When innovation is rooted in culture and community, it can restore balance and strengthen connection. That belief was brought to life at the inaugural Amplify Awards on May 27, 2025, where the Heiltsuk Nation was honoured with the Innovative Community or Organization Award for their groundbreaking blend of traditional knowledge and modern technology.
Faced with declining salmon populations and limited federal monitoring, the Heiltsuk Nation took matters into their own hands. They installed a solar-powered, satellite-connected AI monitoring system at the Koeye River weir, designed to provide real-time salmon counts and species recognition. This innovative approach allowed the Nation to make informed, in-season harvesting decisions rooted in stewardship and self-determination.
In 2023, for the first time in years, the Heiltsuk community confidently harvested and shared sockeye salmon, a moment of deep cultural renewal and food sovereignty. The project represents more than the successful integration of technology; it is a powerful example of how Indigenous-led innovation can restore ecosystems, protect traditional food systems, and strengthen autonomy.
The Amplify Awards were created to honour stories like the Heiltsuk Nation’s, where technology becomes a vessel for ancestral knowledge and cultural resurgence. Their leadership shows what’s possible when innovation is guided by values that honour both the land and the life it sustains.
Watch their story here:
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