For the past three years, The Houssian Foundation has deepened our partnership with Nature United in support of their Indigenous-led conservation work across British Columbia.
Nature United’s impact in the following areas of work has particularly resonated with the Houssian Foundation’s goals this year.
In February 2023, Nature United unveiled a blueprint for a network of marine protected areas across the Great Bear Sea. This marks an important step towards protecting a globally rare ecosystem and supporting the resilience of coastal communities and marine-based economies.
This significant milestone was the product of more than ten years of science and collaboration that the Houssian Foundation helped support.
The team at Nature United partnered with Nanwakolas Council and Coastal First Nations as they market carbon credits generated by the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement. Nature United provided ongoing capacity support and are actively making connections to introduce potential buyers to these credits.
Nature United is supporting emerging Indigenous leaders across the North Pacific coast. They continue to support five programs in-community, that engage youth out on the lands and waters of their territories, and published a report documenting why these programs are so important for Indigenous Peoples and our planet.
“The land and the water have a special kind of cell memory or a familial recognition that spans generations that is eternal. When I go into the forest in my homelands all the plants, trees, and mycelia know who I am, they know what family I am from, they know my lineage, they remember me. The water has this recognition too. Water is fused with our tears, our blood, our sweat, our sensual fluids, the vibration of our songs. To return to the land and the water is to return home. In some cases – return to a home we didn’t know we had.”
Ximiq (Dionne Paul), Nuxalk Nation and the shíshálh Nation
And finally, Nature United provides technical expertise and shared resources with over 35 Guardian programs stewarding lands, waters and wildlife across Canada. After the success of an initial two-year pilot, our Indigenous Guardians Technical Support Team has continued to host webinars, develop and share new resources, and provide direct support in the form of in-person workshops and one-on-one strategy calls.