Indigenous Aquatic Research Centre
- Location
- Campbell River, BC
- Territory
- On the unceded traditional territory of the Ligʷiɫdax̌ʷ peoples, the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwiakah First Nations
- Client
- Wei Wai Kum First Nation, in partnership with Nanwakolas Council Society and the Ha'ma'yas Stewardship Network
- Year
- Current
- Size
- 2,227 m²
- Visualization
- Mirage Studio
The Indigenous Aquatic Research Centre is an Indigenous-led applied research and stewardship facility on the Campbell River waterfront, brought forward by the Wei Wai Kum First Nation in partnership with the Nanwakolas Council Society and the Ha'ma'yas Stewardship Network. Set on the site of a repatriated former cruise-ship terminal, the Centre supports First Nations leadership in the co-governance and management of the marine environment, creating a space for dialogue between Western science and Indigenous knowledge.
The Centre houses an ISO-accredited environmental diagnostic and analytics laboratory alongside spaces for training, gathering, and cultural continuity, including a welcoming hall, Elders' space, classroom, and daycare. Ceremonial spaces, carved totemic welcome figures, and a restored waterfront landscape root the building in place and community. Together, these spaces provide a platform for Indigenous peoples to lead, manage, and innovate in a shared environmental and economic future.