Coast Funds

08/21/2026

✨ NEW funding opportunities for First Nations! ✨

We've updated our list of external grants and funding opportunities that support First Nations stewardship efforts and community-driven priorities in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii.

🔗 See the latest opportunities here:

A staff-curated list of external grants and funding opportunities available for First Nations’ projects in stewardship, sustainable energy, training, culture, and economic development. 

08/14/2026

Meet stads k'un, the national bird of Haida Gwaii. 🦅

This forest hawk evolved over 14,000 years in isolation and needs deep old-growth forest to survive. With just 31 known nest sites left, Haida surveyors spend their seasons hunting for "a basketball-sized bundle of sticks in a forest full of trees" to protect every single one.

Over the past few years, the Haida partnered with the Province to develop a recovery strategy for stads k’un: when surveyors locate a goshawk nest or probable breeding site, the Nation designates a 200-hectare reserve, protecting the immediate surroundings from logging and resource development. The Nation is also working on getting stads k'un classified as endangered.

“They need every acre of protection they can get."

🔗 Learn more about the Haida's efforts to protect this species: https://ow.ly/xV8y50ZwK0p

08/12/2026

"The salt water — it's in my blood."

For millennia, the Wei Wai K*m have watched over and cared for the lands and waters in their territory. Today, the Nation’s Guardians combine traditional knowledge with scientific tools to carry out that responsibility in a modern way. 🤲

🔗 Learn more:

For millennia, the Wei Wai K*m, part of the Laich-Kwil-Tach group of First Nations, have watched over and cared for the lands and waters in their territory. Today, the Nation’s Guardians combine traditional knowledge with scientific tools to carry out that responsibility in a modern way, bringing ...

08/10/2026

Along the banks of Ḵ'alii Aksim Lisims (Nass River), Nisg̱a'a technicians run fishwheels that catch salmon, count and tag them, and release them unharmed to continue upriver.

By using data from the fishwheel monitoring program, the Nisga'a Lisims Government - Nisga'a Nation has carefully managed the Nass River for more than 30 years, tracking the population and health of five species of salmon (sockeye, Chinook, chum, pink, and coho) and summer-run steelhead — and using that information to determine future management and conservation of salmon populations for generations to come.

"People cannot live without salmon, even today."

🔗 Read more:

Along the Nass River, Nisg̱a’a Nation is using fishwheels annually to collect baseline data on salmon populations, helping to ensure food security and economic prosperity for their citizens.

08/09/2026

Carver See-wees Max Chickite learned his craft watching carvers in villages up and down the coast. Today he's passing that knowledge on.

Working with rare old-growth cedar under the Na̲nwak̲olas Large Cultural Cedar protocol, Max, Junior Henderson and Karver Everson mentored four young carvers over 30 days in H'kusam forest, carving an ocean-going canoe named G̱a̱lg̱a̱połala which means "to hold each other up."

"Every time I learn about my culture, I am inspired."

🔗 Read more about how Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw carvers are upholding millennia-old traditions:

First Nations carvers are working with wilkw / k ̓ wa’x̱ tłu Large Cultural Cedar to create cultural works, like an ocean-going xwax'wa̱na, that celebrate the revival of traditions.

08/07/2026

Gitxaała Nation’s Guardians are on the big screen! 🎬

"West Harbour Heroes" is a new 10-part series on Crave (streaming now) that follows the volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliary in Lax Klan (Kitkatla), which logged more marine rescues last year than any other community on the coast.

The episode also explores Gitxaała’s deep connection to its marine territory and food resoruces.

“Our territory is the most valuable territory that we have. It’s where we collect all our resources and our food.”

🔗 Learn more by searching "Gitxaała Nation featured in Crave documentary series" on the Northern View website.

08/06/2026

Year-round, the Gitga'at Guardians are out on the waters of their territory, monitoring salmon, crab, whales and the cultural sites that anchor the Nation to its territory. Their work helps sustain a community that still harvests 90% of its food from the land and sea. 🌊

Each year, the Nation releases a "State of the Ocean" report, which details the results of their efforts, from their annual patrol summary to updates on whale and habitat management and ancestral stewardship and archeological findings.

Learn more about the work of the Gitga'at Guardians: https://ow.ly/28mY50ZwIPh and check out their latest ocean report here: https://ow.ly/ZpxH50ZwIQI

The Gitga'at Guardians protect the remote territory of the Nation while providing local employment opportunities.

08/04/2026

🌊 Job opportunities in the Great Bear Rainforest! Check out a few of the open roles available across the region below.

(Note: please click through to each posting for details on how to apply, deadlines, salary ranges, and more.)

✅ Salt Water Bakery is hiring seasonal, front-of-house staff: https://ow.ly/lX8s50Zwnzi
✅ Kitselas Development Corp, a branch of Kitselas Administration, is looking for a Chief Operating Officer to provide executive and operational leadership across KDC's business units: https://ow.ly/UKrh50Zwnzk
✅ Nisga'a Lisims Government - Nisga'a Nation is hiring for a few roles, including an Environmental Assessment Officer, Lands Officer, and Economic Development Coordinator, among others: https://ow.ly/bxRq50Zwnzj
✅ 'Namgis First Nation is seeking a Guardian (Forestry Archaeology) to join their team.
This part-time position offers the opportunity to work throughout 'Na̱mg̱is Territory, supporting forestry and archaeological field work: https://ow.ly/sg8z50ZwnzW
✅ Heiltsuk Tribal Council is hiring a casual Cook/Dishwasher for the Resource Lodge: https://ow.ly/8Ff750Zwnzl

Are you a Nation or business hiring in the Great Bear Coast? Share your job posting with via DM.

(Photo credit: Shayd Johnson / Metlakatla First Nation)

07/31/2026

Learn more about the Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network, and how it works below! 👇

Join the Strong Coast Crew and learn more about marine protected areas, which keep the foundations of marine abundance healthy and strong.

07/24/2026

When a marine emergency happens on the coast, Guardians are often first on the water. 🌊

To stay response-ready, Guardians from the K'ómoks, Mamalilikulla, Tlowitsis, and We Wai Kai Nations came together in June for hands-on marine response exercises, practicing everything from dive operations to oil spill scenarios.

ICYMI, here's our recap on the Spring Guardian Gathering below. 👇

Member First Nations of the Na̲nwak̲olas Council demonstrate marine response skills, capacity, and Traditional Knowledge at the Spring 2026 Guardian Gathering in K’ómoks territory.