The Land as a Living Being: A Worldview Guiding Group One West
The Land is more than a place. It is a living being.
We begin by recognizing that the Land is not simply ground beneath us, but a living being—our teacher, our relative, and our responsibility.
Here on the West Coast, guided by the knowledge of First Nations peoples, we are reminded that the rhythms of the Land, the waters, and the 13 moons connect us to all living things. Humans are not separate from this circle of life—we are a part of it.
Group One West carries these teachings forward. Our work is co-led with First Nations partners through Indigenous Economic Pathways, ensuring that everything we create—whether a carbon-negative resort or a living Climate Research Institute—honors this truth: that our future depends on walking gently, restoring balance, and regenerating life for generations yet to come.
In the teachings of many First Nations across the West Coast and Interior, the Land embodies patience, stability, and longevity. Its cycles are not abstract but living truths, marked in the 13 moons of the year that guide ceremony, harvesting, and renewal. To speak of the Land in this way is not merely to reference geography; it is to acknowledge that the Earth is alive, that humans are inseparable from the circle of life, and that with this knowledge comes responsibility.
This worldview shapes the foundation of our project. The resort and Climate Research Institute are not being built on the land as a commodity, but with the Land as a relative, a teacher, and a partner. This principle informs every decision—from the way energy is generated, to how water is respected, to how guests are invited into a regenerative cycle rather than a consumptive one.
The patience and longevity of the Land remind us that our work must extend beyond immediate gains to ensure stability for future generations. This value is embedded in our hybrid model: a carbon-negative, energy-positive resort paired with a not-for-profit Climate Research Institute. The resort embodies regenerative tourism, where visitors experience not only hospitality but connection—through locally grown food, cultural learning, and clean energy systems that give back more than they take. The Institute, co-led with First Nations partners, advances research in renewable energy, bioelectricity, and climate resilience, sharing knowledge openly to inspire global change.
To honor the Land is also to honor responsibility. For Group One West, this means fostering First Nation co-leadership, working alongside Indigenous Economic Pathways and local communities as co-creators of the vision. It means recognizing that true sustainability cannot exist without respect for cultural teachings, and that economic growth must be measured not only in dollars but in ecological restoration, cultural revitalization, and the well-being of people.
Just as the Land carries us all, Group One West seeks to carry forward a vision of tourism and research that does not exploit, but regenerates. In this way, our project is not simply about a resort or an institute—it is about living in alignment with the worldview of First Nations: that humans are part of the circle of life, and that our future depends on walking gently, responsibly, and together.
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