About Us

Nanwakolas Council provides services to the member First Nations, including specific technical expertise, operational support and information, facilitation, advice, and coordination of the work of the individual Nations in their stewardship of lands and waters; supporting the work of the First Nations’ Guardians through the Ha-ma-yas Stewardship Network; and advocating for the protection of the member First Nations’ Aboriginal rights when engaging with governments. The member First Nations also work collectively through Nanwakolas Council as a united voice, and dealing with matters of collective regional interest.

Nanwakolas Council has an “open-door” policy that manifests itself in two ways. All other Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw First Nations who wish to join the Council, or work with Nanwakolas Council in some way, may do so. Member First Nations may also pick and choose which Nanwakolas services they would like to receive, and whether to participate in any arrangements or agreements developed or facilitated by Nanwakolas Council.

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Values Member Nations What We Do Governance Communications and Social Media Policies Our Support Team

Values

With a deep understanding of our responsibilities and commitments, Nanwakolas Council brings these core values to our work:

Empowerment of the decision-making authority of each member First Nation
Responsiveness to the needs and wishes of the member First Nations
Collaboration and inclusiveness in developing solutions and strategies to protect and promote the interests of the member First Nations in their traditional areas
Flexibility to respond effectively to changes in the strategic environment in which we operate
Integrity and trustworthiness
Accountability for our activities
Excellence in operational management and activities; and
Excellent communication with the member First Nations Chiefs, Councils, and band offices.

The member First Nations also work collectively through Nanwakolas Council as a united voice, advocating for and protecting Aboriginal rights, and dealing with matters of collective regional interest.

Member Nations

The Nanwakolas Council is comprised of six member First Nations whose traditional territories are located in the Northern Vancouver Island and adjacent South Central Coast areas of British Columbia.

Red line denotes the combined territories of Nanwakolas member nations.

Mamalilikulla Nation

The Mamalilikulla are based on northern Vancouver Island, in the Queen Charlotte Strait region, with an administrative base is in Campbell River.

Tlowitsis Nation

The Tlowitsis First Nation’s traditional territory encompasses the mouth of Knight Inlet, from the mainland to Vancouver Island.

Da’naxda’xw Awaetlala First Nation

The traditional territory of the Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation is the area of coastal British Columbia known as Knight Inlet.

Wei Wai Kum First Nation

Wei Wai Kum territory extends from Loughborough Inlet north of Campbell River to the Tsable River in the south. It goes westward to central Vancouver Island, and eastward through the Strait of Georgia.

We Wai Kai Nation

The We Wai Kai Nation is centered at Cape Mudge on Quadra Island and Quinsam on Vancouver Island. We are one part of a larger group of people, the Liǧʷiɫdax̌. All Liǧʷiɫdax̌ people share a…

K’ómoks First Nation

The K’ómoks First Nation is located in the Comox Valley on eastern Vancouver Island of British Columbia, extending from the Salmon River in the north to the Englishman River in the south.

What We Do

Nanwakolas means “a place we go to find agreement” in the Kwak̓wala language and is a name that honours traditional ways of making decisions together that will benefit all of the member First Nations.

Nanwakolas Council provides a wide range of services to the member First Nations, including specific technical expertise, operational support and information, facilitation, research and planning support, training assistance, advice, and coordination of the work of the individual Nations in the areas of land and marine waters stewardship; supporting the work of the First Nations’ Guardians through the Ha-ma-yas Stewardship Network; and advocating for the protection of the member First Nations’ Aboriginal rights when engaging with governments on referrals.

Governance

The Board of Directors oversees the work of the Nanwakolas Council at a strategic governance level: implementing our vision, our values, our decisions and our priorities.

Each member First Nation makes their own decisions about resource development within their areas. The Directors make no decisions about matters which may affect a member First Nation’s territory or Aboriginal rights. Rather, we are always guided in what we bring to our work by the direction given to us by the member First Nations.

Each of the member First Nations appoints a representative as a Director to the Nanwakolas Board. Often, the Chief or Chief’s representative is appointed to the Board, which provides a direct link between the work of the Nanwakolas Council and the government of each member First Nation. We make our collective decisions as a Council by consensus.

The appointed Directors choose someone to serve as the Nanwakolas Council President. That person is responsible as a spokesperson for Nanwakolas Council in engagement with the member First Nations, the provincial and federal governments, and third parties. The election of the President is done annually.

Our Support Team

The Nanwakolas Council Directors are appointed by the member First Nations. The Board President is appointed by the other Directors. Directors are generally the Chiefs, or a Councillor, of each of the member First Nations thereby providing a direct link between Nanwakolas and the governing Councils of each member First Nation.

To learn more about our directors and support team click here.