Message from the Director of Lands and Resources

Chris Apps

Dear readers and harvesters,

I am so thrilled to welcome you to the second edition of Nii, a magazine produced by the Kitselas Lands and Resources Department. With Nii we aim to provide the community with a fresh and exciting way to engage, learn and share your stories and perspectives on lands and resources issues, science and stewardship. With this edition, Haliis’maasaw, we celebrate the Salmon harvest and the harvesters who dedicate so much of their time and energy to providing for their families and community. To honour this important time of year, we have pulled together an incredible issue covering some engaging stories about the Kitselas Canyon, Old Growth Forests, and of course, Salmon. I am also very pleased that some heard our call for contributions, and this edition features some amazing picture submissions. However, a magazine like this is only as strong as its community, and that is why I will continue to urge you to share your remarkable photographs, unforgettable stories, and memorable experiences being a part of this incredible territory you call home. Your contributions will not only enrich Nii but also strengthen the bonds between families and the community as we come together to celebrate the harvest and environmental stewardship.

But it has occurred to us that we don’t want to stop there. Families, their stories, and their knowledge are not necessarily restricted by community, and with Nii, Kitselas has an opportunity to share these treasures with other communities. We believe that by slowly but surely expanding our reach, we can connect readers through shared perspectives, learn about different approaches to science, stewardship and resource management, and ultimately foster a stronger community united by shared values.

To achieve this vision, we would love to welcome contributions from other Indigenous communities and organizations, as well as relevant advertisers or sponsors who might share in this passion. If you believe in the power of this publication to inspire and educate, we invite you to join us on this journey.

I would like to extend my deepest thanks to those who have submitted their pictures and stories and to our contributors whose expertise and willingness to share have brought this second edition of Nii to life.

Thank you for being a part of this and allowing us the opportunity to try something different. Let’s continue to explore the endless possibilities something like this has to offer Kitselas.