Wedzin Kwah IPCA
Wet’suwet’en Upper Widzin Kwa Protected Area Initiative
Protecting Salmon, Culture, and Future Generations
Purpose
The Wet’suwet’en are creating a new protected area in the Upper Widzin’kwa (Morice River) watershed to look after salmon and the lands and waters they depend on. This area will help salmon survive in a changing climate, while respecting Wet’suwet’en rights and leadership. The goal is to keep these rivers and lakes healthy so salmon can feed families and communities for generations to come.
Why It Matters
- Culture: Salmon have always been central to Wet’suwet’en life—providing food, culture, and identity. Protecting places like Widzin Bin (Morice Lake) and Nenikëkh (Nanika River), C’eneelee Bin (Atna Lake) honors these traditions.
- Salmon Habitat: The Widzin Kwa is the most important sockeye spawning river in Wet’suwet’en territory, but it has been harmed by logging, road building, and other industrial activities. At the same time, climate change is opening up new salmon areas, like Delta Creek and C’eneelee Kwa (Upper Atna River), as glaciers melt.
- Future Generations: By protecting these lands now, salmon will have safe places to spawn and grow even as the climate changes.
What Will Be Protected
The new protected area will cover more than 1,200 km². It will include:
Current salmon strongholds like Nenikëkh (Nanika).
Emerging habitats in Delta Creek, Pyramid Creek, and C’eneelee Kwa, which are becoming good salmon rivers as glaciers melt.
What’s Allowed and Not Allowed
Allowed: Wet’suwet’en traditional use (fishing, hunting, berry picking), and recreational activities.
Not Allowed: Mining, commercial logging, energy projects, and road building for industrial access. Other activities and discussions to be continued throughout the project development.
This initiative is about protecting salmon, culture, and the land—so that Wet’suwet’en, local communities and future generations can continue to thrive.
For more information, please see below documents:
[PDF]2026-06 - Serb Booklet
[PDF]Wet'suwet'en Upper Widzin Kwah Protected Area Intiative Overview
[PDF]Protecting & Recovering Wild Salmon in Witsuwit'en Territory