‘Ma̱kwa̱la-Dakota Smith

‘Ma̱kwa̱la-Dakota Smith is a member of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw Nation, specifically the Kwagu’ł and Ma’a̱mtagila tribes. Through cultural teachings and ancestral bonds, ‘Ma̱kwa̱la holds a strong feeling of empathy towards the land, water and animals around him. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and mother, he has organized grassroots campaigns in Victoria and learned from many Indigenous leaders and frontline camps around B.C. Recently, ‘Ma̱kwa̱la returned to live in his hometown of Alert Bay and is passionate about reclaiming parts of his territories that are currently affected by unethical resource extraction.