The last members of the Kwiakah Nation living in their traditional village site of Matsayno left in the 1930s. Now, using a repurposed fish farm site, they are building a Centre of Excellence to re-establish their presence.
It’s slated to start operations this spring.
Band manager Frank Voelker says thanks to funding from the Island Coastal Economic Trust, the nation will integrate traditional ecological knowledge with cutting-edge research in sustainable seaweed cultivation and regenerative forestry.
The nation recently established a Special Forest Management Area, which provides financial carbon offset opportunities by retiring Annual Allowable Cut quotas.
Voelker says the project will create meaningful employment and economic opportunities for nation members.
