Inlailawatash has a deep rooted commitment to environmental sustainability that is embedded into all business practices. The Inlailawatash team are encouraged to “tread lightly on the land” through a cultural awareness and training program that teaches Tsleil-Waututh traditional land and water stewardship values. For example, team members pay meticulous attention to procedures that mitigate the risk of spillage of harmful materials, particularly near water; and maintain and support the growth of native vegetation by using only traditional and native species in planting and landscaping projects. Over the past two years, Inlailawatash has incorporated the use of canola oil in all chainsaws and other brushing equipment when used adjacent to sensitive riparian and fisheries habitat. 

Economic Sustainability 

Inlailawatash contributes to the economic well-being of the Tsleil-Waututh community through capacity building efforts. Inlailawatash has a formalized training and professional development policy and invests in skills development and education programs for all staff. Inlailawatash also focuses on building partnerships and protocols with organizations and businesses with shared values in order to develop training and further employment opportunities for staff members. 

Inlailawatash is committed to fostering education and employment opportunities for youth and other Tsleil-Waututh community members. Inlailawatash provides flexible work schedules to those staff members who are engaged in pursuing education or skills training or have family responsibilities. Each team member is well-versed in Inlailawatash’s cultural, environmental, stewardship and economic values. This means that a culture of long-term vision and relationship-building is fostered, resulting in an exemplary level of commitment to the sustainability of Inlailawatash and to the quality of work performed. 

Inlailawatash plays an important role in providing Tsleil-Waututh members with an opportunity to connect with the lands and waters of their traditional territory. This interaction also helps to facilitate the long-standing practice of passing along and augmenting traditional ecological knowledge. Inlailawatash supports a range of projects focused on protection of cultural heritage resources, the continued use of traditional ecological knowledge and the sustained practice of cultural activities. 

Inlailawatash uses a number of benchmarks against which to measure how well projects are aligned with sustainability values and how well they meet business priorities. To meet both, a project must: