Dzawada'enuxw First Nation to push for removal of fish farms - Action News
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Indigenous

Dzawada'enuxw First Nation to push for removal of fish farms

A coastal First Nation in B.C. has criticized the provinces announcement that starting in 2022, fish farms will need First Nations approval to renew their tenures.

'What the Dzawadaenuxw require is legal rights now,' says lawyer representing First Nation

Members from the Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw and supporting communities boarded the Cermaq fish farm at Kingcome Inlet. (Melissa Willie/YouTube)

A coastal First Nation in B.C. is vowing to challenge the B.C. government's new approach to fish farm tenures, which wouldgive First Nations a say over wherethese operations can set upon the West Coast.

The province announced Wednesday that starting in 2022, fish farms will need First Nations approval to renew their tenures.

That's not soon enough as far as theDzawadaenuxw First Nation is concerned.

Many First Nations in theBroughtonArchipelago region, where theDzawadaenuxw are located, have long opposed fish farms, saying their presence has a negative impact on wild salmon and other marine species in the area.

There are 17 fish farm operating in theBroughtonArchipelago, nine of those are in theDzawadaenuxw title claim area.

While the announcement was framed by the government as a move to protect wild salmonand advance reconciliation with First Nations, theDzawadaenuxw First Nation said they are disappointed.

Jack Woodward represents theDzawadaenuxw First Nationin their Aboriginal title claim.It was filed earlier this month, in part, to bolster the community's efforts to get fish farms out of the area they assert title to.

The nation says it has been opposing the farms for 30 years.

Woodward said the nation will turn to the courts to "remove these fish farmsimmediately, as soon as humanly possible."

"What the Dzawadaenuxw require is legal rights now, not political promises four years from now," said Woodward in a video distributed by the nation following the province's announcement.

Provincehopes toadvance reconciliation

The announcement about changes at the provincial level comes on the day that 20 tenures for fish farms in B.C. expire. The province said those tenures will now becomemonth-to-month agreements.

New criteria for tenures will take effect in 2022, according to the province. That criteria will Includea requirement that companies applying for tenure renewals make agreements with the First Nation, or Nations, whose territory they want to operate within.

The province said it will also require fish farm operators to also show the Department of Fisheries and Oceans their operations will not have a negative impact on wild salmon.

On Wednesday, AgricultureMinister Lana Pophamsaid the announcement "will enable us to advance toward reconciliation with First Nations, protect wild salmon and strengthen our coastal communities."

Ships like the Viktoria Viking ply the waters of the Broughton Archipelago, carrying salmon to and from aquaculture sites. (Chris Corday/CBC)

Pophamsaiddiscussions are ongoing with First Nations in the region.However, the Dzawadaenuxw First Nation says it walked away from those talks last monthand decided the courts are its best way to get a positive result.

The province says three First Nations from the region remain in government-to-government talks: theMamalilikulla First Nation, 'Namgis First Nation and Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis First Nations.

Bob Chamberlin is the elected Chief CouncillorofKwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis, and vice president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

He said the outcomes fromtalkswith the provincemay be different than the province-wide announcement made on Wednesday.

"We are very very close to finalizing the process that we've been negotiating in good faith with the government for the past number of months and then we can begin the examination of each tenure," he said, adding that he thinkstimeline ofthe province-wide changes is too long.

"I believe the four year timeline is four years too late," he said.

Corrections

  • A previous version of this story contained a quote from Minister Lana Popham that was incorrect. She did not say "with our First Nations." In fact she said "with First Nations."
    Jun 21, 2018 4:25 PM ET