Kwiaht

Kwiaht Your local laboratory in the San Juan Islands for the science to support good stewardship. Kwiáht is a scientific cooperative. See our current budget.

Kwiáht is a nonprofit conservation biology laboratory in and for the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Kwiáht is a Coast Salish (Native American) word that means a place that has been kept physically clean and spiritually healthy. At Kwiáht we combine the latest scientific research methods in ecology, biochemistry and genetics with respect for indigenous values of place-centered human responsi

bility for life processes. If you live in San Juan County, we are your local resource for animal and plant diversity information. Contact us if you would like us to identify an unfamiliar plant or animal, or discuss the plant communities, inter-tidal areas, streams or wetlands on your property. Kwiáht’s Articles define its twofold mission as: scientific research in the service of good stewardship of cultural and biological resources in the San Juan and Gulf Islands, and the improvement of local science education. Kwiáht’s scientists, students, and community volunteers (citizen scientists) focus on gaps in our current knowledge of species diversity and ecological processes, and promote local efforts to protect and restore terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The founder of Kwiáht, the late Samish Tribal leader Kenneth Hansen, was a descendant of some of the leading traditional Coast Salish families of Lopez, Cypress, Guemes and Samish Islands. Ken’s family taught him that place-based knowledge and responsibilities are the most important legacies left to us by our ancestors. A family won renown for the abundance of fish, birds, animals, gardens and ancient trees in its traditional places: these were the riches they shared by feasting with others. Kwiáht pursues the indigenous land ethic of the islands with scientific methods: science for stewardship. Our Board of Trustees consists of islanders who share Ken’s vision: community leaders, teachers, scientists and engineers with a love of the islands and a commitment to prudent, sustainable enjoyment of the environment. We have no salaried employees or paid administrative staff: only a network of dedicated islanders who design and carry out projects collaboratively. Federal and state government research contracts and private foundation grants support project expenses. Kwiáht is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Washington State. We can issue tax receipts for donations of cash or useful scientific instruments.

Community pressing opportunities on San Juan:
09/05/2026

Community pressing opportunities on San Juan:

The Grange will be holding three cider pressing events for pressing fresh juice. Bring your apples and/or pears that need pressed for to any of these dates. We’ll have the Cider Pressing Team available to help and demonstrate the equipment to get it done. Please schedule a time slot during the times and the email below.

-- Saturday, September 26, from 1 to 4pm at Seagate Farm during the Farm Tours. Seagate Farm is located at 300 Sandwith Road. Open to everyone but limit amount of fruit to two boxes of fruit per family. If you have larger amounts of fruit to press, please contact John Latimer at [email protected] to schedule a time slot for the later pressing events at the Grange Hall.

-- Saturday, October 10, from 4:30 to 7:30pm at the San Juan Grange Hall. Contact John Latimer at [email protected] to schedule a time slot.

-- Sunday, November 1, from 11 to 3pm at the San Juan Grange Hall. Contact John Latimer at [email protected] to schedule a time slot.

Make sure to bring clean jugs with you to put the wonderful fresh-pressed juice in. It’s always a good idea to bring extra juice containers because everyone runs out of jugs!

We also need help so if you’re interested in volunteering for the cider pressings, please let John know at the email above.

If you enjoyed the fresh salal jam, crabapple curd, or lemon nettle cupcakes at our event on Sunday and want to make the...
08/31/2026

If you enjoyed the fresh salal jam, crabapple curd, or lemon nettle cupcakes at our event on Sunday and want to make them at home, those recipes (and more) are available on the recipe page of the Food Security section of our website

We want everyone to enjoy their wild foods! We're collecting recipes for native and invasive wild species, and you are welcome to send us your favorites.

Some of the "wild" flavored macarons we shared at Lime Kiln Point State Park today
08/31/2026

Some of the "wild" flavored macarons we shared at Lime Kiln Point State Park today

What we are up to this last week of August & you can join: last Lopez Community Salmon Team beach seine of the season on...
08/25/2026

What we are up to this last week of August & you can join: last Lopez Community Salmon Team beach seine of the season on Wednesday @ Watmough ~ 5pm; Bat Watching by moonlight @ Moran State Park Thursday @ 7pm; walks, talks, & wild snacks @ Lime Kiln Point State Park Sunday 3-5pm

Our new book is now also available at Darvill's Bookstore
08/23/2026

Our new book is now also available at Darvill's Bookstore

08/22/2026

By Russel Barsh

Our new book is now available at the Orcas Island Historical Museums
08/17/2026

Our new book is now available at the Orcas Island Historical Museums

Address

211 Lopez Road, Suite 9 (PO Box 415, Lopez Plaza #9)
Lopez Island, WA
98261

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