SeaChange, in partnership with the Tsartlip First Nation, the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation and BC Parks, will restore large tracts of highly degraded traditional food production areas in SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet) and will recover food ecosystems of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations in their traditional harvesting sites. Thank you to Vancity and Environment Canada for financial support of this project!

W̱SÁNEĆ youth will become leaders in revitalizing traditional food practices and in educating local communities about them.  There will be an increase in native food plants and biodiversity in SṈIDȻEȽ, which translates to Place of the Blue Grouse.  We will build capacity within the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nation communities to propagate these plants within the PEPÁḴEṈ HÁUTW̱ plant nursery (pepakenhautw.com), located at the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School on Tsartlip First Nation reserve next to Brentwood Bay. The resiliency of native food plant communities to climate changes as well as the vitality of traditional food practices will be demonstrated through public educational programs and celebratory events, exposing thousands of Park visitors to the food management and sustainable harvesting practices of local First Nations communities. Pit cooks, clam bakes and the gathering of local roots and berries will be central to our public celebrations of this collaborative capacity building work.  Students from the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School will be involved to eventually take leadership of the program.