Wild Salmon Alliance – Something New, Something Big – BC Tipping Point, Updated April 28, 2016

Go through the images and attached text to the aboriginal alliance that was formed April 16 – 18, 2016 in BC: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1806588059569747&set=a.1806625359566017&type=3&theater. 

The Alliance is new and integrates a lot of backgrounds: Dr. Brian Riddell, PSF, Dr. Kristi Miller, DFO, Dr. Jonathan Moore, SFU, biologist, Stan Proboszcz, Watershed Watch, lawyer Lisa Glowacki, lawyer Brenda Gaertner, representatives from Lax Kw'alaam settlement on Lelu Island, heading to Ottawa, Eric Hobson, representing Kuterra, Dan Lewis, Clayoquot Action (that went to Norway, in Jan, 2016), Alexandra Morton, Chief Bob Chamberlin, Chief Tyrone McNeil (moderator for the event) and Chief Darrell Bob. They spoke for two days to a packed university lecture hall.

This looks like and sounds like those of us in BC – First Nations and others – starting to rise up and take over responsibility for wild salmon here on our own ground and water. Earlier this spring, you will recall that the Sliammon (Powell River) and Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) told DFO it was doing the same thing with herring in their areas – taking over management, for good – to bring back the herring into good numbers, in their eyes. Last fall, the Ahousaht told Cermaq to take out the Yaakswiis, Clayoquot Sound fish farm, and Cermaq did. 

Read the text on the overhead projections in the slides. Fish farms are going to be out of the water in due course. This is a BC tipping point, just as it was in Norway last fall: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2015/12/key-document-tipping-point-goodbye-in.html. 

In Short: “Wild Salmon Alliance - no government funding - to develop an unwavering First Nation position for the protection of healthy wild salmon by bringing Nations together, enlisting the best science and with support from environmental groups who carry the message further speaking Nation to Nation with Canada for future generations http://www.fnwildsalmon.org/ — with Sacheen Seitcham, Arthur Manuel, Dini Ze Toghestiy and 27 others.”

DFO is moribund, particularly disdained in BC for handing out 9-year licenses in a province where the only solution the public will accept is: fish farms out of the water, or they can go back to Norway with its $9- to $12-million subsidy to - wait for it - set up on land.

Here is the Declaration: http://www.fnwildsalmon.org/. 

Wild Salmon Forever

A DECLARATION OF THE FIRST NATIONS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

We, the Indigenous leaders of British Columbia, come together united in our resolve, determination and commitment to ensure the protection and conservation of wild salmon. Wild Salmon - our relative and an intrinsic part of our territories to which we hold a spiritual and cultural connection to is integral to the culture, and well-being of our communities and families. We recognize, honour, and respect that wild salmon is sacred, and we have an inherent stewardship responsibility to take care of this resource accordance with our traditional knowledge, laws and ways of life.

As Indigenous Peoples of these territories we stand together to declare:

• Wild Salmon is a sacred gift from the Creator that gives, sustains and nurtures our communities and families;
• We have Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaty Rights to our lands, water and resources and that we will exercise our collective and inherent authorities and jurisdictions over these lands, water and resources, including wild salmon;
• Our rights include the right to sustainably fish wild salmon and continue with the expectation that abundance and healthy stocks will continue to benefit the generations to follow. These rights also include the right to protect the wild salmon and the aquatic habitat that supports the stocks and to share this significant resource with those who share our traditional lands and upon whom they depend;
• We have a sacred responsibility to protect wild salmon for our people today and for our future generations;
• We have an inherent stewardship responsibility for the protection and conservation of wild salmon within our respective territories; and,
• We endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights and Indigenous Peoples and other international standards aimed at ensuring the sustainability and protection of our wild salmon.

As Indigenous Peoples of these territories we stand together to commit to the following actions:

• Stand united with each other in protecting our Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaty rights to wild salmon in our respective territories;
• Work towards the protection and stewardship of wild salmon in the face of many challenges;
• Work towards a unified strategy for the protection, conservation and enhancement of wild salmon stocks, their reproductive areas and their migratory routes;
• Work together as the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance and to speak with a common voice for the protection and conservation and enhancement of wild salmon throughout British Columbia;
• Recognize and respect each Nation’s autonomy and support each other in exercising our respective Title, Rights and jurisdiction; and,
• Work together to uphold this Declaration.

As Indigenous Peoples we have the inherent obligation and duty to defend and protect the well-being of our communities through the protection and conservation of wild salmon within our territories. We welcome other First Nations to support this Declaration if they so choose.

Now, go and sign petition e-270 in Ottawa to get fish farms out of the ocean: https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-270.

The four major problems with wild Pacific salmon are: freshwater habitat, DFO, fish farms from Norway and climate change.