Description

As part of Canada’s reconciliation mandate with Indigenous Nations, and in a partnership initiative to work more collaboratively with Indigenous Guardian/Stewardship organizations for the shared conservation and protection stewardship of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) and other marine mammal species in Coastal British Columbia (BC), Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) will enter into a contract with the University of Vancouver (VIU) to deliver certified curriculum in the form of lesson modules aimed at training Indigenous Guardians and Indigenous Marine Stewardship staff to become effective witnesses in support of Federal Government led investigations and prosecutions of SRKW and other marine mammal or fisheries related violations against various Federal Acts and Regulations. To deliver a total of six (6) Marine Steward Witness Training classes within the 2026/27 fiscal year in coordination with the DFO Conservation & Protection coordinator. Each class will include the delivery of VIU certified curriculum lesson modules for Marine Steward Witness training over a four (4) day period within a week to a class of Indigenous students times six (6) classes in total for the 2026/27 fiscal year. Resource materials available from Federal Government organizations, including outreach materials, public criteria for reporting violations, or any available Government policies and procedures will be provided to VIU through the DFO C&P coordinator listed below.