The ‘Namgis First Nation is a First Nations band government on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, and on adjoining islands in the southern Queen Charlotte Strait region. It is a member of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council, along with the Kwicksutaineuk-ah-kwa-mish First Nation and the Tsawataineuk First Nation. The people speak Kwak'wala, part of the Wakashan languages of the Northwest Coast.
The territory of the ‘Namgis First Nation spans the islands of the southern Queen Charlotte Strait (Malcolm Island and Cormorant Island), which include the town of Alert Bay and the former utopian community of Sointula, established by Finnish immigrants. Both communities are offshore across Broughton Strait from the town of Port McNeill, which is on Vancouver Island. The majority of 'Namgis First Nation territory, however, spans the basin of the Nimpkish River and Nimpkish Lake and adjoining parts of the interior of northern Vancouver Island.
On March 18th 2013, the first fish entered the 'Namgis First Nation’s Closed Containment Salmon Farm - the first land-based, closed containment Atlantic salmon farm in Canada, and one of the first in the world that will raise Atlantic salmon to full market size. They having grown to full size in only a year with savings of about 30% in feed without any use of chemicals (antibiotics or pesticides).
The Project is motivated by concern for wild salmon; wanting to prove there is an economic way to farm Atlantics that does not impact the marine environment.
The Project's fish are marketed as "KUTERRA" land-raised salmon. "Ku" comes from "Kutala" which is salmon in Kwak'wala and "Terra" reflects the sustainable "land raised" aspect of the fish. The tagline is "Sustainability Has Landed".