Delivery of Curriculum Lesson Modules for Indigenous Marine Steward Witness Training for the 2026/27 fiscal year

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is initiating a contract with Vancouver Island University (VIU) to develop and deliver a certified curriculum designed to train Indigenous Guardians and Indigenous Marine Stewardship staff as Marine Steward Witnesses. This initiative supports Canada's reconciliation efforts and enhances collaborative conservation and protection activities related to Southern Resident Killer Whales and other marine mammals in Coastal British Columbia. The contract focuses on delivering six Marine Steward Witness Training classes within the 2026/27 fiscal year, each conducted over four days and incorporating VIU-certified lesson modules. These training sessions aim to equip Indigenous participants with skills to effectively support federal investigations and prosecutions concerning marine mammal or fisheries violations under various federal laws and regulations. The training will be coordinated with the DFO Conservation & Protection coordinator, who will also provide VIU with relevant federal resource materials, including outreach tools, reporting criteria, policies, and procedures. This contract reflects a targeted effort to empower Indigenous communities through education and partnership, enhancing enforcement capacity on marine conservation issues in the region. The solicitation was posted in April 2026, with responses due by mid-May 2026, and all communications for the contract are handled by the DFO contracting authority, Terri Jones.