Five western Vancouver Island First Nations have called on the federal government to take 含羞草研究社渕eaningful action含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社渞edirect含羞草研究社� surplus allocation of chinook salmon to their communities.
The First Nations are irked by the 含羞草研究社渄isregard含羞草研究社� of the federal government when they continue to prioritize tourists and recreational fishers over their food fish needs.
Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Ehattesaht and Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations, in a joint statement have urged the government to 含羞草研究社渘ot take the usual path and simply move the fish around含羞草研究社� between non-indigenous sectors.
含羞草研究社淧eople with only the privilege to fish, such as the sports fishermen and Area G trollers, seem to have more rights to the fish than our Five Nations do,含羞草研究社� said Wickaninnish (Clifford Atleo), lead negotiator for the Ahousaht First Nation.
The First Nations called government practices are 含羞草研究社渄iscriminatory,含羞草研究社� adding Canada is refusing to acknowledge the impact they have on their Nations, culture, and well-being of their communities, especially in this time of the pandemic.
含羞草研究社淲e need the income and our members want to fish. Our Nations have an aboriginal right to fish commercially,含羞草研究社� read the statement.
On April 19, 2018 含羞草研究社� after years-long legal battle between the five nations and the federal government含羞草研究社� B.C. Supreme court ruled in favour of aboriginal fishing rights above those of sportfishing.
In a 400-page judgment, the judge called for changes to government policies, and gave the federal government one year to make those changes. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) was also asked to reconsider the priority they gave recreational fishermen for chinook and coho Salmon.
But First Nations have said that despite winning the right to fish, victory seems 含羞草研究社渉ollow含羞草研究社� due to the 含羞草研究社渄isregard and a refusal to move by the federal government. 含羞草研究社�
The First Nations have accused the DFO of again refusing to provide more fish to them, despite the low numbers of recreational and commercial fishers on the waters due to COVID-19.
含羞草研究社淕iven less tourism and conservation measures, there will be less catch by the recreational sector. This made an easy opportunity for DFO to give more fish to our Nations so that we could exercise our right and help support our remote communities, which are in economic crisis,含羞草研究社� said the First Nations.
They also said that the DFO has been unwilling to engage with them about this issue, and if the call to make meaningful changes goes 含羞草研究社渦nheeded含羞草研究社�, the Nations will defend their rights.
含羞草研究社淲e cannot allow another season without meaningful access, with lost revenue for our fishermen, lost resources for our communities, and the continuation of harmful patterns that move us away, rather than toward, the reconciliation that the Prime Minister and ministers claim they support.含羞草研究社�
More than 5,000 members of these First Nations have received as little as 1.5 food fish per member for the whole year, despite the Supreme Courts directive to the DFO to allow a 含羞草研究社榞enerous approach含羞草研究社� for first nations to harvest food fish.
含羞草研究社淓ach year, the amount of fish is so small that we have to make very difficult decisions about how to distribute fishing opportunities so that at least some members can cover expenses and make a go of it. But this damages our communities and it strikes at the core of our identity as fishing people,含羞草研究社� read the statement.
For more news from Vancouver Island and beyond delivered daily into your inbox, please
