Chinook stalemate

Members lost income after missing fi rst two weeks of chinook run due to stalled negotiations with department

By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor

Port Alberni, BC - After leaving a meeting in frustration over the inability to get an agreement from DFO, Tseshaht members protested in front of the federal department’s Port Alberni offi ce on Sept. 1 – with some stating that the First Nation will fi sh anyway while chinook are still passing through the Tseshaht’s home river. “We need an income this year,” said Martin Watts, part of Tseshaht’s negotiation team, noting that some of the First Nation’s boats could catch as much as $40,000 from the chinook run. “There is plenty of fi sh out there to allow it to open.” Fisheries and Oceans Canada allocated 18,000 chinook to the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations, said Watts, 2,000 of which has already been caught since the fi shery began in the last week of August. He added that the seine and gillnet commercial groups have also been allotted 18,000, but their boats have already caught a combined total of 28,000 chinook from the Alberni Inlet, which the Somass River fl ows into. The busy recreational fi shery is expected to catch another 28,000-29,000 chinook, said Watts. Many Tseshaht members have taken loans from the Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation to invest in fi shing boats and gear – and the absence of an agreement with DFO that allows the First Nation’s members to sell to commercial buyers could become problematic. “If we don’t get an income from this fi shery, where does that leave us? Do they want us all to fi le bankruptcy?” asked Watts, noting that clashes with the federal department are a concern due to the number of DFO vessels on the water when the First Nation’s chinook fi shery opened in late August. “Explain to me why they had By Eric Plummer Ha-Shilth-Sa Editor Port Alberni, BC - On the day after Tseshaht members blocked boat access to the Somass River in protest of failed negotiations with DFO, the federal department is pointing to the First Nation’s position earlier this summer. Now the Tseshaht estimate to lose $1.25 million in lost revenue by not being permitted to catch and commercially sell chinook salmon on their territorial river, as an economic opportunity (EO) agreement remains unsigned by representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “It’s not fair to our people,” said Martin Watts, one of the First Nation’s fi sheries negotiators, as he stood by a pickup truck blocking ramp access to the Somass on Sept. 2. “There was to be an EO fi shery tonight, and they failed to sign an agreement with Tseshaht.” For most of the last 28 years, Tseshaht and neighboring Hupacasath have made formal agreements with DFO to catch and commercially sell diff erent species of salmon migrating up the Alberni Inlet and into the Somass River. “EO fi sheries agreements set out allocations for food, social and ceremonial (FSC) and sale as well as conditions that are intended to support the orderly man

Photo by Eric Plummer Tseshaht members sing during a protest outside of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Port Alberni offi ce on Sept. 1.

full force out when we went fi shing last week.” After the Sept. 1 meeting Hugh Braker, the Tseshaht’s lead fi sheries negotiator, noted that a fi nal decision has yet to come from Fisheries and Oceans. “At the end of the teleconference I reminded DFO that Tseshaht has already signed this year’s agreement and we are waiting for DFO to sign,” wrote Braker in an online post for members. “Linda Higgins, the area manager for DFO, said they need more time to discuss the matter internally.” This breakdown in negotiations presents a continuation from the sockeye fi shery agement of the fi shery for all returning salmon stocks,” wrote Louise Girouard, the DFO’s regional director of communications. “These agreements are intended to provide greater certainty to First Nations and other harvesters to clearly set out allocations for salmon species.” This summer’s dispute goes back to the sockeye salmon run, which began in late June. DFO had set allocations for diff erent groups to harvest from the area, but Tseshaht did not agree to these numbers imposed on a river they had managed for thousands of years. “Tseshaht did not consent to the commercial and recreational fi sheries,” wrote Hugh Braker, the First Nation’s lead negotiator, in a July 14 letter to Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan. “I would note that the commercial and recreational fi sheries began before the Tseshaht fi sheries began. Tseshaht did not agree to that aspect either.” Without signing the agreement, members of the First Nation opted to fi sh sockeye under their Aboriginal right to priority access behind conservation needs. Instead of selling to commercial buyers, members sold their catches on the side of the road. But now the breakdown in negotiations has led DFO staff to sit on a chinook agreement drafted by the department that took place in early July. After low early-season forecasts predicted no openings, the expected run size was upgraded in June, leading DFO to allocate 13,000 sockeye to the sports fi shery while the Tseshaht and Hupacasath were allotted 20,800. But an economic opportunity agreement wasn’t made when Tseshaht didn’t agree to these numbers prescribed to its territorial river. By Canada Day the First Nation was on the water fi shing sockeye anyway, following its Aboriginal right for priority access that is recognized in Canada’s Constitution, selling their catches by the side of the road. “It angers me the fact that we can’t fi sh that Tseshaht signed. This EO agreement sets allocations at 2,600 chinook for Maa-nulth nations, 18,100 combined for Tseshaht and Hupacasath, while commercial seine and gillnet boats are allotted a total of 18,100 – a fi gure some Tseshaht members say has been exceeded by 10,000 fi sh. According to Fisheries and Oceans, Hupacasath can commercially harvest under this agreement, but without the DFO signatures, Tseshaht cannot. “[W]e are now mid-way through the season for the chinook fi shery and the Tseshaht nation did not agree or follow provisions in the draft agreement for allocations and management of the sockeye fi shery which is now complete,” wrote the DFO spokesperson. “The absence of a signed agreement during the sockeye fi shery unfortunately created an unstable situation and was detrimental to other harvesters, including Hupacasath. EO fi sheries agreements with [First Nations] are a fundamental part of how the department ensures an orderly and well-managed fi shery for all involved.” “Since the beginning of negotiations this summer, Tseshaht has become more convinced that the objective of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is to penalize and punish Tseshaht,” wrote Braker in another letter sent to the fi sheries minister right now,” said John Gomez, who like many at the gathering grew up on the Somass. “We’re passing on that gift that we have, that gift was given to us by our grandpas, by our uncles, and everybody before us.” “This fi shery is our life, and it aff ects all of us – not just Tseshaht, it aff ects Port Alberni, it aff ects neighbouring communities - it aff ects our families most importantly,” said Ed Ross. “I’m going to be on that ramp if we don’t see an agreement. If Tseshaht isn’t in the water, nobody is

