Videos

For Indigenous people from the North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii, caring for these coastal ecosystems is a responsibility and a way of life.

Coastal First Nations is a unique alliance of First Nations along BC’s North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii. The territories of our member communities lie in the Great Bear Rainforest – one of the largest temperate coastal rainforest systems left on Earth.

Our unique alliance of Coastal First Nations communities is collectively building a world-class conservation-based economy. Learn how you can be a part of this innovative initiative in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Coastal First Nations is celebrating 20 amazing years together! Twenty years protecting our coast and restoring our conservation-based economy.

The Coastal Stewardship Network supports the stewardship offices of nine member-Nations across the North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii, protecting and preserving these unique lands and waters.

Coastal Guardian Watchmen play a critical role in all aspects of stewardship for Coastal First Nations – ensuring resources are sustainably managed, that rules and regulations are followed and that land and marine use agreements are implemented effectively. They uphold and enforce traditional and contemporary Indigenous laws and work together to monitor, protect and restore the cultural and natural resources of these coastal territories.

Find out how traditional and contemporary Indigenous Laws provide the foundation for stewardship among coastal First Nations, and how the Coastal Guardian Watchmen and other stewardship staff are protecting coastal lands and waters to maintain the region’s rich ecological and cultural diversity for future generations.

Find out how the Coastal Stewardship Network -- a program of Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative -- supports these efforts by developing and delivering custom training programs to stewardship staff, and by facilitating interactions between staff, Elders and other knowledge keepers in coastal communities, building capacity for the next generation in stewardship leadership.

Learn how the Coastal Stewardship Network supports Coastal Guardian Watchmen and the stewardship offices of Coastal First Nations by facilitating annual gatherings and learning exchanges that encourage collaboration, and bring people together to share knowledge and coordinate stewardship efforts.

For CFN's 20th Anniversary, we're celebrating the amazing work of the Coastal Guardian Watchmen, the women and men who protect these lands and waters. Together, they work to monitor and protect salmon, bears and shellfish, and preserve our cultural heritage.

Gary says his parents backyard is turned into a cannery when they can and barbeque salmon each summer. An oil spill would devastate his community.

Healthy ecosystems are essential if coastal First Nations are to develop economic opportunities like scallop farms and ocean ranching. The Great Bear is no place for oil tankers.

Doug Neasloss talks about importance of tourism his community. Everything is connected. The Great Bear is no place for oil tankers.

Bruce Lansdowne says all Canadians should care about the Great Bear because we are all interconnected. The Great Bear is no place for oil tankers.

Bella Bella Community School students share their favorite seafoods and favorite animals in the Great Bear.

Heiltsuk language class students sing a song that thanks the Creator for our land and sea and gives their high or great feelings to the Creator.

Blake a student at Bella Bella Community School talks about why he loves living in the Great Bear and how the environment would be impacted by an oil spill.

Ian Reid, Heiltsuk Artist The Great Bear is important not just to the Heiltsuk people, but the global community.

Heiltsuk Nation member Beth Humchitt sings "Protect Mother Earth" from the inevitable risk of an oil spill.

Coastal First Nations Executive Director, Art Sterritt, talks with Global TV about our new undercover investigation showing Canadian taxpayers are "on the hook" for clean up costs in the event of a major oil spill.

Oil tankers are operated by "anonymous" companies to limit their owners' liability, making it almost impossible to recover costs over and above the minimal coverage provided by international pollution funds.

Going undercover, we asked six of the world's largest oil tanker companies what would happen if one of their ships spilled in Canadian waters and who would have to clean it up. Their response will surprise you.

Inspired by a leaked ad script for the Northern Gateway pipeline (Vancouver Sun article: http://ow.ly/po1CM), this short story is about a five-year old girl named Koda who has a special relationship with whales. Orca photo: http://www.forwhales.org

80% of British Columbians oppose oil tanker traffic in our coastal waters. Produced by the Coastal First Nations (https://www.coastalfirstnations.ca), this video opens with Exxon Valdez Captain Joe Hazelwood's radio call to Coast Guard, accompanied by The Sound of Silence, by Simon and Garfunkel. It concludes with a simple message: "British Columbians have spoken. Will Stephen Harper listen?" Paul Simon's music label granted the rights to use the song for a small honorarium after the Coastal First Nations wrote to him personally, telling him about the Great Bear Rainforest and the danger that oil tankers pose to BC's coastal communities.

24 years later and this still gives us a sinking feeling. This is the actual radio call from the Exxon Valdez to Coast Guard, reporting the oil spill. Released on the 24th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, this two-minute video reminds us of the dangers and costs that oil tankers and pipelines pose to our coastal waters. Produced by the Coastal First Nations (https://www.coastalfirstnations.ca), the video opens with Exxon Valdez Captain Joe Hazelwood's radio call to Coast Guard, accompanied by The Sound of Silence, by Simon and Garfunkel. It concludes with a simple message: "Don't be silent. Vote for an oil-free coast." Paul Simon's music label granted the rights to use the song for a small honorarium after the Coastal First Nations wrote to him personally, telling him about the Great Bear Rainforest and the danger that oil tankers pose to the coastal communities that live here. Please share far and wide!