CSTC Grateful for Fish: Fraser First Nations Unity
July 26, 2013
Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) would like to extend its gratitude to the St’at’imc Government, Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (NSTC) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for the recent delivery of approximately 200 Early Stuart sockeye that were seized in the St’at’imc (Lillooet), and Nlka’pamux (Thompson in the Lytton area) territories. The CSTC has distributed this important fish resource to elders, disabled and families in need. The CSTC member First Nations are at the headwaters of the Upper Fraser and have been working with First Nations in the Fraser watershed to conserve the Early Stuart salmon runs, as they are an important subsistence food fish for Carrier Sekani peoples.
Tribal Chief Terry Teegee stated, “’Mussi Cho! to our cousins along the Fraser. We were able to provide some of our Elders, disabled and families in need with some important food fish. We are grateful for the support and quick measures taken by NSTC and DFO to ensure that our people could benefit from a dwindling fishery.” The seized salmon were transported from Prince George to Tache village by Tl’azt’en fisheries monitor Mellisa Pierre, where she had distributed the fish in her community. “This couldn’t happen without quick planning and I also want to thank Tl’azt’en Fisheries Program Manager Darren Haskell and Fisheries Monitor Mellisa Pierre, as well as Tl’azt’en representative on the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFFCA), Thomas Alexis, who assisted in getting the salmon to their destination to Nakal Buhn (Stuart Lake)” stated Chief Teegee.
For several years the CSTC and its member First Nations have been working with First Nations along the Fraser to conserve the Early Stuart fishery, including closures, until such time that that fishery can recover. Earlier this year the CSTC began discussions with First Nations regarding an inter-tribal protocol to guide the annual development of an Early Stuart Management Plan. The CSTC is supportive of collaborative initiatives that seek to ensure that fisheries and natural resources are protected and conserved for current and future generations.
“We will continue to work to protect and rehabilitate habitat in the Upper Fraser. The cumulative impacts from various sources are stressing the Early Stuart sockeye runs, including human fishing practices,” said Tribal Chief Teegee. He added, “The St’at’imc, NSTC and DFO did a great job in dealing with a difficult situation. The CSTC is committed to working with First Nations along the Fraser River to ensure that conservation and closure measures are respected and secure. Losing the Early Stuart sockeye is not an option for our, or future generations.”
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Media contacts: Tribal Chief Terry Teegee: Office (250) 562-6279. Cell: (250) 640-3256
Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) would like to extend its gratitude to the St’at’imc Government, Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (NSTC) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for the recent delivery of approximately 200 Early Stuart sockeye that were seized in the St’at’imc (Lillooet), and Nlka’pamux (Thompson in the Lytton area) territories. The CSTC has distributed this important fish resource to elders, disabled and families in need. The CSTC member First Nations are at the headwaters of the Upper Fraser and have been working with First Nations in the Fraser watershed to conserve the Early Stuart salmon runs, as they are an important subsistence food fish for Carrier Sekani peoples.