Food, Social, and Ceremonial Comments & Concerns

Tahltan Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC)

Comments & Concerns

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank our Nation’s members who are taking an active role in the conservation of our Tahltan River Chinook stocks, by choosing to forgo their rights to harvest for the sake of the stocks.

The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Fisheries Department has been actively asking our members to start their fishing later and focus their harvest on Sockeye to allow for most of the run to pass through the Telegraph Creek area and into the Tahltan River before fishing commences. Only when we all make a conscious effort to protect these declining stocks, will we see good results and an increase of spawners on the grounds. Those who are choosing to fish regardless of the concerns, are reaping the harvest off the conservation efforts of others.

I would like to say Mēduh to David Rattray and the Tahltan Elder’s Council for their input and assistance in discussions earlier on in the season and for their active role in having conversations with those members that are not complying with conservation efforts. I was very pleased to hear reports from our staff and from members that the fishing was good this season despite the poor pre-season forecast of 28,000 Tahltan Lake Sockeye which raised concerns earlier in the season. With no directed fisheries by either country, the run came in strong and made for more effective fishing in our FSC harvest.

Along with the Chinook concerns, I would also like to raise the topic of illegal food fish sales that are compounding the issue. Just to clarify that any sale of our food fish is considered an illegal activity. It is acceptable to barter with your food fish harvest, barter is defined as an exchange of goods or services for other goods or services without using money; you are free to barter, but any form of sales are illegal.

You cannot harvest and process your fish for sale. Whether that be dried salmon (enekāge), jarred salmon, whole salmon, smoked or otherwise. Taking our salmon resources from the river with the intention to profit from them in any way is illegal. We have some members and associate members that have become comfortable with this illegal practice. It has to stop now or we will begin getting the authorities involved. Our stocks are declining. Marine conditions, climate change are issues. Production and survival rates are down, and we need to work together and hold each other accountable when others do not respect the rules.

As your Fisheries Director, I would ask that if you are participating in this illegal activity, whether selling or purchasing these products, please do your part and stop. Stop supporting this illegal

activity. If you are offended by this statement, you are part of the problem.

We all have an obligation to defend and protect our natural resources. It is who we are. It is our inherent responsibility to protect and conserve for our current and future generations. Together we can make a difference for the better.

“The Tahltan Central Government Fisheries Department has been actively asking our members to start their fishing later and focus their harvest on Sockeye to allow for most of the run to pass through the Telegraph Creek area and into the Tahltan River before fishing commences.”