of subtle and less subtle ways, the colonial system has deliberately denied Heiltsuk people access to our lands, waters, and resources. Canada and B.C. wrongfully and continuously attempt to deny our ability to fully carry out our traditions, including those embedded in our governance system, our rituals, and our resource harvesting and management cycles. We have reduced access to our traditional foods and other resources because of private property within our territory, degradation of our marine ecosystems, and clear-cut logging, to name a few. Our lack of access to both the physical and non-tangible parts of our culture has had cascading effects on our people: the increased reliance of lower-quality non-local foods, a decline in our physical health, and a feeling of being disconnected from our lands and our traditions. Connecting to places like Húy̓at is essential for our survival as a Heiltsuk people.