KULSPAI LEARNING VILLAGE
4562 Unit J Queensway Drive
Terrace BC, V8G 3X6
info@k5t.ca
778-400-9001
June 19, 2026
The Board of Directors
Steelhead Society of BC
Dear Board of Directors and the Team at the Steelhead Society of BC,
As the Executive Director of K5T, the operating partner of Kitselas First Nation, and on behalf of Kitselas First Nation, I am writing to express our deepest gratitude for the Steelhead Society of BC’s (SSBC) continued partnership, vision, and incredible generosity.
As an organization, SSBC has long stood as a pillar of dedication to the protection, restoration, and health of British Columbia’s wild salmonids and their habitats. Your unwavering commitment to science-based conservation and community-led stewardship makes you an invaluable ally, and we are deeply honored to work alongside you.
Please accept this letter as formal acknowledgement of the receipt of our 2026 budget allocation of $100,000, as outlined in the document, “Revised – KFN Grant Proposal 2026 – Revolutionizing Fisheries Management.pdf”.
We are incredibly proud of our Harvest Transformation efforts, and we recognize that this vital work is only made possible through the contributions and shared vision of trusted partners like SSBC. Looking back, we are immensely thankful for our first two years of collaboration. Together, we have laid a powerful foundation. Building off the success of each consecutive year, we truly believe this third year will be our best and most impactful year yet.
We are thrilled to share a few exciting updates regarding our operations as we head into this new season:
- The Fish Wheel: The SSBC-funded fish wheel is operating beautifully. In light of the environmental challenges and damages we faced last year, our team has implemented key structural adaptations and repairs this season to ensure it is significantly more resilient moving forward.
- Dual Wheel Operations & Marine Success: We are pleased to report that we are running our regular activities operating both of our community-built fish wheels, and the boat is performing beautifully out on the water.
- Electronic Monitoring (EM) System: A primary goal for this year is the implementation of an electronic monitoring system on our fish wheel platform. This technology will eventually streamline our catch and by-catch validation, allowing us to build local expertise while keeping our primary focus on running a successful selective fishing operation. Additionally, the infrastructure for this tech will empower us to add additional data collection tools in the future, such as water temperature, turbidity, and flow monitoring.
KULSPAI LEARNING VILLAGE
4562 Unit J Queensway Drive
Terrace BC, V8G 3X6
info@k5t.ca
778-400-9001
We see a remarkably bright future ahead as we continue to build up our long-term stewardship capacity through selective fishing methods and rigorous data collection. This year’s investment into technology will be a catalyst for growth, further empowering us to expand our community-based technical capacity and contribute meaningfully to the conservation and stewardship of the salmon and freshwater fish within the Skeena River watershed.
Thank you once again for your remarkable $100,000 investment in our shared vision, and for walking this path with us for a third fantastic year.
With warmth and deep appreciation,
David Hansen
Executive Director, K5T / Kulspai Learning Village
Operating Partner of Kitselas First Nation