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ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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© 2023 Mowachaht / Muchalaht First Nation / All Right Reserved. Created by Y5 Creative

Lands & Natural Resources

Welcome to MMFN's Lands and Natural Resources Department

The Lands and Natural Resources Department
encompasses a range of projects, from fisheries
to archaeology. We represent the Nations interests
in managing Mowachaht/Muchalaht traditional
territories and the natural resources within them,
working closely with the Council of Chiefs (COC)
and community members to guide our projects,
ensure community values, and protect MMFN’s
aboriginal rights.

Referral Program

The MMFN’s Referral Department, overseen by
the Lands and Natural Resources Department
and the Council of Chiefs, reviews proposed
projects and developments in our traditional
territory.

This includes forestry, mining, hydroelectric,
aquaculture, and infrastructure projects.

Guide To Application Process

If you are interested in doing business with the MMFN, we kindly request that you review the following policies to understand our processes better.

Archaeology Programs

Our programs efficiently manage our land and
resources to safeguard our territory for future
generations.

A New Archaeology program has been
developed by MMFN’s Lands and Natural
Resources Department that is aimed at
protecting culturally significant sites, including
Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs) and
archaeological sites.

It focuses on preserving MMFN’s cultural
heritage in our cultural forests.

Fisheries

The Fisheries Program works to research and
protect the freshwater and marine environments
in MMFN territory year-round. Our team regularly
focuses on stock assessments, escapement
surveys, and fish health data collection. We also
have begun developing a larger-scale plan for
research and projects designed from within the
Nation according to our values and interests.

Our team work closely with DFO, Uu-a-thluk
(the aquatic resource management department of
the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council), and
Ha’oom Fisheries Society to ensure a well-equipped
team and accurate data collection, and we receive
support from the AFS program.

Coast Guard

Our relationship with the Coast Guard has been
built upon the foundation laid during the Bligh
Island Oil Spill incident and the subsequent
construction of the Coast Guard Station.

During the oil recovery operation, the MMFN
chiefs worked closely with government
agencies, contractors, and staff, actively
engaging in monitoring and sampling efforts.

Contact

Lands & Resources Projects and Funding Manager: lr-projects.mgr@yuquot.ca
Marine Biology Project Manager: marine.biologist@yuquot.ca
GIS Tech / Referrals Clerk: gis@yuquot.ca
Project Researcher: researcher@yuquot.ca
Coast Guard Liaison: ccgsliaison@yuquot.ca
Lands and Resources Projects Coordinator:
lr-projects.coordinator@yuquot.ca

Looking for our Audited Financials?

CLICK HERE

Fisheries

The Fisheries Program works to research and protect the freshwater and marine environments in MMFN territory year-round. Our team regularly focuses on stock assessments, escapement surveys, and fish health data collection. We also have begun developing a larger-scale plan for research and projects designed from within the Nation according to our values and interests.

Our team work closely with DFO, Uu-a-thluk (the aquatic resource management department of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council), and Ha’oom Fisheries Society to ensure a well-equipped team and accurate data collection, and we receive support from the AFS program.

The Fisheries team actively engage in various seasonal activities to effectively manage our fisheries. During the late winter, staff assess herring populations to collect age samples and report spawn locations and egg deposition. We collaborate closely with the DFO Stock Assessment and Uu-a-thluk for this project. In the spring, the team focuses on planning for the upcoming fishing season in partnership with the Ha'oom Fisheries Society and the Ahousaht Indian Band and Nation. Our Nations’ commercial rights-based fisheries for groundfish begin in March, and the Fisheries team begins the Gold River sockeye fishery monitoring program in mid-May. While the commercial salmon fisheries offshore have varying opening times, MMFN holds a substantial share of the total allowable catch for salmon within Nootka Sound. We prioritize quality and compliance by subjecting all commercial catches to 100% inspection and validation from third-party monitors. From September to November, our staff concentrate on microtrolling for salmon escapement and health monitoring, and herring assessments for population estimates, spawn location, and egg deposition quantity.

Join us in our mission to protect and sustain our valuable fisheries resources!

COAST GUARD

Our relationship with the Coast Guard has been built upon the foundation laid during the Bligh Island Oil Spill incident and the subsequent construction of the Coast Guard Station. During the oil recovery operation, the MMFN chiefs worked closely with government agencies, contractors, and staff, actively engaging in monitoring and sampling efforts. They also participated in environmental resource meetings, logistics coordination, and environmental monitoring to mitigate the spill's impact.

Looking ahead, MMFN remains dedicated to developing Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities to complement seasonal response efforts in the shoulder seasons, as we are committed to protecting and preserving our coastal environment.

The partnership between MMFN and the Coast Guard has been instrumental in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable practices in our marine environments.

REFERRAL PROGRAM

Our MMFN Referral Department operates under the oversight of our Lands and Natural Resources Department and the Council of Chiefs. We are committed to meaningful consultation, accommodation, and consent in our decision-making processes. Our primary responsibility is to review a wide range of projects and developments within our traditional territory, such as forestry, mining, hydroelectric projects, aquaculture, and infrastructure projects.

When a project is proposed within our territory, the proponent is required to submit a referral to the Crown, which initiates our involvement in the process. We conduct a thorough assessment of the project, drawing upon our traditional knowledge, scientific data, and other relevant sources of information. Based on this assessment, we provide comments or recommendations to the proponent, or we may request further consultation to address any outstanding concerns.

The Referral Program reflects our dedication to safeguarding our lands and resources and ensuring our interests are considered. It also allows us to engage with project proponents and advocate for sustainable development practices that respect our cultural values and traditions.

By actively participating in decision-making processes related to projects and developments in our territory, the Referral Program allows us to uphold our rights and ensure our voice is heard. We are committed to protecting our lands and resources, and through this program, we assert our presence and work towards sustainable development for the benefit of our community.

Archaeology Programs

Our programs efficiently manage our land and resources to safeguard our territory for future generations.

A New Archaeology program has been developed by MMFN's Lands and Natural Resources Department that is aimed at protecting culturally significant sites, including Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs) and archaeological sites. It focuses on preserving MMFN's cultural heritage in our cultural forests.

It focuses on preserving MMFN's cultural heritage in our cultural forests.

LANDS & NATURAL RESOURCES

The Lands and Natural Resources Department encompasses a range of projects, from fisheries to archaeology. We represent the Nations interests in managing Mowachaht/Muchalaht traditional territories and the natural resources within them, working closely with the Council of Chiefs (COC) and community members to guide our projects, ensure community values, and protect MMFN’s aboriginal rights.

Our Nation is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and the sustainable management of our Ha'houlthee (territory). The Lands and Natural Resources Department is vital in developing MMFN-driven land use, and management plans to prioritize protecting non-commercial use areas to preserve their cultural heritage, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem health.

Focuses include:

  • Promoting sustainable forestry by seeking to reduce the annual allowable cut (AAC) to a level that ensures the health and vitality of our forests
  • Advocating for an increased share of the AAC for MMFN/Matchlee
  • Aiming to restore fish and wildlife habitats to support aboriginal access and maintain healthy ecosystems
  • And overseeing land holdings, surveys, mapping, legal lot descriptions, transfers, document preparation, referral consultation, and record-keeping tasks.

The Lands and Natural Resources Department’s ultimate objective is to resume managing our territory's natural resources according to our community's values and traditions and gain recognition of the MMFN aboriginal title. Through these efforts, MMFN aims to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our community and future generations.