How you can support Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks and their efforts

Have you ever visited Tofino, British Columbia? It’s recognized across Canada and the world as one of the most beautiful parts of the Pacific coast. What is less widely known, and what we hope to share with you, is that the town of Tofino sits on the traditional, unsurrendered territory and homeland – Ha’houlthii, in the Nuu-chah-nulth language – of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. 

The Tla-o-qui-aht people have been the stewards of their Ha’houlthii for millenia. It is because of them and other Nuu-chah-nulth speaking peoples that the area known as Tofino remains so beautiful and so full of life. They have protected and maintained the land with respect and care. And as a result, past, present, and future inhabitants have flourished and will continue to flourish.

Through this dedication to the land, they have always been at the forefront of conservation efforts. In 1984, the Tla-o-qui-aht and their allies peacefully blockaded to prevent logging of old growth rainforest, and created the Meares Island Tribal Park. In the decades since, three other Tribal Parks have been established and included in an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA): Ha’uukmin (Kenedy Lake Watershed), Esowista Tribal Park, and Tranquil Tribal Park. The old growth standing on Meares Island is some of the last rainforest we have today. 

In addition to ecological restoration and conservation, the Tribal Parks support cultural resurgence, youth engagement, economic development, and Indigenous housing initiatives, among many other programs. They are a pillar of the community, hosting a variety of events and providing educational information for the public.

How you can support them and their efforts:

First, visitors are encouraged to take the Iisaak (respect) pledge, created by Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. The Tribal Park website shares: “ƛayaaḥuɁał – the closest word to ’Welcome’ in the Tla-o-qui-aht language – extends both an invitation and an expectation. Guests are welcomed here with open arms, but they are expected to carry themselves with dignity, honour, humility, and respect while travelling within the haḥuułi of the ƛaɁuukwiatḥ ḥaw̓iiḥ.”

As a visitor, you can also choose to support local businesses that are part of the Tribal Parks Allies program. Allied businesses collect an ecosystem fee that contributes to the Tribal Parks, to support the vast array of programming they provide. It is an important recognition that the community and visitors benefit from the stewardship and care of the Tla-o-qui-aht people. 

Next, as a visitor or not, you can support Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks as they seek recognition as a protected area from the Government of British Columbia. You can see their press release on their website, and you can give your feedback directly to the government.

Finally, we can all work on educating ourselves about the work being done by Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Be sure to support Indigenous-led conservation and governance near your home and across the country, and make an effort to learn about the history of the land you’re on.

We must come together to support Indigenous-led conservation and governance. It is the way forward in the fight against climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental inequity, and Indigenous-led initiatives have preserved and protected the coastal rainforest for millenia. 

To learn even more about Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, click here.

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