We are Coastal First Nations – a nine-member alliance of Nations of the North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii. Since 2000, we’ve worked together to protect our coast and create a sustainable coastal economy for the future.

Help us celebrate 20 years as Coastal First Nations #StrongerTogether.

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2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative. This is also an extraordinary year where the world is facing a global health crisis. While it’s not the time for in-person celebrations, it is important to reflect on just how far we’ve come together and to share our hopes as we look forward to our future. Join us in celebrating our 20th anniversary.

Celebrating Our Past
The lessons we have learned as an alliance of Nations over the past 20 years comes down to two things. First, think big! Throughout our 20-year journey, we did things no one else had done before and played an integral role in protecting our lands and waters, developing government-to-government relations and creating economic opportunities. Second, believe in your goals and vision! Over the years, we have demonstrated our resilience, overcome adversity together and learned from our mistakes.

It’s About Our People and Partners
To our community members: Thank you for trusting us for many years. We are honoured to have your trust and will continue to work hard to achieve our goals.

To our staff: We are grateful for the opportunity to work with talented, dedicated and passionate people every day.

To our partners and allies: Our leaders recognize the importance of establishing collaborative partnerships that bring extraordinary value to the work we do together. We thank our partners and allies for their commitment, expertise and skills in helping us move our agenda forward.

Shaping Our Future
The journey hasn’t been easy nor is it over. It has taken courage, resilience and boldness to get this far. Let’s continue to be stronger together in shaping and defining a future where our communities are thriving. Keep us posted. We’ve got your back.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Slett
President, Coastal First Nations

Follow our Journey

For millennia, coastal First Nations have carefully stewarded our territorial lands and waters. But by the late 1990s, destructive industrial logging and commercial overfishing were depleting our resources. Our communities were struggling. Two decades ago, coastal Nations came together in a first meeting to address these harmful practices and create a new vision for a sustainable coastal economy.

In June 2000, leaders from the Central and North Coast and Haida Gwaii signed the Declaration of First Nations of the North Pacific Coast.

A coast-wide alliance was born.

Today we celebrate and uplift our Nations for their resiliency in overcoming adversity to protect our communities, cultures and coastal Territories. #CFNStrongerTogether

Our alliance: Gitga’at, Gitxaala, Council of the Haida Nation, Heiltsuk,
Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Metlakatla, Nuxalk, Old Massett, Skidegate, Wuikinuxv

Anniversary Stories