What We Care About
Wuikinuxv Territory
Text Taken from: https://www.ccira.ca/wuikinuxv/
"Wuikinuxv Territory is composed of both land and marine areas, with the land portion totaling almost 7,000 square kilometers and the marine portion totaling over 200 square kilometers. Our Territory is characterized by a significant lake network, deep temperate forested valleys, and glaciated peaks of the Pacific Coast Range Mountains.
Wuikinuxv people are very spiritual and have a special connection to our land and resources. Ceremonies were central to Wuikinuxv spirituality and typically occurred in conjunction with seasonal movements to and from resource use sites. At ceremonies, dancing and potlatching were connected and together they formed a means of expressing and validating family responsibilities.
The Wuikinuxv economic system was based on seasonal movements to various family owned resource procurement sites within our Territory. This movement was characterized by a late spring zacxven (eulachon) fishery on the Wànuqv river, travel out into Rivers Inlet and to Calvert Island for the collection of sea food resources, a return to the Rivers Inlet area to work in the canneries and later in the fall a trip to village or cabins on Oweekeno Lake.
We assert our rights and title to the Wuikinuxv Territory and will exercise our responsibility to manage our marine resources based on Wuikinuxv laws, knowledge and values. These values respect our balance with nature, recognize the connection between the land and the sea, and understand the importance of educating our children and leaving resources for our children’s children."
Rick Hansen
Rick had been inspired to go to Rivers Inlet in July 2010 by his good friend, and fellow Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society founding board member, Calvin Higano. Calvin had been battling lung cancer and joined Rick on the second day of the trip.
Only a few months later, in October 2010, Calvin passed away. Calvin’s compassion and dedication to make a difference continues on in the efforts for salmon recovery in Rivers Inlet.
Percy Walkus
With Rick’s vision and Sid Keay’s enthusiastic leadership, and the blessing of the Wuikinuxv Nation we all pulled together and the Percy Walkus Hatchery was built and plays a key role in the Salmonid Enhancement Program's work to conserve Salmon at Rivers Inlet BC Canada.
Take a Stand
Good Hope is proud to be the Founding Sponsor of "Take a Stand" which is an innovative program from Simon Fraser University's Centre for Coastal Science and Management which brings together student filmmakers, SFU scientists, high school educators and graduate students with the goal of engaging young people in BC in activities aimed at protecting our magnificent coastline and environment. The goal is to inspire a generation of students to think about how best to appreciate, enjoy and ultimately become responsible stewards of British Columbia's wealth of natural resources.
Hakai Institute
The Hakai Institute is a scientific research institution that conducts long-term research at remote locations on the coastal margin of British Columbia, Canada. The name Hakai is inspired by the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy, the largest marine protected area on the BC coast, located about 400 kilometers north of Vancouver.
Salish Marine Survival Initiative
The Pacific Salmon Foundation and its U.S. partner Long Live the Kings in Seattle, Washington has designed a program of ecosystem research and habitat restoration intended to increase the production of Chinook, Coho and Steelhead in the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound). The five-year project will provide help improve future fisheries management policy and restore the economic and cultural benefits to communities surrounding the Salish Sea.
Pacific Salmon Foundation
The Pacific Salmon Foundation exists to support ‘salmon communities’ in their efforts, promote awareness of this keystone species, and guide the sustainable future of wild Pacific salmon and their habitat.
Salmon Ecology Research
The Good Hope Cannery also supports salmon ecology research on Rivers Inlet sockeye salmon. This Central Coast fjord once vied with the Skeena River as the location of Canada’s second-most prolific sockeye salmon run. The run declined in the late 1990’s to less than 1% of its historic abundance and has yet to show solid signs of recovery. The project is coordinated by Simon Fraser University’s Prof. Rick Routledge and M.Sc. student, Ms. Stacey Hrushowy. The research is focused on the role of the freshwater environment in this decline, with particular emphasis on the propagation and impacts of viruses. Good Hope Cannery staff, the Wuikinuxv First Nation, and other local residents are all integrally involved. The researchers are also collecting similar information on other severely depressed sockeye salmon populations in the province.