Indigenous values and perspectives, the BCWF has made notable strides in fulfilling its mission to safeguard and promote responsible environmental use for today and for future generations.
We acknowledge that reconciliation takes time, and we are prioritizing building relationships with First Nations communities. BCWF supports Indigenous-led conservation by partnering with First Nations on habitat restoration, education and training, and knowledge sharing opportunities. We’re excited to support and work alongside many Nations and Bands, and are grateful to have guidance from elders, knowledge keepers, and community members throughout our work.
Below are just a few examples of the work and opportunities we’ve accomplished in partnership with First Nation communities across B.C.
We Are of Water Graphic Novel
Through a partnership with the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, BCWF created the graphic novel We Are of Water, illustrated by Chenoa Gao (BCWF Conservation Illustrator). We Are of Water provides visuals connected to voices and knowledge shared by Indigenous Elders, youth, and community members through Healthy Watershed Initiative projects on the significance of watersheds and water.
“Water has a life of its own. We need to honour it. We need to respect it. We need to allow it to be free to do the work that it needs to do. Like water, the voices and illustrations of Indigenous leaders within this graphic novel are a conduit for learnings and lessons about the importance of restoring and healing the land and waterways.”
Chenoa Gao, Illustrator and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation member
We hope these illustrated stories will amplify Indigenous voices and experience, embrace and advance inter-generational learning between youth and Elders, and foster future generations of water champions and stewards.
To learn more about the First Peoples and the land you’re on, visit the sites below, or reach out to your local Nations.
First Peoples’ Cultural Council
Whose Land
Contacts for First Nation Consultation Areas
BCWF Bog Blog 