Fisheries Director’s Message – Cheri Frocklage

FISHERIES

Director ’s Message

Cheri Frocklage

Fisheries Director

As the 2021 field season nears closure, I reflect on the volume of work done and the amazing people involved in the management of our Stikine River salmon resources. Our staff often spend extended periods of time in remote camp settings, braving unfavorable weather and high-water conditions, blood sucking insects by the score, grizzly and wildlife encounters, long days counting during the peaks, and long days waiting for the arrival of the stocks.

These men and women are the backbone of our department, bringing their unique individual strengths, knowledge, and technical expertise to their respective posts. It is not easy to shift into the mindset and embrace living in an isolated setting away from family and loved ones for the summer months. I commend them all for their continued dedication and commitment.

I extend heartfelt praise and a grateful Mēduh to our Hydrologist, Patrick Hudson, and our Science Advisor, Richard Erhardt, for your ongoing mentorship, guidance, and support to our projects and at our various boardroom tables. It is with their assistance and sharing of their knowledge that we have expanded our scope of work and are increasing the capacity of new and long-term staff.

My sincere thanks to our Fisheries Manager, Kerry Carlick, who took on the responsibility and role of overseeing staff training and field scheduling this year. We went from approximately 12 projects to an astounding 26 field projects in 2021. With the increased volume of work, juggling project planning, operational plans, staff travel, flight and field logistics, and day-to-day operations, Kerry met these challenges head on and applied his incredible leadership qualities to ensure a successful field season.

Much to our dismay, COVID-19 persists. As a result, we remained in a modified approach to field project delivery to ensure the health and safety of our staff members.

Kerry’s diligence in keeping up with the local Emergency Management Committee (EMC) COVID-19 protocols, in addition to his hands on involvement with the emergency orders caused by the spring washouts, and the perpetual Highway 51 road construction, enabled the safe and efficient delivery of local projects.

Mēduh chō Kerry. I am so happy that he has moved to Dease Lake. Having Kerry located in the territory is key to ensure the success and effective field logistics planning and day to day operations throughout the extended field season. Welcome to Dease Lake my friend, see you out on the Land.

As for myself, 2021 has been a very busy year. It is challenging me on levels that I could have never dreamed. Growing pains, I suppose. This marks the first year that I did not participate in spring training with my staff. This is usually a time for annual team building and bonding. I must admit that I felt a deep sense of remorse and loss. I compare it to being a parent, so proud to nurture and watch them grow and progress, all the while knowing that they are coming into realizing their full potential and relying less on me for leadership. Bittersweet and ever so rewarding. In addition, my duties did not include overseeing the staffing and field logistics. I did provide support to the field staff and planning in the early onset of the field season before Kerry was able to travel north to kick off the local projects in Telegraph Creek. Once he was stationed in Dease Lake, my involvement became minimal in this regard.

My new role and responsibilities as the Fisheries Director have made it necessary to focus my attention and time on the larger Tahltan Central Government (TCG) initiatives that are currently in the works. I feel very fortunate to be involved and contributing at this level. I am grateful for these new opportunities and networking with so many talented and knowledgeable individuals, both within and outside of the organization. They bring their experiences, passion for the land and resources to the table. It continues to be a steep learning curve for me and allows for my own personal growth, learning, discussion, and understanding of the issues.

At times, the number of meetings and engagements are overwhelming. This is the nature of the beast and how ideas come to fruition. It does not happen overnight. Often, it takes weeks, months, and sometimes years of discussions, investigations, conceptual development, and the consistent hard work and dedication of the team to reach the destination. I am both proud and excited to be part of such a team with the TCG.

Left: Me with a beauty RBT caught feeding on the Sockeye salmon spawning grounds. Opposite: TCG Fisheries staff surveying and DNA sampling Chinook.