Five western Vancouver Island First Nations have called on the federal government to take 乌鸦传媒渕eaningful action乌鸦传媒� and 乌鸦传媒渞edirect乌鸦传媒� surplus allocation of chinook salmon to their communities.
The First Nations are irked by the 乌鸦传媒渄isregard乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒渘ot take the usual path and simply move the fish around乌鸦传媒� between non-indigenous sectors.
乌鸦传媒淧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,乌鸦传媒� said Wickaninnish (Clifford Atleo), lead negotiator for the Ahousaht First Nation.
The First Nations called government practices are 乌鸦传媒渄iscriminatory,乌鸦传媒� 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.
乌鸦传媒淲e need the income and our members want to fish. Our Nations have an aboriginal right to fish commercially,乌鸦传媒� read the statement.
On April 19, 2018 乌鸦传媒� after years-long legal battle between the five nations and the federal government乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒渉ollow乌鸦传媒� due to the 乌鸦传媒渄isregard and a refusal to move by the federal government. 乌鸦传媒�
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.
乌鸦传媒淕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,乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒渦nheeded乌鸦传媒�, the Nations will defend their rights.
乌鸦传媒淲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.乌鸦传媒�
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 乌鸦传媒榞enerous approach乌鸦传媒� for first nations to harvest food fish.
乌鸦传媒淓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,乌鸦传媒� read the statement.
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