Estuary to Old Growth Gathering

An annual gathering to reconnect, remember, and rise together through Indigenous-led conservation and cultural revitalization.

The Estuary to Old Growth Gathering (E2OG) is an annual event that brings together Indigenous Nations, governments, and communities along the Pacific West Coast to strengthen relationships and honour our shared responsibilities to the lands and waters that connect us—from estuaries to old growth forests. The Gathering creates space for deep dialogue, cultural exchange, and collaboration rooted in Indigenous knowledge, values, and visions for the future.

E2OG is the flagship event of the West Coast IPCA Innovation Program (WISP) led by the IISAAK OLAM Foundation in collaboration with CICICA. 

The Gathering is more than an event; it is a living expression of We Rise Together — a movement grounded in reciprocity, care, and relationship. It reaffirms that the well-being of people and place are inseparable, and that enduring solutions emerge when we learn from one another and work together.

Over the past three years, more than 250 participants representing 40+ Indigenous Nations have gathered through the Estuary to Old Growth Gathering series. Together, they have:

• Co-created a regional movement advancing Indigenous-led conservation and governance across Vancouver Island and the West Coast of B.C.

• Launched the Estuary to Old Growth Declaration process, now underway through regional circles and a growing Steering Committee representing coastal Nations.

• Celebrated/Supported the first graduates of the IPCA Planning Advanced Certificate program with Vancouver Island University, building the next generation of IPCA planners and stewards.

Each Gathering builds on the last — turning dialogue into shared governance, collaboration, and stewardship rooted in respect, reciprocity, and responsibility.

Learn more about Estuary to Old Growth Gatherings at: www.ipcainnovation.ca/e2oggathering