Lax K'naga Sts'ool (Banks Island, B.C.), Nuut'iksgm Laxyuubm Gitxaaa, Gitxaaa Nation - Beneath the waters west of Lax k'naga Sts'ool (Banks Island, B.C.), ancient corals, swaying kelp forests, and thriving eelgrass beds provide food, shelter, and life for countless marine species. For Gitxaaa people, these places are part of an unbroken relationship with the ocean that spans countless generations.

Today, Gitxaaa Nation and the Government of Canada are taking a united step to ensure these ecosystems remain healthy and abundant for the future, showcasing how Nation-to-Nation collaboration can achieve meaningful marine conservation. Chief Councillor Linda Innes of Gitxaaa Nation and the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, announced the establishment of the Banks Marine Refuge, a new protected area in Nuut'iksgm Laxyuubm Gitxaaa (sacred Gitxaaa Territory) on the north coast of British Columbia.

The Banks Marine Refuge is one of three new sites under the Great Bear Sea Project Finance for Permanence initiative and advances the shared national goal of protecting 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030. It safeguards coral and sponges and key habitats for ts'mhoon (rockfish) such as mo'ox (bull kelp), gyoos (giant kelp forests), and gadza k'aw (eelgrass beds). To protect these culturally important, rare, and sensitive ecosystems, the Banks Marine Refuge prohibits all commercial and recreational prawn and crab trap fisheries in addition to the existing fishing closures for rockfish conservation.

The Banks Marine Refuge reflects both Gitxaaa Adaawx, Ayaawx, and Gugwilx'ya'ansk (laws and practices), and Canada's legal framework and commitments to marine ecosystem protection. It stands as a model for how shared priorities, mutual respect, and long-term collaboration between Gitxaaa Nation and Canada can strengthen marine protection and deliver on shared commitments for the benefit of present and future generations.