Coast Funds

Spirit bears, or Kermode bears, are a rare genetic variant of black bear with a white coat, found in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. Carrying cultural significance for the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation, they represent the balance of nature and the resilience of their ecosystems. These elusive bears owe their colour to a recessive gene and thrive in a fragile ecosystem dependent on healthy salmon runs and protected habitats. But challenges such as habitat loss and climate pressures threaten their future. Explore more in IFL Science’s feature: https://lnkd.in/gqwDR_Ea

In Haida Gwaii, the Haida Nation is protecting critical old-growth forest habitat for stads k’un, a unique subspecies of Northern Goshawk. Haida stewardship teams are combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation practices to map nests, preserve habitats, and manage the impacts of invasive species and forestry operations. The Nation secured funding through Coast Funds to support this vital conservation work, ensuring that the forests and wildlife of Haida Gwaii will thrive for future generations. 💡 Learn more about the Haida Nation’s efforts: https://lnkd.in/gATsuduz

Exciting progress for Indigenous language inclusion! With the recent update to the unicode standard, platforms now support characters needed to type and display Haíɫzaqvḷa, the language of the Haíɫzaqv people. This is a key step in supporting language preservation and ensuring equitable access in the digital world. However, many Indigenous languages still face challenges due to the lack of specialized characters in digital tools. https://lnkd.in/gANfsa54

As we wrap up a full and impactful year, our team is pausing to rest and enjoy the holiday season. Coast Funds’ office will be closed from December 23 to January 3, 2025. We wish everyone a peaceful and joyful holiday season and look forward to reconnecting when re reopen on January 6, 2025.

#JobAlert: Coast Funds is hiring an Executive Administrator to work with our CEO and board to serve First Nations and support our team’s operations. As Coast Funds continues to grow, this is an exciting opportunity to contribute your skills to a team that’s supporting First Nations’ stewardship and economic priorities. Full details, including salary and benefits, can be found here: https://ow.ly/74UV50UviJO

2024: A Year of Remarkable Achievements for First Nations To mark the closing of the year, our team has pulled together a list of 24 good news stories from First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. Dive in to learn more about First Nations’ wins in stewardship and conservation, sustainable energy, economic development, and cultural revitalization – and share more good news in the comments. Here’s to even more success in 2025! 🌱 🔗 Read more: https://ow.ly/9VNM50Uvj0S

ICYMI: This summer, the Wei Wai Kum, We Wai Kai, and K’ómoks Nations came together with family and friends to celebrate the inaugural journey of Na̱max̱sa̱la, a traditional xwax’wana (canoe) carved from a windfall cedar, with support from Na̲nwak̲olas Council. Some of our team members were fortunate to attend the celebration and see Na̱max̱sa̱la complete its first journey across the strait. Na̱max̱sa̱la is now awaiting its next journey, prepared to continue its important role in carrying forward the cultural traditions and stories of these Nations. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d4DqMbfh

The culmination of years of diligent effort on the part of the Nations is leading to a new beginning - and a bright future for all on the coast. Gilakas'la to all involved! Dallas Smith Merv Child Eddy Adra, CPA, CA Stephanie Butler Barbara Dinning Coastal First Nations - Great Bear Initiative

🌿 Congratulations to the First Nations leading the charge for a cleaner, more sustainable future! The 2024 BC Premier’s Awards recently recognized the CleanBC Remote Community Energy Strategy (RCES) with top honours in the "regional impact" category.      The RCES Working Group, which includes Gitga’at, Haida, Heiltsuk, Nuxalk, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis, Ulkatcho, and Xeni Gwet’in Nations, have already made a powerful impact with energy-efficient heat pumps and large-scale solar panel installations in remote communities.    Through this strategy, the Province has invested in the Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) and Renewable Energy for Remote Communities (RERC) programs, which Coast Funds has helped to administer.    Thank you to the Province of BC for your partnership with First Nations to deliver of funding and supports for sustainable energy projects.    Check out this video featuring RCES: https://lnkd.in/g3JF2xAV

Pathways Executive Search is working with the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance to recruit their next Director of Finance and Operations. To learn more, please contact Katy Gottfriedson-Jasper, MBA or Laurie Sterritt directly. For a full profile, click here https://lnkd.in/gP8bwdnY #Director #Finance #Operations #Indigenous #CCIRA