x̱a’nalas – Dakota Smith is a member of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw Nation, specifically the ‘Na̱mǥis and Ma’a̱mtagila tribes. Through cultural teachings and ancestral bonds, x̱a’nalas 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, x̱a’nalas returned to live in his hometown of Alert Bay, and he is passionate about reclaiming parts of his territories currently affected by unethical resource extraction.