Six First Nations on British Columbia’s Central Coast have established a vast new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), creating what some leaders describe as one of the strongest marine protected areas in the world. Named Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon, meaning “Realm of the Salmon, Home of the Salmon,” the protected area covers 6,700 square kilometres. It has been declared under Indigenous law by the Wuikinuxv, Nuxalk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, Heiltsuk, Gitxaała and Gitga’at Nations. Alongside the declaration, the Nations signed an agreement with the provincial and federal governments to protect the area as a national marine conservation area reserve. The initiative gives Indigenous communities a formal role in marine management, something Kitasoo Xai’xais stewardship director Doug Neasloss described as a historic step. The IPCA will be managed with the goal of protecting and restoring biodiversity. Leaders have stated that activities considered harmful to this objective will not be permitted, including new industrial developments.
The agreement also confirms that no pipelines will be allowed through the protected area. Read the full story on Magic Canoe.