Indigenous Sovereignty & Stewardship
Defending and upholding Indigenous rights. Working to support justice in the Salish Sea.
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have stewarded the lands and waters of the Salish Sea, supporting a living network of relationships that sustain, protect, and honour the intricate web of life that comprises this ecosystem. These relationships continue today despite the current and historic impacts of colonization, genocide, displacement, and colonial practices designed to sunder these connections. It is an incredible testament to Indigenous resilience, resurgence, and strength that, despite all of this, Indigenous Peoples and Nations continue to lead the way in advancing environmental justice, upholding Indigenous sovereignty, and driving reconciliation and decolonization.
Our Indigenous Sovereignty & Stewardship work is embedded in the central understanding that Indigenous Nations have the inherent right to govern, steward, and care for their territories, and that supporting Indigenous sovereignty is not solely a means to achieve conservation goals. Rather, we understand this as a matter of justice, and strive to support Indigenous leadership and authority in and of itself.
At the same time, healthy waters, species protection, and Indigenous sovereignty are deeply intertwined. The ability to harvest traditional foods, safely practice culture, steward the life that abounds, and pass knowledge between generations depends on thriving ecosystems.
We know that some of the most effective and enduring models of care for the Salish Sea are reflected in Indigenous laws and protocol, knowledge systems, and the intricate weaving of relationships to the living world. Through this work, we support and amplify Indigenous-led stewardship, defend Indigenous rights and authority, and advocate for better marine governance systems that reflect the deep interconnectedness of the Salish Sea.
We work alongside Indigenous leaders and Nations to restore relationships, strengthen sovereignty and authority, push for accountability, and help create a future grounded in respect, reciprocity, and justice. Because a thriving Salish Sea demands that we go beyond protecting species and habitats and honour the relationships that have sustained life since time immemorial.
Explore our Indigenous Sovereignty & Stewardship work
Herring Rising
Protecting herring through Indigenous leadership & justice.
For the W̱SÁNEĆ Hereditary Chiefs, herring are relatives. This kinship comes with laws, protocol, and responsibilities that have guided their relationship with this species, and is part of a greater governance system that has sustained abundance and biodiversity across this ecosystem since time immemorial.
The Salish Sea is built on relationships: when herring decline, Chinook salmon suffer, Southern Resident orcas struggle, and coastal communities feel the loss, revealing how deeply connected, and increasingly fragile, these relationships have become.
Historically, these relationships caused abundance. Today, they are under incredible strain.
Herring Rising supports the W̱SÁNEĆ Hereditary Chiefs in protecting their herring relatives and holding the line for Indigenous-led stewardship.
“Herring are not just a First Nations issue. Protecting herring is about restoring balance, not only for the ecosystems but for all who rely on the ocean for their livelihoods and well-being, and who care about the protection of species other than our own.”
~ WSÁNEĆ Hereditary Chief Eric Pelkey