Funded Projects

Wet’suwet’en Treaty Office Society (WTOS)

Rebuilding giis: Chinook salmon in the Widzin Kwa

Grant Amount: $400,000

Intake Year: 2026

Region: Skeena Basin

Project Theme: Monitoring & Assessment and Watershed & Ecosystems Restoration

The Wet’suwet’en Nation is leading an initiative to rebuild Chinook salmon populations within the Widzin Kwa (Morice/Bulkley River) watershed – an ecosystem that sustains Wet’suwet’en culture, food security, and community health.

“To uphold Wet’suwet’en ancestral responsibilities for the collective wellbeing of the Yintah for today and future generations, ensuring thriving ecosystems, waters, forests, salmon, wildlife, Wet’suwet’en Peoples, communities and our language and culture.” Ts’ake ze’ Wii Estes, Sandra Martin Harris.

The overarching goal is to restore and protect a climate-resilient watershed that supports thriving salmon populations and Wet’suwet’en livelihoods for future generations. To do this, Wet’suwet’en plans to advance Wet’suwet’en-led planning, restoration, and monitoring that will rebuild salmon abundance, enhance watershed resilience, and strengthen local stewardship capacity.

Activities will include developing a Chinook Rebuilding Plan that defines recovery goals, measurable objectives, and a Wet’suwet’en Indigenous Fishing Plan; conducting habitat assessment and restoration planning along the migratory corridor; and initiating a Salmon Monitoring Program. Together, these activities will advance Wet’suwet’en self-determination in watershed governance, restore salmon and riparian ecosystem health, and strengthen local capacity for long-term stewardship.

“For millennia, the Wet’suwet’en Peoples have stewarded these lands and waters, sustaining Sockeye and Chinook salmon and other fish species from once-abundant spawning grounds across their territory. Salmon remains central to Wet’suwet’en culture, sustenance, and identity. Despite significant population declines in some areas, Widzin’ Bin (Morice Lake), Nenikëkh (Nanika Lake), Atna Lake. the Widzin Kwah (Bulkley and Morice Rivers), and their tributaries continue to serve as vital sources of food and cultural connection. Restoring and protecting these habitats honors ancestral stewardship while strengthening food security for generations to come. Our focus is to rebuild and restore salmon populations for the next generations.”

– Project Team

WTOS Website