What are Salmon Parks?

  • Salmon Parks are Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) on land and in the ocean that are designated under Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN) law.

  • Salmon Parks are critical habitats that salmon rely on throughout their life cycle.

  • Salmon Parks are currently made-up of about 66,000 hectares of coastal rainforest, of which 39,000 hectares are old growth forest.

WHERE are Salmon Parks?

  • Salmon Parks are located in the hahuuthli of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN) ha’wiih (hereditary leaders) on the central west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

  • Salmon Parks have been declared throughout MMFN territory, including the Burman, Muchalaht, Gold, Conuma, Tahsis, Leiner, Perry, Kendrick and Marvinus watersheds.

WHO is involved in Salmon Parks?

  • Salmon Parks are led and managed by the ha’wiih of the Mowachaht/ Muchalaht First Nation.

  • The Salmon Parks staff team is comprised of a General Manager, an Operations Manager, a Community Engagement Coordinator, the RELAW Coordinator and an Administrative Assistant.

WHAT kind of organization is Salmon Parks

  • The Salmon Parks Stewardship Society is a not-for-profit organization that was set up by MMFN to implement Salmon Parks. The MMFN Council of Chiefs appoints the Directors of the Society.

HOW are Salmon Parks funded?

  • The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and several environmental organizations, including CPAWS-BC, Ducks Unlimited and West Coast Environmental Law, provided in-kind support to Salmon Parks between 2019 and 2022. 

  • In 2023, several more environmental organizations provided substantial financial support to Salmon Parks, including the Sitka Foundation, Nature Based Solutions Foundation, Nature United, and the Indigenous Watershed Initiative. 

  • In November 2023, Salmon Parks received a $15.2 million grant from Environment and Climate Change Canada that will be disbursed over three government fiscal years, from 2023-2024 to 2025-2026. 

WHAT are the next steps for Salmon Parks?

  • Establish a Salmon Parks Community Advisory Council within MMFN to provide regular input to the Salmon Parks Stewardship Society on community values, goals, and priorities.

     

  • With support from West Coast Environmental Law, document the Nuu-chah-nulth laws regarding salmon and the hahuuthli so that an Indigenous legal foundation for Salmon Parks can be developed and approved. 

  • Negotiate an agreement with BC to work together to designate and implement Salmon Parks as an MMFN led Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA).

  • Secure the lands that have been identified for protection so that they can be designated under MMFN and BC law as IPCAs.

  • Obtain funding to set up a Guardian program for Salmon Parks that is led, managed and staffed by MMFN community members.