Through education, training, and proactive community engagement, the Conservation Department of BC Métis Federation strives to preserve British Columbia's coastal, aquatic, and surrounding land environments and restore the health of its ecosystems.

You have the power to make a difference. Find out how you can join with Coastal Water Protectors to care for British Columbia's coastlines and aquatic habitats. 

Upcoming Events

Connect with us at one of the many events we host and take part in across British Columbia

Join us for an engaging session with Art Knapp’s experts on seed growing and gardening. Meet the Conservation Department and join the discussion!

Growing Roots: A Gardening Workshop

Join us for Growing Roots, a two hours community gathering on conservation and environmental stewardship. Learn about the latest initiatives and engage in discussions on regional conservation needs.

Growing Roots: A Conservation Connection 

Immerse yourself in an in-depth exploration of aquatic and coastal conservation as passionate attendees share their insights, experiences, and thoughts on the crucial importance of preserving our oceans and coastal areas.

Wildfires are increasingly impacting British Columbia, with regions like Vancouver and the Lower Mainland facing significant environmental, economic, and health challenges. The urgency for effective management strategies and public awareness has never been greater.

The Coastal Conference will feature a series of engaging sessions, including talks by distinguished speakers from various organizations, documentary screenings, and opportunities to connect with local vendors who share our commitment to sustainability. Through these activities…

Get the latest updates on our conservation activities as well as information on upcoming events and training opportunities.

Key efforts included donating seven Canadian-made spill kits to the Kelowna Yacht Club as part of the First Responder Initiative. These kits, tailored for small pleasure craft vessels, support safe boating practices and effective spill responses, showcasing our commitment to aquatic conservation and collaboration.

December 2024

This month's newsletter highlights two incredible events: Generations of Wisdom: An Elder & Youth Retreat and Whale Tales & Popcorn Trails: Reel Room, Vancouver. Dive into the November newsletter for a closer look at these memorable experiences and their impact on our community!

November 2024

 In this month’s edition, we’re excited to share details about our upcoming event, Truffle Shuffle: Foraging with You, happening on October 29, 2024, in Chilliwack. Dive into the world of foraging and learn about truffles in this hands-on experience! Specific location details will be provided three days before the event.

We’re also gearing up for the highly anticipated Conservation Conference, set for February 8, 2025, at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria. Stay tuned for more updates and registration details as we prepare for another impactful gathering!

October 2024

Join us as we celebrate conservation and community! This month, we’re hosting a shoreline cleanup at Blackie Spit Park, sharing wisdom in an interview with Métis Elder Betty Fisher, and honoring World River Day in Burnaby. 

September 2024

Catch up on our latest conservation events! This month, we’re cleaning up Esquimalt Lagoon, hosting a meet and greet in Victoria, enjoying the Country Music Festival in Terrace, and celebrating the Kokanee salmon return in Peachland. 

August 2024

Join us at Crescent Beach, Surrey, for our latest shoreline cleanup, explore three FREE online courses, and check out new Aqua Agenda podcast episodes and YouTube updates. Full details inside!









July 2024

Newsletter

Welcome to Aqua Agenda: Our mission is to explore and champion British Columbia's aquatic conservation, raising awareness and inspiring stewardship for clean and healthy coastal waters.
Join us for interviews, discussions, and stories highlighting conservation efforts and the beauty of BC's marine ecosystems. Tune in and be part of the movement for a sustainable future.

Insights from the Generations of Wisdom Retreat with Travis Fleet - E13

Podcast

Podcasts

Projects

The Conservation Department focuses on coastal, aquatic, and land conservation across British Columbia. This work actively involves community members through projects and programs aimed at advocacy, planning, education, and raising awareness.

BC Métis Federation’s Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund is currently in its second year of a three-year agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The project contributes to strategic planning and studies in coastal areas throughout the province, Indigenous capacity building to enable education on habitat restoration and conservation and contribute to long term sustainability of aquatic and coastal habitats.

The Coastal Conservation’s "Coastal Sea Wolves Aquatic Day Camps" aimed to educate and empower children and teens to partake in conservation efforts, while providing a cultural space to learn traditional Indigenous practices is made possible with funding provided by the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund.

The project contributes to strategic planning, Indigenous capacity building to enable education on habitat restoration and conservation.

Aquatic Habitat  Restoration Fund

BC Métis Federation’s Co-Developing Community Response project is currently in its fifth year of a five-year agreement with the Canadian Coast Guard. The project addresses Indigenous concerns surrounding the risks associated with tanker traffic to marine activities and the environment. Through this initiative, Indigenous groups, such as BC Métis Federation are able to co-develop capacity at a community level to support meaningful roles for Indigenous groups in the marine response system.

