First Nations

Indigenous Peoples and Mowi Canada West Working Together

Mowi Canada West’s aquaculture operations are located within the traditional territories of First Nations people. The relationship with Indigenous Peoples’ culture is important to our business and is based on economic, social, environmental, cultural and legal considerations. An example of these relationships can be found in our interaction with the Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation.

The Kitasoo/Xai’xais people live in Klemtu, about 500 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. Klemtu, with a population of 450, can only be reached by boat or by air. With an economy based on fisheries, fish farming, forestry and tourism, the community enjoys a high level of employment and active involvement in business and economic development initiatives. Since the late 1990s, Mowi Canada West has partnered with the Kitasoo/Xai’xais in development of a state-of-the-art salmon aquaculture program that delivers about 5,000 tonnes of salmon a year from local farms to domestic and international markets, and includes value-added products such as Klemtu Spirit Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon.

Almost 25% of Mowi Canada West’s workforce is Indigenous.

Mowi currently operates in territories of nine First Nations and has formal agreements with eight. In addition, we have contractual agreements with 13 First Nation-owned businesses.