place
In the beginning of time when our ancestors had the ability to change forms, a man emerged from a cedar tree near the mouth of a river known as Hada.
This man, Ts̓eḵame, had supernatural and shamanistic powers. Ts̓eḵame became one of the founding members of the Ḵwikwa̱sutinux̱ people, a tribe now living in Gwayasda̱ms on Gilford Island. In 1865, Royal Navy Commander Captain Daniel Pender named this river estuary “Bond Sound”.
Where the waves of the north Pacific meet the driftwood-strewn beaches, where original growth canopy carved by the cascade of waterfalls meets the sea, we share our territory with Orca and grizzlies, salmon, sea lions, eagles, deer, and sea otter.
We believe our natural and cultural resources must be sustained to maintain and safeguard our direct connection to our territory and its resources.
Nestled in the supernatural beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest of BC at the Hada River estuary, Nawalakw is a powerful and inspirational educational setting. At our camp, we recognize the role of our land as teacher and healer, guided by our ancestors and our elders.
We believe that reconciliation begins with oneself and then extends into our families, relationships, workplaces and eventually into our communities. Based on contemporary and traditional best practices, we will develop mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellness, and create opportunities for cultural knowledge learning and application.
language & culture camp
nawalakw culture camp
Following initial fundraising and tremendous momentum since the project’s inception in 2019, construction for Phase One of the project is complete. We celebrated the grand opening of our Language & Culture Camp at Hada, hi’ma̱nis ḵ̓aḵ̓ut̓ła̱’at̓si, in July 2022. The 2400 sq. ft solar-powered camp has capacity for 24 students, teachers, and support staff for year-round cultural and language revitalization programs.
School Groups
We welcome inquiries from Band and Public schools who have a significant percentage of their students of Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw descent, and wish to explore an immersive cultural experience in traditional territory.
Please contact us at languageculturecamps@nawalakw.com.
Rental Information
G̱ilakas’la — Welcome to Hi’ma̱nis Ḵ̓aḵ̓ut̕ła̱’at̓si
A sacred place for learning, healing, and connection
Located at Hada, Hi’ma̱nis Ḵ̓aḵ̓ut̕ła̱’at̓si is a land-based language and culture camp rooted in the vision of Nawalakw: reconnecting our people to our language, our rich culture, and our a̱wi’nakola—our lands, waters, and skies.
Our language and cultural camp is medicine. It reconnects us to the teachings of our ancestors and to living in harmony with one another and with the natural world.
At Hada, we create immersive opportunities to learn and speak bak̕wa̱mk̓ala/Kwak̕wala while strengthening identity, culture, and community. We are building a future where language is spoken fluently by youth and Elders, and where culture is lived, shared, and celebrated every day.
Visitors experience:
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- Land-based learning rooted in a̱wi’nakola
- Time with Elders and knowledge keepers
- Opportunities to hear and speak language throughout daily life
- Hands-on cultural activities and leadership development
- A welcoming environment for learning, healing, and connection
A Place of Forever Learning
Named by our ̓ni’nog̱ad—hereditary leaders, matriarchs, and wise ones—Hi’ma̱nis Ḵ̓aḵ̓ut̕ła̱’at̓si means a place of forever learning. It reflects our commitment to caring for this sacred place, honouring our ancestors, and nurturing pride in future generations.
Hada is the first Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw occupation of our sacred river in more than 60 years, at the place where our Ḵwiḵwa̱sut̓inux̱w people began. Through language and culture, Nawalakw is creating a place of hope and healing that strengthens identity and deepens connection to our ancestors, our culture, and our homeland.
Host Your Gathering at Hada
Whether you are hosting a retreat, planning session, wellness gathering or cultural program, Hada provides a peaceful, land-based setting that supports reflection, learning, and meaningful connection.
Groups have access to welcoming indoor and outdoor gathering spaces surrounded by the natural beauty of Hada. We encourage programs that foster relationship—with one another, with the land, and with the values that make this place unique.
While organizations bring their own goals and programming, the setting offer an opportunity to slow down, connect with nature, and create meaningful experiences in a culturally grounded environment.
Is Hada Right for Your Group?
Hada welcomes all who wish to find a space for:
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- Cultural learning
- Wellness and healing gatherings
- Indigenous-led programs
- Values-aligned organizational retreats
- Leadership retreats
- Strategic planning sessions
- Youth and community gatherings
If your purpose aligns with cultural revitalization, community wellness, and respectful engagement with place, we would be pleased to explore possibilities with you.
