Funded Projects

Skidegate Band Council (SBC) is leading a climate adaptation project focused on Tam Gundlaay (Mission Creek), a culturally significant stream in Skidegate. This project responds to the increasing frequency and severity of drought conditions, which threaten the health of the creek and the survival of juvenile salmon.

Building on decades of grassroots efforts by community members—and more recent collaborations between SBC and DFO—the project seeks to implement nature-based solutions that enhance stream resilience in the face of climate change. The primary goal is to ensure that local creeks can retain sufficient water to support juvenile salmon even in low-flow conditions. Key activities include modifying existing habitat features to improve water retention, removing invasive species that deplete water and disrupt fish passage, repairing outdated infrastructure, and exploring options to increase water storage near creek headwaters.

Work will be grounded in Haida law, which teaches that all things are interconnected and must be cared for with the same respect as we offer one another. Community involvement is central to the project’s success, with residents and volunteers contributing to restoration efforts and helping to model a solution that could be applied to other creeks across Haida Gwaii. This project is not only about ecological restoration—it is also a reaffirmation of cultural values and local stewardship in the face of a changing climate.