Qqs
Projects
Society
Qqs Projects Society: Supporting Youth, Culture, & Environment Since 1999
YÍ YÁU! HELLO!
We are Qqs Projects Society, a Heiltsuk charitable non-profit located in Bella Bella, BC - the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Our organization has a holistic mandate to support Heiltsuk youth, culture, and environment. Our vision is led by the community we serve.
Our programs range from the community of Bella Bella throughout Heiltsuk territory, spanning the social, cultural, and natural values and customs that have strengthened our people since the time of Creation.
Our approach is not unique: it's simply about taking care of one another and building our collective strength through a commitment to community care, wellness, and resilience.
Photo credit: Sara Wickham
OUR
MISSION
OUR STORY
MAPS &
LOCATION
OUR PROGRAMS
MEET OUR
TEAM
KOEYE
DOGS
OUR CONSTITUTION
The purposes of the society are:
A. To teach Heiltsuk youth about the complexity of their natural environment with the intent of developing their interest in science and resource management related careers, and enhancing their self-confidence, communication skills and cultural knowledge
B. To work with other registered charities and social service agencies to help at-risk youth
C. To teach Heiltsuk youth the skills related to the sustainable use of our environment.
Photo credit: Paul Paquet
Photo credit: Alena Ebeling-Schuld
OUR MISSION
Qqs Projects Society is dedicated to supporting Heiltsuk community, culture, and environment in order to create a strong and vibrant future for our youth, our Nation, and our territory.
OUR VISION
We are devoted to supporting important community initiatives that uplift Heiltsuk youth and families.
Our goal is to uplift an emerging generation of Heiltsuk leaders who are committed to the resurgence of our culture and to sustainable relationships with our lands and waters.
Photo credit: Paul Paquet
Photo credit: Kalina Hunter
Photo credit: Kalina Hunter
OUR VALUES
Qqs Projects Society is a values-based organization.
We, along with our partners and supporters, share a common commitment to realizing these values both in our actions as individuals and in our work together.
We are guided by and pursue our work based on the following principles:
​
-
We value our youth. We believe that strong families and a healthy community are key to ensuring our generation of emerging leaders has the freedom to thrive.
-
We value our culture. We believe in the strength of our Heiltsuk culture and traditions and are committed to cultural revitalization that transcends generations.
​
-
We value our environment. We believe that the health of our land and waters is deeply tied to the health of our people.
​
-
We value our Heiltsuk laws that govern who we are, how we act, and how we speak.
​
-
We value education and learning as a tool to help our Nation to build itself into a healthy, strong, and vibrant people.
​
-
We value respect for each other, our environment, and our partners and allies.
Photo credit: Kyle Artelle
Photo credit: Kalina Hunter
OUR STORY
Qqs was incorporated in 1999 at the behest of our hereditary chiefs, who directed our founding board to build an organization focused on creating opportunities for Heiltsuk youth and families to learn on the land and from the land.
Over the last 20+ years, Qqs Projects Society has striven to create and nurture projects, programs, and collaborations that meet community-identified needs, as well as uplift community-rooted strengths and leadership that we believe to be the path to a vibrant and resilient future for our people.
Our work benefits from decades of recent political and programmatic leadership that cleared the trail before us, and millennia of strength and values that have always been at the heart of Heiltsuk identity.
​
Watch our video below for an introduction to what we do, one of our longest-running programs: Koeye Camp!
Photo credit: Kalina Hunter
Photo credit: Grant Callegari
WHERE WE ARE
Qqs Projects Society is located in Bella Bella, BC - the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Our programs range from the community of Bella Bella throughout Heiltsuk Territory.
​
​
.jpg)
Photo credit: Kyle Artelle
OUR PROGRAMS
Photo credit: Grant Callegari
Qqs Youth Programs seek to provide Heiltsuk youth with opportunities to experience social and educational success, feel confident on the land and water, build a strong sense of cultural identity, and feel supported in their path to community leadership.
Photo credit: Paul Paquet
Qqs Community Programs seek to meet community-identified needs, and uplift community-rooted strengths and leadership that we believe to be the path to a vibrant and resilient future for our people.
Photo credit: Alena Ebeling-Schuld
Qqs Environmental Programs use a mixture of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and western science to promote an understanding, build connection, and support responsible stewardship of Heiltsuk lands, waters, and resources.
Photo credit: Kai Nagata
At Qqs, we believe cultural education is vital. We work to incorporate cultural identity and nurture cultural resurgence through programs on the land and water. We aim to lead culturally inspiring programs to negate the years of oppression for a new era of reconciliation.
DONATE
Love what we do? Support our programs by
donating to Qqs Project Society!
Photo credit: Paul Paquet
Photo credit: Chris Darimont
