Haisla Nuuyum is our way of life and laws and includes knowledge of place, seasons, weather, feasting, and oolichan fishing including cultural practices that are important to sustain our Nuuyum. Throughout this dissertation work, I examine whether our Nuuyum and its philosophical underpinnings can intertwine and have a productive relationship with contemporary forms of leadership and Chief and Council governance systems. I draw on old Haisla stories of place and identity to examine how they affirm our governing responsibilities within contemporary community leadership. I show how our cultural practices have been affected and have shifted through colonial encounters. I argue that despite the effects of colonialism, the philosophical underpinnings of our Nuuyum have remained at the core of who we are as a Haisla people. This dissertation work is a compilation of published articles and as such, is organized thematically. I introduce each article to weave together the elements of Nuuyum. / Graduate / 0422 / 0326 / 0740 / jlgreen@uvic.ca