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Page 6 The St’át’imc Runner April 2010 Tmicw Inter Tribal Fishing Treaty Supports Closure of Fish Farms During the March 9- 10, 2010 inaugural AGA of the Intertribal Treaty Organization (ITO) held in Prince George, attending Chiefs voted unanimously to support Indigenous Nations of the Broughton Archipelago and Georgia Straits for the immediate removal of fish farms from their territories to support in the survival of Fraser River bound fish stocks. The member Chiefs of the ITO expressed their concern and support to urge the open net cage practices of the aquaculture industry to move toward closed containment. As the coming season and runs of Chums A sea lion caught in a fish farm predator net. and Pinks draws near the Chiefs call for alternative aquaculture procedures recognizing the economic gains ventured by some coastal Nations. The concern is for the smolts that will arrive soon; Sockeye, Coho and Chinook. There is an increased mortality rate as they pass through the fish farm congested and biochemically hazardous inside passage which was cited as the primary cause of reduced returning stocks. Lawrence Williams of the Splatsin, Secwepemc Nation, recognized the need for all to work together on this issue, "In our watershed, we are in support of that. If there could be a legal petition I could take it to the non-Native communities in our area, as well we could send that letter in to parliament supporting this, and if there could be a legal writing then I could send this through our watershed table area to the neighboring communities who could support us as well. Even though they are not First Nations they also share this responsibility for their future generations." The ITO is preparing for just such issues and urgent action and coordination to support enhanced Fraser salmon stocks. Moratorium on Early Chinook Indigenous Nations within BC have called for a fishing ban on the Chinook salmon. The stocks are in crisis, with runs returning in numbers so small as twelve to a system. The ITO sent out these statements on March 19 after three days of meetings between DFO and Bands from all areas of the Fraser watershed and the coast. "Early Spring Chinook in the Fraser River are in crisis. They cannot sustain any fishing pressure. We are calling for a moratorium on all fisheries, including food, social, and ceremonial, that can impact these Early Spring returns", stated Chief Fred Sampson of Siska, and Fisheries Manager of the Nicola Tribal Association. This is the third year in a row that First Nations have asked DFO to ensure reduced fishing pressure on Early Spring Chinook. This situation is described as past critical. All First Nations at the Kamloops meeting have agreed to suspend all fisheries to allow these spring Chinook to reach their spawning grounds. These measures are essential to ensure that these stocks do not go extinct. They now return in mere tens and hundreds of spawners. "We are also asking Fisheries and Oceans and any groups impacting these stocks to respect the moratorium", says Grand Chief Saul Terry. Typically DFO will permit a quarter million or more sports fishermen to buy Salmon Retention Stamps. These stamps, at the cost of $6.50, permit a fisherman to retain 20 Chinook over the year. Cuys Qwal'útmin’em Dear People, The reason I am writing is to remind people that ts’i7 (deer) are in decline in most areas of Northern St’át’imc territory. When I went on a hunting trip, I said a prayer to Ca7 Kukwpi7 (Creator), depending on his wisdom for a successful (or not) hunt. That was 2008, and since then I have learned that deer are being drastically reduced. If we are true úcwalmicw, then we should be concerned about the future of the ts’i7. Most of Northern St’át’imc territory is affected in some way as a protected area or special management areas. The plan of the St’át’imc Land and Resource Authority has designated special protection and special management areas. The plan has placed certain restrictions in thespring and summer habitats and includes no chemical or pesticide use, no mining, oil or gas development, no new commercial or residential development and no clear cutting. In an ideal úcwalmicw community, the úcwalmicw would follow hunting protocol. Instead it seems hunters have taken on a ‘big game hunter’ attitude and try to get as many deer as possible like sama7 hunters. It is not to use the excuse of “well, it is my right to hunt, so I am going to hunt”. Ts’i7 have inherent rights to live too. As St’át’imc we should be at the forefront as stewards at all times talking about and defending these beautiful creatures. Sincerely appalled, Augustina Alexander THANK YOU! For in-kind contributions and advice: Xwísten T'ít'q'et Lillooet Tribal Council District of Lillooet Nikki Frank Richard Frank Christine Galliazzo MOF Mike Carson Forsite Potluck Quilters Pauline Menhinick Jane & Jerry Denton Steve Hall Walter & Bernice Leach Candace Lawlor Verne Rasmussen Gerald Michell Rose Adrian Rev-It-Up Lillooet Feed & Garden Buy Low Foods Lillooet Tim-ba Mart Virtual Help Pharmasave Radio Lillooet Bridge River Lillooet News The St'at'imc Runner Cayoose Creek Band & Lillooet Naturalists would like to thank the following for supporting: Three Rivers Join One Watershed Project Volunteers at the river: Jullian Greenman Lakota James Ali Pereira Brittany Spankie Walter Leach Kenneth Wright Vivian Birch-Jones Ian Routley Bob Deadman Jan Wilson Laura John Jeff Sneep Sue Senger Pat Tripp Albert Joseph Candace Jack Ed Senger & Fire Crew Michelle Edwards Lillooet Area Cadets Odin Scholz For making the Watershed Education Trailer: Ted the Trailerman Bob Deadman Ray St Amour during its first year: Alex North Scott Bodaly Maggie Lord Luther Brigman Koochie Charlie O''Laney Restoration Jason Whittaker LSS Art students John LeFlock Cayoosh Elementary - Mr Oakes & Mr Lane's classes Funders: Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program Bridge Coastal Fish & Wildlife Program Public Conservation Assistance Fund Lillooet Community Fund TD Friends of the Environment And to everyone who came out to events! Hope to see you again this year!
