Funded Projects

Old Massett Village Council (OMVC) is grateful to the Watershed Security Fund (WSF) for supporting this project, where the focus is to develop and implement a 2-year Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) which supports our community members to return to and restore our lands.

Educational program activities include learning to identify, harvest, grow, and nurture key species of our native plants for restoration and food sovereignty. 12 community members (6 per year) will participate as fully funded, full-time summer students on the land for 17 weeks of guided field work and educational activities. This project also supports the start of our “Mapping and Mentoring” program, where GIS technology basics will be explored and developed for OMVC membership, partnering with the Gowgaia Institute.

Our project activities will have a direct impact on cumulative assessment strategies. Soil sampling activities will provide critical baseline information for monitoring the health of our watersheds. Within WSF funding capabilities, OMVC members will celebrate the design and finished construction of a new shelter alongside The Yaagun Gandlee (The River of Life). This new shelter will be constructed at the traditional village site of Saahldangkun, providing us with a new community house to shelter us while we work with the land.

The tragedy of extractive resource economies is evident in the health of our forests, our rivers, and our community. OMVC is working closely with Haida knowledge keepers and, in partnership with Eco Trust Canada, professors from the University of Victoria’s Environmental Restoration Program, and other educators. Knowledge and information build strength and capacity. By interweaving our traditional Haida knowledge with science-based knowledge, we seek to bring restorative healing back to our lands, our rivers, and our people.