You've got to see this incredible transformation... what a difference we've made for nature

At our Snk'mip Marsh Nature Sanctuary: we cannot tell you how thrilled we are to share these before-and-after photos, the result of many years of hard work:

Before acquisition of the property: an ecological dead-zone. A previous owner of the property mined this area to remove gravel and topsoil. Note the undermining of the recreational trail grade and the trail right-of-way (this trail forms the boundary of our Snk'mip Marsh Sanctuary property).  [Photo taken circa 2005]

After: The same area today following years of intensive restoration work by the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology. Photo taken from almost the same vantage point. We filled in the gravel pit, stabilized the recreational trail, de-compacted and removed roads, loosened the soil so trees and shrubs could grow, added coarse woody debris (stumps, trees), and created a beautiful pond. Then we replanted and reseeded, we hand-pulled mountains of knapweed and other invasive plants. Every summer for the past seven years we've added more native plants, weeded, planted, weeded, planted, weeded, planted some more... plus the natural regeneration of trees (thank you, Mother Nature). Now it looks like this. [Photo taken August 2025]

Our conservation organization has spent the past decade on the acquisition and restoration of Snk'mip marsh (and making a film about it, a documentary co-produced with Sinixt matriarch Marilyn James: Snk̛míp Dig Deeper).

We are so incredibly proud of the team that made this happen: Marilyn James, Lori Barkley, K.L. Kivi, Robin Annschild, Tom Biebighauser, Amber Peters, Lorna Visser, Ohshinnah Kayle, Wayne McCrory.... and a cast of thousands!

Want to see more heartening work like this? Click here to support the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology -- feel good every day, knowing you made a difference.