Looking Ahead with Purpose: Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council’s Vision for 2025

Strategic planning is an important time for us—a time for reflection, connection, and meaningful conversation. Each year, as we gather for these sessions, we reflect on the year that has passed, sharing stories of challenges, successes, and growth. It’s an opportunity to recognize our achievements and thoughtfully plan the path ahead, always grounded in our responsibility to support our Member Nations and their self-determined paths.

As we discussed our vision for 2025, we focused not only on goals but on how we can continue to be a true partner to our Nations. We reflected on our journey, the lessons learned, and the opportunities ahead. Our conversations were guided by respect, community, and mutual support, ensuring we move forward in ways that honor the strength and wisdom of our cultures.

We’re stepping into 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for what’s ahead. With peaceful hearts, open minds, and a dedicated team, we’re ready to bring our ideas to life. Together, we’re building a future rooted in collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

T'Souke First Nation: the Epitome of Stewards of the Land

T'Souke First Nation exemplifies what it means to be stewards of the land. In collaboration with organizations such as the Coastal Restoration Society, work continues on projects such as the monitoring of green crab populations, marine shore clean-up, emergency response, and monitoring of wild salmon populations. The Coastal Restoration Society supports environmental remediation projects in alliance with First Nations and government agencies, as well as community members and businesses in the marine industry like Vancouver Island Lodge.

Chief Gordon Planes, T'Sou'ke First Nation

The monitoring and controlling of the European green crab population is a challenging one, given that they are a thriving, invasive species which poses a danger to native eelgrass beds, juvenile clam beds, and wild salmon rearing habitat.

"Invasive European Green Crab are being found up and down the West Coast in larger numbers than ever. These crabs outcompete native species and destroy sensitive and ecologically important habitat.

Coastal Restoration Society, in partnership with BCSRIF (British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund), Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, and T'Sou-ke First Nations have launch a project to study industrial trapping as a way to mitigate the impacts of European Green Crab on the West Coast of Canada. "

As well, the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative is aimed at the removal of anthropogenic debris from shoreline environments and removal of derelict vessels from near and inshore marine environments.

"In partnership with the T’Sou-ke First Nation, the beaches around Sooke got a deep clean this summer thanks to the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative, which funded the T’Sou-ke Shoreline Beach Clean Up. A team built of T’Sou-ke Nation members, local businesses, and community members retrieved a staggering 10 tons of debris, with the majority headed to the The Ocean Legacy Foundation recycling facility in Vancouver."

Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council raises our hands to Chief Gordon Planes as he continues to inspire others and show that T'Souke First Nation is the embodiment of Indigenous Land Guardians. Hay čxʷ q̓ə.

Compost Workshop at Malahat Community Garden

The Community Food Network organized and funded a compost workshop at the Malahat Community Garden on Friday, September 23, 2022. It was taught by Kayla Siefried from the Compost Education Center and was a hands-on demo of making outdoor compost and general tips and tricks and uses for compost. The gardeners received kudos from Kayla for having a very pollinator friendly garden.

Attending was Sandy Joe (lead gardener), Shane Sylvester (seasonal gardener) and Darren James (assistant gardener).

Please reach out to seannaj@nautsamawt.com if you would like to host a compost workshop in your community or if you'd like the notes from this workshop.