Funded Projects

This project is implemented by the Cowichan Watershed Board, a collaborative governance model led by Cowichan Tribes and the Cowichan Valley Regional District. The focus of this project is to increase our ability to support local leaders in making and implementing collaborative decisions for the health of the Quw’utsun-Xwulqw’selu (Cowichan-Koksilah) Watershed.

The Cowichan Watershed Board (CWB) can provide a model and template for other regions on how to build local capacity and capability to improve collaboration between First Nations, local governments and stewards. This is a living (and evolving) model of governance that drives watershed security in the Cowichan Valley. These funds will specifically support our co-government Board of leaders, the expert staff, technical working groups, and the community to better pool resources and knowledge to solve problems and reach shared decisions for the health and security of our watershed that reflect both Quw’utsun and western teachings, knowledge, and science. This investment will help CWB grow our impact and capacity to meet current demands. A clearly identified priority is growing the team with Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth as tomorrow’s leaders in watershed stewardship and rooting this unique form of collaborative governance and partnership systems as the foundation of how we work for our watersheds and the natural world in the Cowichan Valley. To do so we will: deepen our governance roots through Board effectiveness and Indigenous Knowledge in operations; expand our impact and reach through progress on identified watershed targets, using an Indigenous-led collaborative watershed planning approach; and nourish our “waterShared” community and foster deep respect and understanding between all levels of government and community members with regard to watershed health.