Who We Are
A̱ka̱la Society is an land and water-based non-profit operated by a group of Musgamakw Dzawada̱’enux̱w people.
What We Do
Our purpose is to create land and water-based educational opportunities for Musgamakw Dzawada̱’enux̱w citizens.
Who We Serve
The Musgamakw Dzawada̱’enux̱w are a longstanding traditional alliance between the four tribes: Ḵwikwa̱sutinux̱-Ha̱x’wamis, Gwawaʼenux̱w, and Dzawada̱’enux̱w
A̱ka̱la means “fish jumping out of water” in Kwak̕wala. Click below for the proper pronunciation.
Stories
Latest in Community
TestimonialsThank you for the experience of a friggen lifetime! <3It is empowering to have a better understanding of how to calculate distancesand take bearings on and off the chart. I left it feeling inspired on so many levels.The best part of the program was the people, sea creatures, land, stories, hard work, and the collective.The feeling of connection – with the team, the lands, the waters, just everything. As well as it being a really nourishing challenge for the spirit/body.What I found most useful was how open, supportive, and encouraging Julia and Shawn are… I loved the circles they facilitated and all the information they shared with us. It felt like we had some really gooddialogue going on.I would feel really comfortable doing another trip like this. This journey was an amazing way to build confidence and connect with the lands and waters our people come from.So much positive love, encouragement & empowerment in our skills & abilities on the trip.What surprised me the most was how welcoming the communities were and how short the days felt even though we paddled a ton of nautical miles.