Tseshaht’s sockeye stance led to chinook stalemate

going to be in the water.” on Sept. 2. “Your ministry staff are angry because Tseshaht objected to their actions and failure to address Tseshaht concerns earlier this summer.” Recent negotiations have also included agreements DFO has put to the Somass First Nations that would be in place for years. Hupacasath signed a four-year EO agreement, but Tseshaht did not, fearing that details of the arrangement would be altered by DFO as circumstances arose. “I ask you minister, what other group, besides Aboriginal people, in Canada is told to sign an agreement fi rst and then negotiate in respect of that agreement after it is signed?” asked Braker in his correspondence to Ottawa. With the absence of an economic opportunity agreement, the Tseshaht will be limited to harvesting for only food, social and ceremonial purposes, “but sale of fi sh will not be permitted,” said the DFO. “DFO remains committed to substantive negotiations over the fall and winter regarding Tseshaht’s outstanding concerns, and remains committed to authorizing food, social and ceremonial fi sheries for Tseshaht harvesters as appropriate based on returns and consistent with allocations,” added Girouard.

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Ahousaht classes begin Sept. 24

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter

Nuu-chah-nulth territories – Education offi cials have been working hard over the past few months developing plans to ensure a safe return to school for their preschool to Grade 12 students. While some parents and students are anxious for the school year to start, there are still many concerned about the chances of their child being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. The pandemic forced the closure of many schools following the March 2020 spring break. In some cases, students in smaller schools were able to return as long as social distancing and other safety precautions were in place. Following an extended spring break due to the pandemic, Ahousaht educators delivered an option that allowed students to continue their class work from home. But this required the teachers to compile materials while they and other education staff sanitized the books and supplies and arranged for safe pick-up of the items. Ahousaht Director of Education Rebecca Atleo noted that the remote learning model Maaqtusiis School implemented in the spring had limited success. She said that one teacher with more than 20 students would send out work each week with only half the material coming back completed. Ahousaht has about 240 students attending classes from preschool to Grade 12. There is also a Headstart program operated by the Ahousaht Education Authority but the number of children going there this year is unknown. This year the plan is to open both Maaqtusiis Elementary and Secondary Schools on Sept. 24, after teachers return to the community for work on Sept. 14. Atleo noted that the teachers moving to Ahousaht from elsewhere will go into voluntary self-isolation for two weeks as a precaution. “We have had a few strategic meetings to ensure safety of everyone involved… kids, staff community,” Atleo said. Beginning in May, Ahousaht’s education leaders began to strategize on how they would start the school year while keeping everyone safe. According to Atleo, they looked at everything from how people would enter the school, to sanitiz

Photo by Curt McLeod Children ride their bikes through Ahousaht during the community’s parade for school graduates in June. In the early months of the coronavirus pandemic students were provided with materials to learn at home, but this month in-person classes resume for Maaqtusiis Elementary and Secondary. ing surfaces, to keeping people socially areas,” said Atleo. distanced. She noted that the federal government “We did a deep clean of the elementary has injected $12 million into Canada’s school when the building was empty,” First Nations’ schools. she added. “We are waiting to see what portion is A back-to-school safety plan was coming to Ahousaht, and once we get developed in consultation with the First that, we can modify and amend plans Nations Health Authority and NTC nurse where needed,” said Atleo. Kelly Dennis. The AEA provides all Maaqtusiis “We sent school reopening plans to Elementary/Secondary students with supthem and are waiting on feedback from plies. While masks are not yet mandatory, First Nations Health Authority,” Atleo that could change. stated. “If FNHA recommends that they be In addition to sanitizing the AEA mandated to wear masks and the students (Ahousaht Education Authority) has can’t bring one, we will provide them,” ordered a bulk supply of masks for the said Atleo. students and face shields for staff along The AEA will invite parents to mini with sanitizers. information sessions before school starts. “Three people will be hired to sanitize “We will be bringing experts in to share touch surfaces; they will be there everyinformation and answer questions of day school is in session to clean,” said parents,” said Atleo. Atleo. And if there’s a breakout in the commuThe AEA will also hire a full-time nity, the schools will follow the lead of school nurse. the band offi ce. “We felt it would help parents feel more “If there were to be a breakout we’d comfortable knowing there is a health probably completely shut down,” she professional on site,” Atleo stated. noted. The nurse would assist students and staff Atleo understands the concerns of on safety protocols and would be trained parents and advises them to heed B.C. to provide COVID-19 testing. Provincial Health Offi cer Bonnie Henry’s “We have received extra (government) words: “Be safe, be kind.” She urges funding to set up things like plexiglass people to get their information from a barriers and have done that in reception reliable source.

Ha-Shilth-Sa belongs to every Nuu-chah-nulth person including those who have passed on, and those who are not yet born. A community newspaper cannot exist without community involvement. If you have any great pictures you’ve taken, stories or poems you’ve written, or artwork you have done, please let us know so we can include it in your newspaper. E-mail holly.stocking@nuuchahnulth.org. This year is Ha-Shilth-Sa’s 46th year of serving the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. We look forward to your continued input and support. Kleco! Kleco!

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