SEAS Program

Bella Bella Community School incorporates land-based education through the SEAS Program. This initiative brings together school staff, mentors, community organizations and educational partners to provide opportunities for students to learn about and directly experience the lands, waters, and seasonal harvest cycles of their traditional Haíɫzaqvterritories.

SEAS pairs community, cultural, and science-based knowledge with hands-on experience to support Haíɫzaqvyouth as they develop into confident individuals and caretakers of their territory, culture and community. Classroom and outdoor activities, led by local and visiting knowledge keepers, elders, scientists, archaeologists and other specialists, help students build practical skills and expand their knowledge of plants, animals, and places in the territory, history, ecology and culture. 

There are currently SEAS programs in Bella Bella, Klemtu, and Bella Coola, and we have hosted youth exchanges between our communities. Our SEAS program is fortunate to receive funding from supportive organizations including Nature United, MakeWay, Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance, Pacific Wild Alliance, and the Ted Rogers Community Grants program. We also receive both in-kind and financial support from community agencies in Bella Bella with whom we collaborate, including Qqs (Eyes) Projects Society, Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department, Hailika’as Heiltsuk Health Centre, and Kaxla Child and Family Services. 

An evaluation of the SEAS Program identified many positive outcomes, including: physical and mental health, school performance, personal growth, leadership abilities, connection to community, connection to territory, and creating opportunities for the future.

The SEAS Program includes:

• Nature walks and field trips
• Exploring our territory
• Three to seven-day camping trips (age dependent)
• Seasonal harvesting and preserving
• Sharing harvested foods & medicines with elders and at our Children’s Cultural Celebration 
• Hands-on activities and skill-building
• Connecting classroom curriculum to local people, places and issues
• Community events (e.g. Salmon Fest)
• Inviting community members and visiting resource people to share their knowledge in the classroom and on field trips
• Collaborating with the BBCS Heiltsuk Language & Culture department
• High School SEAS Outdoors Club
• Mentorship and job-shadowing experiences for high school students
• Exchange trips with other schools
• Summer Internships for senior high school and post-secondary students (through Qqs Society)