In January 2025, the Galiano Conservancy Association (GCA) embarked on a powerful journey of humility, relationship-building, and reconciliation through the Q’úyél q’úwen – Restoring the Balance project, working alongside the First Families of Galiano, Penelakut, Mayne, Chemanius and Cowichan. Through this movement, we have reflected deeply on how conservation can move forward by acknowledging past harms and rebuilding relationships in meaningful ways. Together, we are creating a stronger path grounded in respect, responsibility, reciprocity, and stewardship, in honour of the land we all love and now share.

Much of this work is rooted in humility and in honestly facing the history that has shaped where we are today. Our intention is to help shift culture and attitudes toward asking: “How can we make this happen together?”

Over the past 18 months, these efforts have created opportunities to share culture and honour the wisdom of Elders and Knowledge Keepers of this community. Working alongside local Indigenous families, we have hosted cultural gatherings and learning opportunities such as drum making, medicine walks, and Elder lunches. These experiences have allowed us not only to celebrate culture, but also to build authentic relationships grounded in listening, respect, and shared responsibility for the land.

Image: Marvin Wilson leading the Indigenous drum-making workshop as part of the RTB project

The GCA is pleased to share some of the relationship-building work taking place on our GCA lands. The intention is not to garner recognition or token acknowledgement, but to invite members of our community to engage in events focused on (re)building trust, strengthening relationships, and moving forward together in a healthy and grounded way.

On March 28th, the Galiano Conservancy and the Rod & Gun Club hosted a “Feed the Hunters” luncheon, bringing together hunters and knowledge holders from across the islands to discuss deer hyperabundance and collaborative approaches to addressing its impacts. During the gathering, Dr. Tara Martin and Sophie LaComb presented data highlighting the significant ecological consequences of deer overpopulation on Galiano Island ecosystems. Their presentation emphasized the widespread impacts deer hyperabundance has on biodiversity, forest regeneration, and overall ecosystem health.

Participants at the first Feed the Hunters gathering

The gathering also welcomed guests from the Mayne Island Conservancy, the Salt Spring Island Conservancy, and the Salt Spring Island Archery Society, helping to strengthen conversations and relationships among hunters and community members from Galiano, Penelakut, and across the Salish Sea. The luncheon created space for meaningful dialogue, shared learning, and collaborative stewardship conversations grounded in community knowledge and ecological responsibility.

Community members (of all ages) sharing knowledge around how to butcher sustainably harvested deer during the Feed the People workshop

Following this insightful event, the Galiano Conservancy was honoured with a 2026 Heritage BC Award for the Feed the People workshop program. Bobbi-Jo Basarab and Rosemary Georgeson attended a beautiful ceremony at the Britannia Mine Museum in Squamish to accept this honour on behalf of the organization and the Penelakut Knowledge Holders who created and delivered the workshop. This year marks the seventh year of the workshop program. 

Bobbi-Jo Basarab and Rosemary Georgeson receiving Heritage BC Award for Feed the People project on behalf of the GCA and Penelakut Knowledge Holders

On April 1st, we were honoured to welcome 18 guests from the Quw’utsun Cultural Connections Society, including 11 Elders from the Cowichan Valley and Penelakut. The gathering focused on Cedar Resilience, a project grounded in the Elders’ vision of ensuring X’pey (western redcedar) remains plentiful for future generations despite the impacts of climate change, helping to preserve this vital part of culture, tradition, and identity.

Although spring rains limited outdoor engagement, the afternoon was filled with beautiful stories shared from across the Salish Sea. Through the generosity of the Quw’utsun Cultural Connections Society, over 50 young cedar trees were gifted and have been planted in the Chrystal Creek watershed.

On May 2nd, the GCA was delighted to host Elders from Penelakut Island for a luncheon in the Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest. Nuts’a’maat means “working together with one heart, one mind” in the Hul’qumi’num language. The Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest is an eco-cultural restoration project that reimagines the relationships we can have with damaged ecologies and with one another as we work together on the land. It is a shared space where we are restoring and caring for an Indigenous forest ecosystem that provides important foods and medicines. Originally planted in 2017, the forest is now well-established, productive, and maturing. 

Serving up some delicious food at the Indigenous Peoples feast

The intention of this gathering was to discuss how we might support the development of a Medicine Garden on Penelakut Island in honour of esteemed Elder Augie Sylvester. This project remains in its early stages, as there is still much healing needed for both the land and the people before it can fully move forward. We remain committed to supporting one another as this important work continues.

Richard Jim leads a Medicine Walk in the Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest

The work described above matters because it is a reflection of how the GCA understands its responsibilities, relationships, and role on the land. We are keenly aware that Indigenous peoples have maintained deep relationships with their territories for countless generations, with governance systems, laws, and stewardship practices that both predate and continue alongside Western conservation approaches. The GCA believes actions such as these relationship-building events offer a pathway for a wider shared vision and process that can inform and enrich us all.

The strongest commitments to meaningful reconciliation are those grounded in ongoing collaboration, through shared planning, long-term relationship building, and support for Indigenous stewardship roles and leadership. The  Q’úyél q’úwen – Restoring the Balance project continues to be one step along that ongoing journey.

If you would like more information about the  Q’úyél q’úwen – Restoring the Balance project, or would like to be added to our mailing list, please email: Bea Basarab at rtb@galianoconservancy.ca

We gratefully acknowledge and thank the following funders who provided a solid financial foundation to ensure the success of theQ’úyél q’úwen – Restoring the Balance project: Gencon Foundation, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, Canadian Heritage, Heritage BC through the Heritage Legacy Fund, Ecclesiastical Community Impact Grant, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fund, BC Wildlife Federation, the Galiano Club, and the Access to Media Education Society. 

Penelakut elder Augie Sylvester teaching plant lore to Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members