First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii have transformed a $60-million economic development fund into $1.77 billion in gross economic output, according to a new study released by Coast Funds. Between 2008 and 2024, 27 First Nations leveraged the fund from the Great Bear Rainforest agreements, attracting an additional $193 million in investments for a total of $254 million, or $316 million adjusted for inflation.
Over 17 years, these investments contributed $808 million to provincial GDP, $331 million to household income, and supported an average of 373 full-time jobs annually. Funding supported 235 projects spanning ecotourism, shellfish aquaculture, manufacturing, community infrastructure, and economic development corporations.
Coast Funds Chair Dallas Smith emphasized the importance of Indigenous leadership, saying the fund put First Nations “in the driver’s seat,” allowing them to create sustainable businesses and foster community well-being. Minister of Environment Tamara Davidson highlighted how these initiatives strengthen both local economies and conservation efforts.
The fund also helped establish a conservation endowment, supporting Guardian programs, ecosystem monitoring, and community-led stewardship. Leaders from participating Nations note that combining economic development with conservation ensures long-term prosperity, food security, and environmental protection.
This initiative demonstrates how Indigenous-led economic investment can deliver significant benefits for communities, the province, and the environment while building a model for sustainable development across B.C.’s coastal regions.
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