Raising awareness and funds for the Ma'amtagila of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw in partnership with Rande Cook, Sierra Club BC and Nawalakw Lodge.

The Ma’amtagila have lived in the extraordinary Great Bear Rainforest since time immemorial. Despite that fact, the BC and federal governments currently fail to acknowledge their existence.

The Ma’amtagila are proud members of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw and their territory bridges so-called northern Vancouver Island and the mainland British Columbia. Governments have been constantly negotiating Ma’amtagila Territory without the nation’s knowledge or consent in favour of further “resource extraction” — including old-growth logging.

Multimedia artist and Hereditary Chief Makwala (Rande Cook) and the wider Ma’amtagila leadership are demanding this stop and seek recognition in court of their inextinguishable rights and title to their territory. ecologyst, in partnership with Rande and Sierra Club BC, are collaborating on this three-fold fundraiser to help cover extensive legal fees and in turn protect the land.

Whether you want to win a 2-night immersive, educational stay at Nawalakw Lodge, own a covetable Rande Cook original artwork on a sustainably-crafted ecologyst piece, or are ready to enter the auction, we invite you to learn more and contribute however you can to the fundraiser.

Win a trip of a lifetime
to Nawalakw in Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw territory.

What's Included:

• 2-night all-inclusive stay for four at Nawalakw lodge.
• Guided tour with Musgamagw traditional leader K’odi Nelson (Maxwiyalidzi)
• Come safely face-to-face local wildlife.
• Understand Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw protocols, perspectives of the natural environment and world views.
• Return airfaire to Nawalakw from Vancouver or Victoria BC.
• Four head-to-toe ecologyst outfits for your trip. Including limited edition Rande Cook x ecologyst ‘Ecology Today’ printed tees.

The Ecology Collection.

Rande Cook has created a new edition to his Ecology Series specifically for this fundraiser. The original he has carved into red cedar, and we’ve then printed this artwork onto a limited run of ecologyst clothing. Twenty percent of every item purchased will be donated to the Ma’amtagila’s legal fees. 

“I am sick and tired of government agencies and branches completely ignoring our rights and sovereignty.”
 - Chief Makwala (Rande Cook)

In April 2021, they launched a legal challenge to stop the illegal treaty negotiations currently taking place on their territory. They have already taken steps to assert their jurisdiction according to Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw Law.

Recently, BC Timber Sales authorized logging of old- growth forests in Ma’amtagila territory and has plans to auction the entire territory which includes further areas of old growth cedars and Culturally Modified Trees - all without the consent of the Ma’amtagila.

The time is now to support Rande and the Ma’amtagila in their fight to have their existence acknowledged by Canadian and BC governments so that they may intentionally steward their land and culture.

Rande Cook

Father of 3, a Ma’amtaglia Hereditary Chief, artist and a central character in the upcoming ecologyst film - Before They Fall. Rande is known to his family as K’alapa and Chief Makwalawa. He was born in Namgis Territory and holds a chieftainship from his maternal side. He is Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw Nation, and has ties to many tribes in the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw.

Learn more about Rande Cook from an interview recorded between him and Mark Worthing of Sierra Club BC.

Ecology Today by Rande Cook - Auction