New direction will braid Western science and Indigenous knowledges to advance lands and waters stewardship, economic diversification, food safety, prosperity, and food security for First Nations and surrounding communities.
Liǧʷiłdaxʷ TERRITORY/CAMPBELL RIVER B.C. — The BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (BC CAHS) is entering a new chapter as it evolves into the Indigenous Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences & Stewardship (ICAHS), reflecting a renewed commitment to science that is informed by Indigenous knowledges, First Nations governance, and the long-standing relationships between people, water, and aquatic ecosystems.
This transformation to ICAHS is being supported by a $50,000 investment from the Province of British Columbia as the Centre looks to grow capacity and resources to meet growing needs of several BC First Nations, surrounding communities, food security, and economic diversification.
ICAHS will continue to provide the aquatic science services, research expertise, and technical support that First Nations, government, industry, and coastal communities have relied on for more than two decades. Importantly, this evolution does not change the Centre’s commitment to rigorous international standards of aquatic health science. In fact, it is evolving and improving on that commitment by braiding Western science with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) throughout the organization.
Discussions around ICAHS began at the Board level as early as 2021, as it started to set the foundation for material Indigenous governance, leadership, and oversight into decision-making. These changes ensure that the Centre’s work is not only scientifically sound, but also grounded in the values, priorities, and deep place-based knowledge of First Nations on the coast. In the years to come, ICAHS has the vision of physically evolving into a new state-of-the-art and multi- faceted science and stewardship facility on Liǧʷiłdaxʷ territory.
“The Wei Wai Kum First Nation is proud to be a part of this transition with ICAHS,” says Chief Chris Roberts, who sits on the Board of ICAHS as Vice-Chair. “We have two youth currently completing internships in the Centre, and that is a powerful testament to the potential that opens up when science is done in partnership with First Nations, whose knowledge of our territories goes back thousands of years. This legacy of stewardship of our lands and waters is strengthened by collaborations like this, and we are excited to see the transformation that takes place when Western science integrates Indigenous knowledges and scientific principles.”
ICAHS will strengthen the Centre’s ability to support First Nations’ stewardship initiatives across the coast, including programs such as the Guardian Watchmen programs supported by Na̲nwak̲olas Council through the Ha-ma-yas Stewardship Network. Guardians are carrying out vital work in sampling design, monitoring, data collection, research, habitat protection, education outreach, environmental response, and the stewardship of lands, waters, and cultural sites.
“Our Guardians are our eyes and ears in our territories. By working together with ICAHS, our Guardians will be able to expand their current resources and science capacities to report back to their Nations with data we trust to help guide our conservation, ocean management, and economic goals,” says Dallas Smith, Chair of ICAHS and president of Na̲nwak̲olas Council from Tlowitsis Nation. “We are grateful for the support from the Province of British Columbia as we move into this exciting phase. By all of us working together, we can truly get a holistic understanding of what is going on in our waters and get to work.”
The implementation of this new direction will contribute to and support the prosperity, health and well-being of coastal communities which aligns with the collaborative vision of the Province’s B.C. Coastal Marine Strategy. The Province’s support of $50,000 ensures timely help for ICAHS to build the governance structure and process foundation for this Indigenous-led, one-of-a-kind science facility.
“This transition reflects the kind of collaborative, place-based approach we are advancing through implementation of B.C.’s Coastal Marine Strategy,” says Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “By supporting Indigenous leadership and governance, and by bringing together Western science with Indigenous knowledge, ICAHS is strengthening our shared ability to steward our coastal ecosystems, support sustainable economic opportunities, and build resilient coastal communities for generations to come.”
ICAHS also reflects a broader movement across B.C. and Canada toward collaborative, place-based, and culturally grounded approaches to aquatic ecosystem health. By building stronger relationships with First Nations and integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge across its operations, ICAHS aims to produce science that is more relevant, accountable, and better aligned with the needs of coastal territories and communities.
“We must listen to what the Nations are telling us. That makes us stronger,” said Dr. Ahmed Siah, the executive director of ICAHS. “We are an ISO-accredited facility for salmonid qPCR- based pathogen testing. We are an independent, inclusive, not-for-profit entity and our data is openly shared with scientists through internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals.”
“Braiding Indigenous knowledges and traditional scientific approaches is an innovation in how we approach aquatic health sciences, and the lessons we learn can be used to educate the broader international community as well,” Dr. Siah added. “It’s an exciting time to be at the forefront of this emerging scientific innovation walking alongside First Nations.”
Media Contact: Katie Maximick katie@tlowitsisnation.ca