Environmental Laws: A Field Guide for BC’s North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii

February 20, 2025

In 2024, the Coastal Stewardship Network (CSN) worked with the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre to create a new version of Environmental Laws: A Field Guide for BC’s North and Central Coast and Haida Gwaii (pdf).

First published in 2011, the Field Guide was created for use by Coastal Guardians, providing a reference guide of Crown laws and regulations as they monitor and protect their territories across the North Pacific Coast. Last year, staff and students with the Environmental Law Centre updated the Field Guide, with input from CSN and stewardship staff from CFN member Nations, to reflect changes in federal and provincial laws, as well as updates to the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements.

The design and layout of the Field Guide was updated to be more functional for field use. It also includes original cover art (Hemas with Eagle Headdress) by Maxwell Johnson Sr., a Haíɫzaqv artist, carver and knowledge holder who is known in his community for his work mentoring Haíɫzaqv youth and leading the painting of the Haíɫzaqv λiác̓i (Heiltsuk Bighouse) in Bella Bella.

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