Since time immemorial, the once expansive 7,000 hectares of wetlands at Yaqan Nukiy nourished both the Ktunaxa people and a rich ecosystem full of fish, birds, turtles, bears, and elk.
But in the last century, the landscape changed dramatically with the arrival of settlers and colonization. Streams were diverted, marshes drained, and floodplains cut off from their original water sources. These alterations disrupted natural water cycles and destroyed crucial habitat for species like burbot, trout, and Kokanee salmon — cornerstones of the food web.
Now, the Yaqan Nukiy (Lower Kootenay Band) is leading the charge to bring this ecosystem back to life. Since 2018, they has been working with project partners to restore 517 hectares of wetland on reserve land — reconnecting waterways, removing dikes, and reshaping the land to allow nature to do what it does best.
“We didn’t live in control of the land — we lived with it.”
That’s how Norm Allard, community planner for the Yaqan Nukiy and project lead, describes the approach.
“The way First Nations people lived before contact was deeply connected to natural systems,” he said. “Nature already knows what it’s doing — we’re just putting things back so it can take over again. It’s a rebirth.”
So far, more than two kilometres of dikes have been removed, and 260,000 dump trucks’ worth of earth have been moved and reshaped. With 2.2 million square metres already restored, the Yaqan Nukiy Wetland Project is now the largest Indigenous-led wetland restoration effort in the country.
And the results are already showing.
These wetlands provide vital spawning, rearing, and feeding habitat for several fish species. Kokanee and burbot larvae, for example, are washed into the floodplain during spring freshet, where warmer waters and abundant zooplankton (a microscopic food source) support their growth.
Over the past four years, the Yaqan Nukiy have released millions of burbot larvae in collaboration with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho’s hatchery program, using Canadian brood stock. Some research studies have tracked fish all the way to Idaho — proof of how far reaching and ecologically connected this landscape is.
The team is now exploring the possibility of reintroducing white sturgeon, a federally listed species at risk, with more fish releases anticipated in the coming years.
Restoring nature — and letting it take over
Wetlands are among the most valuable habitats to restore, supporting an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. Through restoration, an entire web of species — plants, amphibians, birds, invertebrates, and mammals – will also benefit from the expanded habitat.
“We moved about the land and know how to manage and take care of all these important resources," said Allard.
Just as importantly, the project is designed for long-term sustainability, cost efficiency, and returns on investment. Once the natural systems are re-established, they require minimal maintenance. Instead of constant human intervention, nature is given the chance to maintain balance on its own.
What’s next
In 2024, the crew completed 11 intensive weeks of earthworks, supported by heavy machinery. The next major construction phase — six weeks in length — is planned for September 2025 to avoid the peak wildfire season. Work is expected to continue for two more years until 2028, alongside monitoring, targeted excavation, and maintenance along the way.
For a live virtual tour of the Yaqan Nukiy Wetland Project, join Norm Allard on YouTube on June 20 from 12 to 1 p.m. PST. Visit www.youtube.com/@ReconnectExperience to watch.
