Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition

The Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition is a non-governmental organization based in British Columbia which opposes Royal Dutch Shell's Klappan Coalbed Methane Project^[1] It was founded in 2004.^[2]

Mission Statement

"To cultivate a sustainable future from a sustainable environment rooted in our culture and a thriving wild salmon ecosystem in the Skeena watershed."^[2]

"Our Ancestors are the land. We are our ancestors. What we do to the land we do to ourselves. Let us love and protect." - Roy Henry Vickers, previous SWCC Board Member

SWCC's Position[3]

• Support sustainable economic development, provided that environmental protection is ensured.
• Oppose development projects that threaten culture, livelihoods, and the environment.
• Oppose industrial projects such as LNG (liquefied natural gas) that may harm the habitat of wild salmon.
• Pay attention to the real impact of government investments on the local economy.

Government Funds Received (Available on the official government website)

• 2011, allocated $8,000^[4]
• 2016, allocated $15,300^[5]
• 2021, allocated $160,842^[6]
• 2021, allocated $136,821^[7]
• 2024, allocated $166,700^[8]

Achievements in promoting local environmental justice

2016-^[3]

• SWCC has successfully established connections with the government and participated in environmental negotiations.
• The organization has been invited to help set environmental protection goals, such as aquatic habitat conservation and cultural heritage management.
• SWCC continues to collaborate with coastal Indigenous communities.
• It organizes educational activities, workshops, legal conferences, and field visits.
• The organization emphasizes and applies visual arts and communication strategies in environmental protection movements.

2017-^[9]

• The BC provincial government reached an agreement with the Tahltan First Nation to designate 76,500 hectares of land as an "Industrial Development-Free Zone," known as the Klabona Plan.
• The cancellation of Pacific Northwest Liquefied Natural Gas was a major environmental victory for SWCC, successfully preventing a potential threat to the Skeena River estuary.
• Organized the 20th anniversary commemoration of the Delgamuukw/Gisday’wa case, highlighting its lasting impact on Indigenous communities.

2020-^[9]

• We are focused on sustainable economic development, food security and sustainable agriculture, and through these projects we are ahead of the challenges of the 2020 pandemic.

2021-^[9]

• Launched the Peace & Unity movement, which established a vital support network to amplify Indigenous voices and hold elected officials accountable for their actions.
  • The core themes of the conference included:
    • Strengthening community relationships and fostering alliances to collectively address the climate crisis.
    • Upholding and promoting Indigenous sovereignty.
    • Addressing police violence related to large-scale industrial projects.
• The Community Economic Development (CED) 2021 program has made important progress, establishing strategic planning and practical operational foundations on several fronts.
• The plan is to declare the Gwininitxw Area an Indigenous Protected Area, to be officially recognised under Gitxsan law, and to invite community members and local politicians to witness.

2022-^[10]

• In 2022, SWCC advanced the CED framework with decolonization at its core, integrating Gitxsan Indigenous knowledge to create sustainable local economic models.
• The Peace & Unity movement has become a trusted brand, emphasizing community connections and shared values.
• Organized the 25th anniversary commemoration of the Delgamuukw/Gisday’wa case, highlighting its lasting impact on Indigenous communities.
• Gidimt’en launched a territorial monitoring program to track cultural resources and establish an ecological database.
• The documentary The Klabona Keepers tells the story of the Klabona guardians on Tahltan territory and has received high recognition at multiple film festivals.

2023-^[11]

• Fabulous Female Funders Trip
  • Funders can directly observe and learn, strengthening relationships with Wilp and Clan communities.
  • Facilitate long-term funding partnerships to enhance support for Indigenous-led projects.
  • Provide knowledge sharing and capacity building to help funders better understand Indigenous governance and environmental protection needs.
  • Through citizen environmental monitoring, expose Coastal GasLink pipeline's environmental violations and drive policy change and community education.
  • In the future, SWCC will continue to expand the citizen environmental monitoring system and strengthen collaboration with the government, communities, and funders to promote the sustainable development of the Skeena watershed.
• Bioremediation Intensive
  • Fungal remediation technology centered on Turkey Tail Mushroom is used to treat contaminated soil and water sources.
• Policy breakthrough: Delete the clause "Environmental protection without unduly reducing the supply of wood."
• The Field School project has helped the SWCC discover a richer cultural heritage than the government and PRGT consultants and has driven deeper archaeological research. SWCC plans to continue training in 2024 to ensure that cultural heritage is protected!
• Wet’suwet’en Advocacy, Environmental Stewardship, and Government Accountability
  • Raised demands for government and corporate accountability at the RBC AGM (Royal Bank of Canada Annual General Meeting).
  • Submitted a report to the United Nations on Canada and British Columbia’s violations of Indigenous rights.
  • Successfully persuaded some investors to divest, weakening financial support for the Coastal GasLink (CGL) project.
  • Dini ze’ Woos and Dini ze’ Na’Moks Represent Wet’suwet’en on the International Stage
    • 15 September – Delivered a petition at MoMA in New York.
    • 17 September – Gave a speech at the 70,000-person climate rally.
    • 18 September – Submitted demands directly to KKR, a major investor in Coastal GasLink (CGL).