From Vision to MPA – Tang.ɢ̱wan–ḥačxwiqak–Tsig̱is Marine Protected Area (THT)

The ThT area is identified as an Area of Interest (AOI), and early rules are introduced to limit harmful fishing. Many Nations are invited in after key decisions are already moving, it was more like consultation after the fact, rather than a true partnership from the outset, highlighting why Indigenous roles needed to be clearly established. A technical working group also took shape, with staff from each Nation intending to partner in MOU negotiations with Canada.

Nations help shape conservation objectives and push for true partnership. A first MOU draft signals a shift from consultation to co-development. Expeditions and the naming process bring Indigenous Knowledge, language, and story into the work.

• • From 2018 to 2019, we contributed to shaping conservation objectives and informed DFO’s regulatory process through critical technical meetings that helped define the foundation of the MPA
  • This was also when Nations began asserting governance roles, marked by the presentation of the first MOU draft, shifting from consultation to co-development and setting the expectation for shared decision-making.
  • Nuu-chah-nulth also contributed to the Pacific Seamounts expedition, adding to both science and storytelling.
  • Unfortunately, limited capacity meant we couldn’t join all expeditions, highlighting that meaningful involvement requires more than goodwill; it requires resources.
  • One of the most powerful moments was the Nuu-chah-nulth naming process for the MPA. The Technical Working Group agreed the name would include Haida, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Quatsino words:
    • Tang.ɢ̱wan (Haida): “deep ocean”
    • Ḥačxwiqak (Nuu-chah-nulth/Pacheedaht): “deepest part of the ocean”
    • Tsig̱is (Quatsino): “monster of the deep”
    • Link to pronunciation of names Tang.ɢ̱wan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is Marine Protected Area (TḥT MPA)
    • The Nuu-chah-nulth process brought together Elders, leaders, and language speakers to choose a name rooted in cultural meaning. Here’s a photo from one of those gatherings of Elder Tom Curley and Danielle Burrows (Uu-a-thluk MPA Planner) working on refining the Nuu-chah-nulth part of the MPA name.
      

• Though the creation of a name using Indigenous words was a positive step forward, we encountered issues with government systems unable to accept Indigenous language characters, a process that took almost a year to resolve. A small but telling sign of how colonial structures still shape the process.

Detailed negotiations continue online. Nations work to ensure Indigenous priorities, intent, and decision-making roles are reflected often “word by word.”

• 2020 to 2021 was one of the most intense periods of negotiation, even as the world was shutting down due to COVID.
• All meetings had to be done virtually, without the benefit of in-person connection, which is often where trust is built.
• The process surfaced a lot of challenges, particularly around language and wording. DFO framed the MOU as dealing primarily with operational matters, ignoring the essential context of government promises about implementing UNDRIP.
• Bringing up another critical point, the importance of having the right people at the decision-making table. Nations had to put pressure on higher-level leadership from DFO to be present for discussions.
• We also had to push back against colonial language and governance frameworks designed to protect the Minister’s authority, revealing how power is preserved in these processes. It wasn’t just legal – it was about values.
• These negotiations were about making sure that Indigenous worldviews were reflected in the foundation of this partnership which meant holding the line, word by word, to protect the intent behind our participation.

Partner Nations and Canada begin foundational work toward a ThT Management Board, an important step toward shared decision-making in practice.

The MOU is announced at IMPAC5, bringing Indigenous leadership and partnership work to a wider audience—while also spotlighting the resourcing needed for Nations to participate as full partners.

• A moment with NTC’s President, Dr. Judith Sayers, standing together with leadership at IMPAC5 to formally share the agreement that had been made. It was powerful to see Indigenous Peoples and hear Indigenous voices centered on that stage, standing together with the Government of Canada to mark a hard-fought milestone.
  
• It was a reminder that public-facing moments like this carry weight – they shape how the work is understood.
• What’s not visible are the behind-the-scenes challenges and inequities. For Nuu-chah-nulth Nations, a single communications specialist managed messaging, media relations, social media, and event photography and videography — while being held to standards aligned with larger, well-resourced government teams. Unfortunately, those standards did not reflect our realities and resources.
• While our presence marked an important step, the disparity underscored the ongoing need for adequate resourcing for First Nations to participate as full partners.

Live “ship-to-shore” outreach, science camps, classrooms, and gatherings help make offshore stewardship real and accessible—especially for youth and learners.

• One of the highlights during the period between 2021-2024 was the live ship-to-shore outreach we were able to do with Nuu-chah-nulth communities, through science camps, classrooms, and community gatherings.
• These were interactive, real-time connections between our people on the land and the deep-sea research teams out on the water. Students could ask questions directly to scientists aboard the research vessels and see footage from the deep ocean as it was being recorded.
• It made the MPA real for everyone, showing that stewardship isn’t just happening in policy rooms. It reminded us of who this work is ultimately for, and who needs to be a part of it.

Tang.ɢwan – ḥaćxʷiqak – Tsig̱is is officially designated. The year also reinforces an ongoing need: sustained support for Indigenous participation, and continued advocacy to make space for Indigenous language and cultural processes within government systems.

• The official designation of the THT MPA in 2024 was an important landmark, but it too exposed ongoing gaps in First Nations engagement.
• The Minister’s announcement video was scripted and produced before Nations were even asked to participate. We were expected to match its quality, but again, without comparable resources.
• Though framed as a shared celebration, it ultimately felt like an afterthought. In contrast, the genuine advocacy from individuals within government science teams who pushed to make space for First Nations languages, timelines, and cultural processes – even within rigid systems – was a true highlight.
• Those same individuals also challenged journal editors to treat Indigenous knowledge as equal to Western science, showing what’s possible when people use their influence to make inclusion real, not just theoretical.