Funded Projects

Redd Fish Restoration Society (Redd Fish)

Healing Watersheds

Grant Amount: $400,000

Intake Year: 2026

Region: South Coast

Project Theme: Watershed Collabortion, Planning & Governance and Watershed & Ecosystems Restoration

Redd Fish Restoration Society (Redd Fish) is partnering with ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht) Fisheries, hiškʷiiʔath (Hesquiaht) Fisheries, ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) Tribal Parks and ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) First Nation, and Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society (MHSS) to continue their work of evaluating and identifying optimal strategies to enhance the recovery of fish and wildlife habitats through watershed-level assessments. The key objectives are to conduct restoration with a holistic approach that comprehends the complexity of ecosystems, addresses the underlying causes of habitat degradation and species decline, and actively involves Indigenous leadership while fostering a stewardship ethos. To achieve these objectives Redd Fish will conduct landslide stabilization along with forest and river restoration while allocating funding to Indigenous employment.
This initiative prioritizes Indigenous-led watershed management, thereby not only aiming to restore ecological balance but also reaffirming Indigenous sovereignty over traditional lands and waters and rehabilitating these ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.

“This funding is an important recognition of the need to address decades of industrial logging impacts in our territory. While there is still a long road ahead, it allows us to move forward with restoring habitat, supporting our people, and rebuilding the systems that salmon and our communities depend on.”
– Ikaatius, Tyson Atleo, Hereditary Leader, ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht) Nation

“This work is about restoring balance and abundance in our haḥuułi. By leading watershed restoration in partnership, we are bringing together knowledge systems, creating opportunities for our people, and ensuring these ecosystems are healthy for generations to come.”
– Saya Masso, Lands and Resources Manger, ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) Nation

“In our territory, due to logging, landslides have become a common sight, and for decades we’ve watched salmon disappear from rivers that once supported our people. This funding gives me hope that we can begin to stabilize these landscapes, restore habitat, and bring salmon back to the systems they belong.”
– Rufus Charleson, Hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht) Fisheries Manager

Project Website