Sustainability

The Klahoose Nation is deeply connected to the lands and waters of the northern Salish Sea. For generations, Klahoose ancestors have stewarded these natural and cultural resources, protecting the environment, wildlife, and community for future generations.

Today, the Klahoose Nation supports sustainable forestry, aquaculture, and a growing Indigenous tourism portfolio. Visitors can experience this remarkable region through Klahoose Coastal Adventures and Klahoose Wilderness Resort, offering immersive wildlife, cultural, and wilderness experiences rooted in respect for the land and sea.

Klahoose Wilderness Resort is committed to environmental stewardship, conservation, and supporting local communities through sustainable operations, local purchasing, Indigenous employment, and partnerships with local artists and businesses.

The resort has received growing international recognition for its commitment to sustainable and Indigenous led tourism. Klahoose Wilderness Resort was recently featured in Wanderlust Magazine’s Travel Green List 2026 recognizing leading sustainable travel experiences across the Americas, and named by Outside Magazine among the 9 Best Sustainable Hotels and Lodges in the World.

Klahoose Wilderness Resort has also signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving the sustainability performance of our business through 2030.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

Each year, we commit to measuring and improving our sustainability performance in the following ways:

The off-the-grid Resort produces its own power. In 2022 the resort was awarded a grant from BC Government's First Nation Clean Energy Business Fund to help fund the redesigned and improve the resorts water intake, Pelton wheel (hydro-wheel) and storage capacity. This brand new hydroelectrical grid comes with state-of-the-art equipment, allowing us to harness the stream run-off water more efficiently, triple our energy generation, and most importantly, enable us to store energy (otherwise lost) so critical during peak consumption periods. The micro-hydroelectric project will eliminate diesel fuel generators at the off-grid resort, removing up to 38 tonnes of carbon emissions annually to help create a low carbon future for the resort. When you visit Klahoose, we would be happy to show the system through a tour of the back of house.

The Klahoose Wilderness Resort includes the following:

Partnership with the Commercial Bear Viewing Association (CBVA) to develop industry standards, uniform guide training, and ongoing research to protect bear and wildlife habitat and supporting the Grizzly Bear Foundation.

Supporting the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association (NIMMSA). A conservation fee is collected from guests and funds go to support conservation and education in the northern Salish Sea region.

Supporting community driven that undertake that support salmon conservation and restoration including the Pacific Salmon Foundation.

Conservation Fee: Guests’ conservation fees are included in each stay and support environmental and cultural stewardship initiatives within Klahoose Territory, including conservation partnerships, cultural revitalization initiatives, and community led programs.

Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund (Optional): The Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund (ITDF) is an optional guest contribution supporting Indigenous tourism initiatives.

Klahoose Wilderness Resort is hosts Indigenous youth groups, cultural learning programs, leadership retreats, and educational experiences that support connection to culture, community, wilderness, and the lands and waters of Klahoose Territory.

Klahoose Wilderness Resort has undergone a comprehensive assessment to achieve Sustainable Tourism Silver Certified. The process includes a one-on-one review of our business practices with a GreenStep Assessor to see how we’re doing against their Global Sustainable Tourism Council recognized criteria. Following the assessment, we received a report that recognizes where we are doing well, and also highlights areas where we have opportunities for improvement, helping us to form an action plan for continued success on our sustainability journey. We will be reassessed every three years to maintain our certification and our momentum.

Contribution to the local economy to support regional coastal communities by purchasing locally sourced and sustainable goods, food, and supporting Indigenous and local artists. Examples of this include the purchase of art direct from Coast Salish Indigenous artist's including Ernest Pugless, with wood carvings in main lodge, Maynard Johnny Jr with art in main lodge, and Adam Lewis with art in main lodge and guests rooms.

We prioritize hiring from the surrounding communities where we operate. We can't wait to share our home with you!

For our gift shop we prioritize purchasing from local business such as the Indigenous-owned Raven Song Soap and Candle company from Campbell River.

Purchased through Courtney, based Local Rifllery, the resort uses refillable natural based ONEKA shampoo, conditioner, body & hand wash, and lotions or rooms and dish soap for our kitchen. This helps support a local company, while providing a high quality package-free product to help transition the resort to a plastic-free and lower our environmental impact.

Serving beer from locally crafted beer, Townsite Brewing, based in the historic Townsite District of Powell River, the beers are named for local sites and language including our recent collaboration beer called "Toba Inlet Lager" named after the majestic Toba Inlet.

Recycling program; each guest will receive a Klahoose Wilderness Resort reusable water bottle to avoid single use plastics.

Support program and training for Indigenous careers in tourism. Recent training has included SVOP, Interpretive Guide Training, Grizzly Bear Guide Training and Marine Mammal training.

We are working to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We are committed to measuring and improving our sustainability performance each year between now and 2030.

The above efforts help to offset the carbon footprint of Klahoose Wilderness Resort and it guests that visit.

Reconciliation Through Travel:

qʷaga kʷanačɩm - Come sit down, with us