Nanwakolas Council

Established in 2007, the Nanwakolas Council is comprised of seven member First Nations whose traditional territories are located in northern Vancouver Island and the adjacent south central coast areas of British Columbia. Nanwakolas, which means “a place we go to find agreement,” serves as the vehicle through which the member First Nations pursue land and marine resource planning and management and resource-based economic development activities.

The council’s areas of work include provincial resource development referrals, land use planning, marine planning and economic development, which all contribute to maintaining the participating First Nations’ cultural connection with their traditional territories. The organization is a co-leader of the Marine Planning Partnership (MaPP) for the North Pacific Coast between the government of British Columbia and 18 member First Nations. MaPP provides recommendations for key areas of marine management, including uses, activities and protection, and will inform decisions regarding the sustainable economic development and stewardship of the coastal marine environment from Haida Gwaii to Campbell River on Vancouver Island.