Wetland restoration
Our wetland restoration project is working to restore 20 hectares of wetlands in Xwaaqw’um. We are doing this to bring Indigenous food systems and biodiversity back to the land that has supported Quw’utsun peoples for generations.
When we restore wetlands we are bringing back native species, helping build climate resiliency, store clean water and store carbon in the wetlands and forests.
Wetland Restoration in Progress!
Stqeeye’ Learning Society’s second year of Wetland Restoration is planned for Sept and Oct 2025. Beginning on Sept 11 and continuing for the next 5 weeks, depending on weather, Stqeeye’ is building more wetlands in the fields of Xwaaqw’um. Park visitors will see excavators working to remove invasive plants, dismantle underground drainage, create pools and place large stumps to create a variety of habitat features for fish, amphibians, birds, insects, mammals and water loving plants.
We are very grateful for the outpouring of support from Salt Spring Islanders and appreciate how folks are keeping a safe distance from the machine work.
Stay tuned for upcoming volunteer opportunities to assist with transplanting thousands of native plants!
The importance of wetlands
Wetlands are the lungs of the earth. It is estimated that we have lost over 35% of global wetlands from 1970-2015. Before contact, Xwaaqw’um would have been home to towering old growth Western Red Cedar trees, intact fish-bearing streams and abundant wildlife. Stqeeye’ Learning Society is undertaking an important restoration project that will help to re-establish critical ecosystem function that has been lost due to industrial colonization practices, such as logging and agriculture, over the last 200 years.
Wetland restoration at Xwaaqw’um
Our first wetland restoration was completed in the fall of 2019 with Quw’utsun workers, local school groups and other local contributors including BC parks and the BC Wildlife Federation. These wetlands were created with Rewilding Water & Earth Inc, Robin Annschild and Miranda Cross, and Ken Tara Excavating. Volunteers collected and spread native plants seeds at the restoration site.
Our second set of three wetlands and stream restoration began in 2020 and native plants were planted in fall 2021 with community volunteers and our Land Guardian Team. This project was completed with the funding support of Healthy Watersheds Initiative, BC License Plate Fund and generous donations from our supporters.
A further 42 wetlands have been added to Xwaaqw’um in 2024-25. These wetlands and in-stream Beaver Dam Analogs will help to sequester water on the landscape, creating climate resiliency in the face of extended droughts and seasonal flooding.
Our restoration work is guided by Indigenous elders and Western science, in partnership with Cowichan Tribes and BC Parks. Stqeeye’ has been supported and uplifted by many generous foundations in growing our wetland project since 2018. We wish to acknowledge our donors and supporters who buy hunting licenses, license plates and fishing licenses that create these funds and opportunities to complete important restoration work.
Funding partners
2024-25 funding partners include Environment and Climate Change Canada through Indigenous Partnerships for Species at Risk and Nature Smart Carbon Sequestration, BC Parks, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Victoria Foundation Nature Based Climate Solutions, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources and Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.
