The initiative began with a Gathering in February of 2020 hosted by the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government in the community of Hitacu with members from a number of Nations including Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, Huu-ay-aht, Dididaht, and T'sou-ke, as well as several other organizations including the Districts of Tofino and Ucluelet, and members of the Coexisting with Carnivores Alliance, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, the B.C. Conservation Foundation and Parks Canada.

There was consensus among participants that the relationships between people, the land, the water and other creatures is out of balance and that the ecosystems present 150 years ago have been disrupted. The attendees spoke with a sense of urgency given the impacts of climate change and development and felt that it is now the time to take action and learn from the ancestors to reverse these changes.

These discussions led to the vision of creating a connected large-scale landscape Indigenous-led stewardship corridor extending from the southern to the northern regions of Vancouver Island.

A steering committee was convened with representatives from a number of Nations and organizations across the region to start outlining the goals to advance the vision of the Stewardship Corridor.