Since 2022 Dillon and S.A.Y. Lands have been collaborating on initiatives that contribute towards SAY Lands’ ultimate goal to build environmental experience and improve their ability to care for the land for future generations.
Caring for the land is an important part of Stó:lō culture and identity and is an expression of Tomiyeqw, the Halkomelem word for accounting for the interests of the past seven generations and the next seven generations.
To date, the achievements of the project include:
- Capacity building and job shadowing
- Community engagement
- Baseline data collection
- Design-build of a cultural community trail to improve accessibility, safety, and education of natural features
- Aquatic habitat restoration plan
- Invasive plant management plan
- Species at risk research and protection
- Safety and environmental training and equipment
- Integration with Salish Sucker Stewardship Plan prepared by Dillon
This project is a result of extensive collaboration with many stakeholders and project partners with financial support through several federal funding streams (Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk [AFSAR], Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund [AHRF] and Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative [TCEI]).
Note: S.A.Y. Lands is comprised of three individual Nations Sq’ewqéyl (Skowkale), Ăthelets (Aitchelitz), Yeqwyeqwí:ws (Yakweakwioose) within Stó:lō Traditional Territory.
Awards
- Environmental Management Association of British Columbia, Indigenous Project of the Year, 2023