On April 28, 2022, the sməlqmíx, the syilx people of the Similkameen Valley, declared the nʔaysnúlaʔxw snxaʔcnitkw (Ashnola Watershed) in its entirety and for all future generations an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA).
Publications
Browse our recent publications, including reports, briefs, submissions to government, and other materials.
Use the search criteria to filter by topic, date, author and/or keywords.
The Discussion Paper is the result of an Indigenous-led engagement process led by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, with the support of the First Nations Energy and Mining Council and West Coast Environmental Law.
This legal synthesis and its summary consolidate the year-long learning of what stories, both sxwōxwiyám/ sx̌ʷəx̌ʷəyém (‘stories of the distant past’ or ‘tell stories’) and sqwélqwel/ sqʷelqʷəl (‘true news’ or ‘oral stories’), and Elders' knowledge teach us about Indigenous laws related to watershed management and fisheries governance in the Lower Fraser.
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are defined by the Indigenous Circle of Experts (ICE) as “lands and waters where Indigenous governments have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems
The Lower Fraser River and its estuary host a remarkable diversity of species within a globally important ecosystem, including its role as one of the greatest salmon bearing rivers in the world.
The Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) Tribal Council is engaged in many governance building processes to uphold their jurisdiction over their territory, as their ancestors have done for the past 14,000 years.
Over the past several years, lawyers at West Coast Environmental Law have received a number of inquiries from Indigenous trapline holders in BC seeking to protect their hereditary and registered traplines from the cumulative impacts of various industrial projects including logging, mining, hydroe
The RELAW project – which stands for Revitalizing Indigenous Law for Land, Air and Water – was launched by West Coast Environmental Law in 2016 with the support and guidance of the Indigenous Law Research Unit at the University of Victoria. RELAW provides co-learning opportunities and legal support to Indigenous nations seeking to revitalize and apply their own laws to current environmental challenges. The St’át’imc were part of the first cohort of nations who participated in RELAW.
The RELAW project – which stands for Revitalizing Indigenous Law for Land, Air and Water – was launched by West Coast Environmental Law in 2016 with the support and guidance of the Indigenous Law Research Unit at the University of Victoria. RELAW provides co-learning opportunities and legal support to Indigenous nations seeking to revitalize and apply their own laws to current environmental challenges. The St’át’imc were part of the first cohort of nations who participated in RELAW.
The RELAW project – which stands for Revitalizing Indigenous Law for Land, Air and Water – was launched by West Coast Environmental Law in 2016 with the support and gu