Ka-hál'ha I pétsklha 2010 The St’át’imc Runner Tmicw Page 7 Sek'wel'wás crews restore forest that "Even the deer can't get through.” Community wildfire protection work has been going full swing throughout most of the winter. Federal relief monies for the mountain pine beetle epidemic have made funds available to get safe-making work done around the communities. In Sek'wél'was, a crew has been falling dead trees, pruning branches up to ten feet up the trees, and clearing brush and debris on the ground. All this should avert a crown fire in the forest, if a fire is lit by accident on the ground. Michelle Edwards organizes the restoration and clean-up work around the community. Her background in forestry includes BC-standard training and a lot of traditional knowledge of how the Elders in the community used to take care of the land. She is an advocate for traditional burning, pruning and clearing. These practices contribute to forest health - the health of the trees, being properly spaced; the health of the plants underneath, having room to grow; and the health of the soil. Looking over one of the areas next to the Seton hydro canal, the improvement after work is obvious. Next to an overcrowded new growth of fir trees, the spaced and pruned trees show off exactly what Michelle is after. "We never used to let the forest get to that state, where now it's too thick and there is debris and brush all over the ground. We were always on the land, using the wood and managing for the plants and berries." Strategic burning opens the land and enriches the soil. It is one of the best ways to cultivate berry patches. And the wood waste on the forest floor needs to constantly be cleared. "Imagine how much firewood two hundred homes here were using in a winter!" Michelle points to the rubble on the ground, which chokes out the plants and is a fire hazard. "Even the deer can't Above, some restored forest on the Sek'wel'wás Reserve. Left, Evan, Bill, Karen and Andrew. get through there." Many communities have taken advantage of a Natural Resource Canada Mountain Pine Beetle Program grant that allows for clean up in lands adjacent to Reserves. While many Reserves are surrounded by private land, where the clean up can't be done by this grant, the areas that can be accessed are being restored by community crews. Wild Salmon Café: Culture of the Salmon Crash "Síma wi sts'úqwaz'!" The declining sockeye has brought two cultures into one room to honour and celebrate the salmon that make life possible in the Fraser watershed. On March 20, the first ever Wild Salmon Café featured poets, spoken word - with hand drum; dancers, singers, speakers, and rock and roll. Salmon Talks Lillooet is a group that formed last Fall to bring that state of all salmon in the Fraser into focus. The group involves youth, Elders, Stát'imc and nonnatives, professional biologists and fisheries technicians, political leaders and community. Education and action is the objective. With a salmon, chili and beef dinner served up by the Unity Riders, fundraising for their upcoming journey, people listened and talked about what the state of the salmon is. And what can we do? Petitions, information brochures and documents from similar campaigns from the coast to the headwaters were presented. But the Café showed up another thing that needs to be done: we need to get together. If DFO will not heed science or its own commissioned recommendations, such as moving to closed containment fish farms, who will ensure that salmon are sustainable? The answer is, the people. The Wild Salmon Policy, 2005, is not being implemented. We know what needs to be donefor the salmon: protecting fresh water systems like Fish Lake; removing barriers or creating passages around them, like at hydro facilities; removing opennet-cage fish farms from the migration route of the salmon smolts; and limiting developments that impact habitat. If the evidence of endangerment of salmon won't make the government act, people will have to. The Stát'imc Sisters sang at the Cafe. Here Nora Billy sings "Síma wi sts'úqwaz'!" while a bear looks on.
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