The Coastal Conservation’s "First Responder Initiative" aimed at providing education, confidence, and the tools to safely respond to a marine oil spill incident is made possible with funding from the Co-Developing Community Response project.

The project addresses Indigenous concerns surrounding the risks associated with tanker traffic to marine activities and the environment. 

Co-Developing Community Response

The Coastal Water Protectors are committed to making a positive and meaningful impact through conservation efforts across the province of British Columbia.

Angel Fisher was born and raised in the Saskatchewan prairies by her Métis parents. Growing up with a fluent Michif-speaking father with ties to Métis politics and a mother actively involved and engaged with Métis through her work with provincial Métis organizations, Angel grew up fully immersed in the cultural and political world of the Métis.

After moving to British Columbia as a teen, Angel discovered her passion for assisting and serving Métis people in the province and has been doing so for nearly twenty years. Her journey began at the age of 18; having just graduated from high school, Angel began working for Métis Nation British Columbia. Throughout her time employed there, she took on various roles providing service to Métis people in British Columbia, such as Administrative Assistant, Provincial Registry Clerk, Data Health Clerk, and Employment and Training Assistant. After the birth of her son, Valentino Ace, Angel began her journey with BC Métis Federation, with various roles such as Program Support, Provincial Membership Clerk, Canadian Coast Guard Coordinator, and a political role as a Board of Director. Angel is now the Director of Coastal Conservation and leads a team of over 20 environmentally passionate people with the Coastal Water Protector program. Her love and deep connection to the ocean fuel her journey with the various projects, programs, and initiatives under the umbrella of Coastal Conservation.

Like his mother, Angel's son is emotionally passionate and invested in conservation, and at only age nine, he spends much of his free time researching climate change and the environmental crisis our home is in. Valentino’s curiosity, persistence, and compassion for the world were the driving force behind the development of the department’s ‘Coastal Pups’ project for children aged 5-11.

When Angel is not at work, she can be found photographing nature or capturing portraits. Having been internationally recognized and published over five times for her creative portraiture, she finds comfort in freezing moments in time. A naturally creative free spirit, Angel can often be found with a paintbrush creating abstract mixed-media art, a pen jotting down poetry, or barefoot in sand at the beach or the mossy earth of a West Coast rainforest.

Angel is the project lead for the Coastal Water Protectors. Her love of nature and deep connection to the ocean fuel her conservation journey.

Angel Fisher

Brad Giroux

Zia Yazdani is a proud and active Coastal Water Protector who resides in the Lower Mainland. His neighborhood is located on the traditional and unceded territories of the hən̓̓qəmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples.

Zia moved to British Columbia, a place which has made it possible for him to grow as an individual and to pursue his studies and goals. He began his journey in Vancouver by taking the law enforcement diploma program through the Justice Institute of British Columbia and various courses through other institutes and organizations.

As a person with a strong passion for wildlife and wilderness conservation, he joined BC Métis Federation and became an engaged member of the Coastal Water Protectors with BCMF, working on various tasks ranging from spill management development, ocean conservation, and aquatic habitat restoration planning.

Throughout his time in Beautiful British Columbia and while being employed as an emergency response senior dispatch officer and an active member of Coastal Water Protectors, he has completed extensive training and courses, such as; First Aid level one and two, WHMIS, Bear Safety Resources and Stay Safe in Bear Country, PAL and RPAL licenses, Incident Command System 100, Introduction to Emergency Management, and SCAT with Environment Canada.

Zia has a strong passion for animal conservation and will always stop to help an animal in distress, having rescued and fostered countless animals. When not at work Zia can be found participating in a wide range of outdoor activities. His hobbies include hiking, camping, and visiting new places in the province.

Zia has a strong passion for wildlife and wilderness conservation, working on various tasks ranging from spill management, ocean conservation, and aquatic habitat restoration planning.


CONSERVATION ACROSS LAND AND WATER

Upcoming Events

Growing Roots: A Gardening Workshop

Growing Roots: A Conservation Connection

Podcast

Insights from the Generations of Wisdom Retreat with Travis Fleet - E13

The Aqua Agenda

2024 Highlight

Get Involved

Take action in your community

Learn & Explore

Why Is Aquatic Conservation Important?

Wildfires in British Columbia: A Pressing Concern

2023 Coastal Conference

Article 4

Why Is Aquatic Conservation Important?

Projects

Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund

Co-Developing Community Response