The pair of B.C. First Nations say they are done with Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) controlling aquaculture and fisheries in their traditional waters and intend to assert local control.
The Gwa鈥檚ala-鈥楴akwaxda鈥檟w First Nations (GNN) 鈥� currently based in the Port Hardy area of northern Vancouver Island 鈥� have announced the pending creation a Memorandum Of Understanding to assert control over fisheries in their traditional territories.
At a March 25 ceremony at Port Hardy鈥檚 Seagate wharf, GNN鈥檚 former elected chief Paddy Walkus said what has been happening historically to the nations in their own lands thanks to federal fisheries policies is not right.
鈥淲e now have to take a stand, we now have to express something that is so vital to the existence of our people and our own land and territories鈥� we need to take back the control, take back what was rightfully ours, because at no time did we give any kind of OK to anyone to do the management or caretaking of our resources, in particular the fisheries resource.
鈥淲e all know what has happened recently, the decimation of all species of fish in all of our waters鈥� the harm that has happened through the mismanagement of DFO.鈥�
Walkus asserted the nations will now be instating their traditional laws, stating they are going to 鈥渢ake over that part of legislation that has oppressed us for too long.鈥�
He confirmed that this means they will control the licensing of the finfish industry within all of their traditional territories.
GNN councillor Darryl Coon said it is time for GNN鈥檚 chief and council to take the 鈥渕onumental step to take back what鈥檚 rightfully ours, the waters of the Gwa鈥檚ala-鈥楴akwaxda鈥檟w territories.
鈥淔or far too long we have allowed DFO to do what they鈥檝e done, the lies, the deceits, everything above and below it, DFO has done this for years and years and years and today鈥檚 the day we are going to take it back.鈥�
Coon鈥檚 voice broke as he talked about how they are doing this for the future generations of GNN youth.
鈥淚t鈥檚 for these guys that we stand up today and fight back for what鈥檚 rightfully ours鈥� for all the children of the Gwa鈥檚ala-鈥楴akwaxda鈥檟w nations.鈥�
GNN Band Manager Leslie Walkus said the Memorandum Of Understanding is being supported by neighbouring coastal First Nations. He said the Memorandum of Understanding will be built upon all the salmon research the nations have done over the years.
鈥淲e are putting DFO on notice that they鈥檙e not going to come to the North Island and make decisions about important jobs and about the territory that belong to these chiefs,鈥� said Leslie. 鈥淲e are going to take this on ourselves, because we are capable of doing it ourselves.鈥�
鈥淯nder the guidance of our hereditary leadership, our elders and our matriarchs, we are taking the step of building a legislative framework,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s our first step, we are looking at aquaculture.鈥�
Port Hardy mayor Dennis Dugas said the North Island鈥檚 economic future will prosper with everyone working together.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a partnership. We鈥檙e all in this together. It鈥檚 about us all working together. As we grow together, I know that we can prosper together.鈥�
Black Press Media has reached out to DFO for comment from DFO and will update this story when they respond.
editor@northislandgazette.com
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