Accommodations
Main Lodge
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- Up to 24 participants comfortably
- Two Main Floor bedrooms with 3 single beds in each
- Communal Loft Space for up to 16 participants Sleeping arrangements are open, dormitory-style,gender-inclusive, shared space.
- Kitchen
- Dining/Gathering Space
- Bathrooms and Showers
To preserve the quality of your experience and the integrity of our site, group size and program design are closely reviewed in advance to ensure a good fit.
Cabins (Tiny Homes)
We have four self-contained private cabins (approx. 450 sq. ft.) featuring:
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- Wood stove
- Bathroom with shower
- Kitchenette with sink
- Sleeping – 2nd floor (upstairs) (queen and/or twin beds)
- Daybed and desk area
- Solar/generator-powered electricity
Note: Cabins are generally reserved for Elders, facilitators, and camp caretakers unless otherwise arranged.
Accessibility & Physical Requirements
We provide the following accessibility supports at Hada:
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- Main Lodge: the main floor of the main lodge is fully accessible
- Walkways to/from Cabins, awak̓was, and smoke house
- Vehicle availability from dock to main lodge
Camping Outdoors
Located on the coast, we are surrounded by beautiful wildlife in its natural habitat. While these animals are wonderful to observe from a safe distance, their presence requires us to prioritize the safety of our guests. For this reason, outdoor camping is not permitted.
What’s Included
A minimum daily rate applies regardless of group size. This reflects the full cost of operating a remote, marine-access site and includes:
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- Accommodations
- Meals prepared by our certified kitchen team
- Camp staff
- Wi-Fi
- Marine transportation coordination
- Safety orientation
- Emergency preparedness
- Utilities
Getting Here
Access to Hada is by boat only. Transportation is coordinated by Nawalakw and scheduled in alignment with your program.
Travel details provided upon booking.
Booking Information
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- Minimum 3-night stay (for shorter stays, inquire directly)
- Comfortable maximum capacity: 24 participants
- Absolute maximum capacity: 28-30 participants (program dependent)
- Pricing available upon request
- Contact us for availability
Inquire About Availability
We welcome a conversation with you about hosting your gathering at Hada. Please contact our team with:
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- Proposed dates
- Group size
- Purpose of gathering
- Program outline
We look forward to welcoming you into relationship with this place. Pricing available upon inquiry, based on group size and program needs.
Email: rentals@nawalakw.com
meet our Hada crew
Coming Soon!
getting here
Nawalakw is located in the Southern Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, Canada. Accessible by air and sea only, the Nawalakw Language & Culture Camp will be the only structure at Hada (Bond Sound). For multi-day immersive language programs available at Hada, we will offer transportation to school groups by crew boat. A typical trip from Port McNeill to Hada will take 2 hours.
Transportation will be provided on one of two Nawalakw-owned boats.
Local Business
We support local Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw-owned businesses including wildlife viewing tour operators currently offer day-tours departing from Port McNeill or Alert Bay. For more information: https://seawolfadventures.ca
our phased approach
Nawalakw Culture Camp
Following initial fundraising and tremendous momentum since the project’s inception in 2019, construction for Phase One of the project is complete. We celebrated the grand opening of our Language & Culture Camp at Hada, hi’ma̱nis ḵ̓aḵ̓ut̓ła̱’at̓si, in July 2022. The 2400 sq. ft solar-powered camp has capacity for 24 students, teachers, and support staff for year-round cultural and language revitalization programs.
Healing Village and Sustainable Destination Development
Our purpose is to be a force for good, to create a thriving community and protect the lands of our ancestors for generations to come. In this spirit, our programs will provide healing and wellness for our people and our lands in a sustainable way.
The second development phase will expand the site to include a main lodge, individual cabins, wellness centre, outdoor facilities, an interpretive centre and a healing village. These facilities will be designed to provide early immersion language, training and certification programs, and healing programs in partnership with BC First Nations Health Authority.
To support ongoing and expanded language and healing programming, we will welcome and connect visitors to this supernatural territory by sharing our stories, our challenges, our efforts – and of course – our culture. To us the most important part of this journey is an immersive experience, by keeping things simple, authentic and enriching. Our supernatural lands create space for day-to-day concerns to fade into the background, bring perspective, and shift our values.
Visit Friends of Nawalakw for more information about direct financial ways to support our vision.
