INTERESTING NEWS Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 51 - No. 06—March 21, 2024 haas^i>sa Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Vancouver Island coast turns jade green Indigenous Easter eggs are enjoyed by coastal residents, as commercial herring fishery remains closed since ‘06 By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter West Coast Vancouver Island – They are here in abundance – k̓ʷaqmis/ siiḥm̓uu/siix ̣bu/Indigenous Easter eggs – herring eggs are here and coastal First Nations are excited. Up and down the coast of Vancouver Island the seagulls are flocking while whales, seals and sea lions are feasting as herring approach the shoreline to release their gold. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada the Pacific herring are found from Baja California in the south to the Beaufort Sea in the north. “The Pacific herring fishery started in British Columbia in the 19th century and became the major pelagics fishery after the collapse of the Pacific sardine in the late 1940s,” stated the DFO. It seemed the Pacific herring were headed for the same fate as the Pacific sardine when stocks began a noticeable decline as far back as the 1980s. In 2014 DFO reported that the west coast Vancouver Island stock persisted in a low biomass, low productivity state. In 2017, Ha-Shilth-Sa reported that the Nuu-chah-nulth Ha’wiih were so concerned about the low herring stocks that they demanded the closure of the commercial herring fishery in 2018. “Based on reports and observations from fishers and members on the continued lack of herring and herring spawn in our territories in 2017, Nuu-chahnulth Ha’wiih direct the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that only food and ceremonial fisheries will be permitted for a period of up to four years or until there is agreement between Nuu-chah-nulth Nations and DFO that the WCVI herring populations have recovered,” reads a statement from a meeting between DFO officials and the Nuu-chah-nulth Council of Ha’wiih on Oct. 8, 2017. With the commercial herring fishery closed since 2006, the species have responded with a magnificent display in late March 2024. It started with short bursts of spot spawns in mid March, bringing with it marine wildlife excited for the feast of herring. The NTC’s Uu-a-thluk department wrote in its newsletter, “our ƛusmit (herring) are spawning in Nuu-chah-nulth territory, a feast for seagulls, sea lions, whales and humans alike. Nuu-chahnulth Nations are harvesting and distributing k̓ʷaqmis/siiḥm̓uu/siix ̣bu (herring roe) within their communities, a nourishing food source Nuu-chah-nulth-aht have
Darrell Williams photo
The bay at Yuquot took on a milky colour on March 16 due to a herring spawn, which was seen throughout northern Nuuchah-nulth territory this month. Judae Smith and Rob John (below) prepare cast nets as herring spawn in Kyuquot Sound. relied on for millennia.” On the weekend of March 16, Nuuchah-nulth residents as far north as Kyuquot and those living in Ucluelet were reporting that the spawn had started. Dianne Ignace in Hesquiaht said a pod of the rare fin whale was spotted offshore of Hesquiaht, frolicking with sea lions and seagulls that were feasting on the incoming schools of herring. “Jeff (Ignace’s son) went 10 miles offshore off Estevan light to look at some whales he could see spouting, real big spout,” she shared. “They turned out to be four huge fin whales and a humpback,” Ignace said, adding that photos taken of the whales were shared with a biologist to confirm the species. “The biggest one was about 60 feet long and its spout spurted about 20 feet high.” By the end of the weekend, Ignace reported that the herring had come closer the spawn started in their harbour on FriAhousaht members living in urban to shore in Hesquiaht and the spawn had areas were excited to receive k̓ʷaqmis on day, March 16. He was able to get drone started. In another part of Hesquiaht Har- shots of the scene, where the water in the branches – a gift from their Ha’wiih and bour, Steve and Karen Charleson joined Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship entire basin turned a milky jade greed by some of their family caught some her- from the spawn. He tied branches off of Society. It was the first time in years that ring and loaded up their smokehouse. they could eat this rare treat from their the float where the boats land to harvest Darrell Williams in Yuquot reported that some k̓ʷaqmis. homelands.
Inside this issue... Ahousaht to release residential school findings.............Page 3 Culturally supportive event helps homeless. .................Page 7 Trial seeks to define Nuchatlaht’s title...................Pages 8 & 9 Tla-o-qui-aht member performs in play........................Page 11 Smaller canoe journeys planned...................................Page 15
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