NAK’AZDLI BAND COUNCIL
P.O. Box 1329, Fort St. James, B.C. V0J 1P0 Telephone (250) 996 – 7171 Fax (250) 996 – 8010
April 28, 2011
Nak’azdli Band Members are returning to their fishing grounds for the first time in over twenty years
The absence was initiated after trying to work with DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) to maintain our salmon runs that we have fished since time immemorial.
We have cut our salmon harvest to fewer than 1000 fish, which is less than two fish per person per year. In the same time DFO has not restricted the commercial harvest to a point that helps rebuild the runs in our area.
We have voiced our concerns time and time again, and still the runs dwindle, the runs can support our harvest which takes precedence over commercial use.
But we stayed out of the water to try to save our fish population.
Our community has suffered severe loss in a number of areas including our cultural heritage; we can no longer wait for DFO to listen. The young and the Elders of our community have experienced the loss of the traditional cultural ways of fishing.
We are returning to the water in the summer of 2011 and hope to catch 55-88,000 salmon this year, which we will target our late runs, as again the early Stuarts are dangerously low. Within 5 years we hope to catch a
sufficient number of salmon per year, this would allow our community members supply for the winter months; which will bring us to our minimal traditional numbers.
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For more information please contact:
Peter Erickson (250) 996-7171