Salmon stewardship: Malahat Nation Goldstream River habitat restoration
Through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, we are supporting Indigenous groups in building technical capacity to plan and undertake salmon conservation, integrated ecosystem planning and rebuilding efforts.
Malahat Nation is currently coordinating and leading a multi-year collaborative stream restoration initiative, with a multi-stream, multi-species focus on the Goldstream River.
Malahat Nation’s ancestors have been stewards of the watershed since time immemorial and have a longstanding commitment to ensuring the health of its salmon populations.
Malahat Nation received Indigenous Salmon Stewardship Partnerships funding under the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) for 2023-2025, to support three positions: a Fisheries Guardian, a Program Lead, and a Program Manager. These staff participate in discussions and activities with other First Nations and stakeholders regarding specific restoration priorities, and are involved in collaborative meetings regarding Pacific salmon stewardship, restoration, and management. They are also increasing the Nation’s capacity through internal and external training of staff.
Malahat fisheries staff have also collaborated with Goldstream Hatchery through salmon stock assessment stream walks for several years. To build on this work, Malahat has engaged with the B.C. Conservation Foundation and the Goldstream Hatchery, continuing stock assessment to inform rehabilitation activities that may be effective in re-establishing stock strength in Chum, Coho, and to a lesser extent, Chinook salmon. Discussions were also held within the Malahat community, and with the Province of British Columbia to establish restoration priorities specific to connecting and supporting environmental monitoring and planning related to upgrades to the Trans-Canada Highway with the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Malahat Nation’s Lands and Environment Department have worked to increase internal capacity through teaching and training activities, such as discussion about ways that knowledge systems can be woven together to reach community-specific goals as well as ways in which to support the sharing of Malahat Nation knowledge in reaching these goals. Malahat staff were trained on the detection of specific environmental indicators for Pacific salmon and received training on the use of new operational equipment, Swiftwater Rescue, hydrology, and stock assessment, including PIT tagging and beach seining, with support from Pacificus Biological Services and the Goldstream Hatchery. Malahat Nation will continue to build capacity for staff and coordinate on restoration priorities, monitoring, and rehabilitation activities for the duration of this initiative.
“Malahat Nation is dedicated to fostering stewardship of our shared territory, with future generations leading the way. The health of the Goldstream estuary, river, and local salmon-bearing waters is vital to our culture, ensuring that the teachings and traditions of our ancestors can be passed down over the generations. We are eager to continue our work at Goldstream, honoring and incorporating care and snuw’uyulh into our work.”
- Malahat Nation Chief and Council
Malahat Guardians taking water chemistry measurements on the Goldstream River to monitor environmental conditions for Pacific salmon. (photo courtesy of Malahat Nation)
Malahat fisheries staff monitoring and walking in the estuary that feeds into Goldstream River. (photo courtesy of Malahat Nation)
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