SEAS Program

SEAS is a land-and-water-based education program at Bella Bella Community School, a Kindergarten to Grade 12 band-operated and certified Independent school in the Heiltsuk community of Bella Bella. Our program began in 2011 and has grown to become an integral part of our school. There are also unique SEAS programs in some of our neighbouring communities. 

SEAS connects our school community with mentors, knowledge holders, and specialists, providing opportunities for students to learn about and directly experience the lands, waters, and seasonal harvest cycles of their traditional territories. These immersive experiences strengthen and uplift Heiltsuk youth as they develop into confident individuals, providers, and caretakers of their territory, culture, and community. 

The Bella Bella SEAS Program encompasses:

• Field trips on the lands, waters, ancestral villages and harvesting areas of Haíɫzaqv territory
• Multi-day camping trips 
• Seasonal harvesting and preserving 
• Sharing harvested foods & medicines with elders and community during harvest times and at our Children’s Cultural Celebration 
• Hands-on learning and practical skill-building
• Connecting classroom curriculum to local people, places, experiences, and events
• Inviting community members and visiting resource people to share their knowledge in the classroom and on field trips
• Individual mentorship, job-shadowing experiences, and certificates (e.g. first aid, boating safety) for high school students
• Collaborating with the BBCS Heiltsuk language department 
• Collaborating with other community agencies (e.g. resource management department, guardians, youth summer camp, child and family services, health programs)
• Exchange trips with other schools and communities