WSANEC LANDS TRUST SOCIETY

NEW PROGRAMS (2023/2024): • ECO GIFT RECIPIENT STATUS-APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED THIS STATUS WHICH OFFERS TAX INCENTIVES TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO RETURN LAND • IKEL LAND RETURN (FUNDED THROUGH LAND DONATION IN-KIND DONATIONS AND WHC GRANT)-SECURED THE RETURN OF 47 ACRES OF LAND FOR RESTORATION AS A WETLAND BY WSANEC. RETURN AND RESTORATION WILL HELP TO PROVIDE PLACES FOR WSANEC CULTURAL PRACTICES AND ACCESS TO CULTURAL RESOURCES SO RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE REBUILT WITH THE LAND AND LIVING BEINGS. • SARA SPECIES KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND RECONNECTION ACTIVITIES (FUNDED THROUGH CIER)-ELDERS AND KNOWLEDGE HOLDERS MET TOGETHER AND WITH OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIES AT IKEL AND TO LEARN ABOUT MODERN WETLAND RESTORATION PRACTICES. A IKEL LAND RETURN CEREMONY WAS ALSO HELD TO RECONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE LAND. • STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT ESTABLISHMENT-AN INITIAL CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN ENABLED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A $17500 STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND WITH THE VICTORIA FOUNDATION. THIS FUND WILL ENSURE ESSENTIAL COSTS OF MAINTAINING IKEL WITHIN THE WLTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MET INTO THE FUTURE. • PRESENTATION OF BC LANDS TRUST ALLIANCE CONFERENCE-SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT WSANEC LANDS TRUST SOCIETY AND WSANEC HISTORY AT THIS CONFERENCE LEAD TO CONNECTIONS WITH A NUMBER OF LAND RETURN OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE STILL BEING EXPLORED. • MOUS STRATEGY AND POLICY BUILDING-WORK TO BUILD INTERNAL STRATEGIES POLICIES AND MOUS WITH KEY AGENCIES IS UNDERWAY. • ENENITEL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE-WORK TO FORMALISE SUPPORT FROM A NUMBER OF WESTERN RUN LANDS TRUSTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS IS ALSO UNDERWAY WITH SEVERAL MEETINGS TO DRAFT A TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THIS GROUP. THE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE WILL SUPPORT WLTS PRIORITIES BY PROVIDING CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE FOR LAND ACQUISITIONS AND WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF WSANEC TO SAFELY ACCESS LAND HELD BY THE WESTERN LAND TRUSTS. • PURSUIT OF OTHER LAND RETURN OPPORTUNITIES-WHILE LAND ACQUISITION PLANNING IS BEING UNDERTAKEN WLTS CONTINUES TO PURSUE LAND RETURN OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY ARISE.