Times Colonizer (corporate scum news)
Friday, November 14, 2003
Five Saanich First Nations are preparing to take "unarmed, nonviolent action" to stop a possible commercial fishery for chum salmon in Saanich Inlet or Satellite Channel.
The Douglas Treaty Tribes of Saanich, made up of the Malahat, Pauquachin, Tseycum, Tsartlip and Tsawout bands, are also planning to hold their own commercial chum fishery -- without the blessing of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The bands are conducting a food fishery in Saanich Inlet now.
Saanich Tribal Fishery spokesman Eric Pelkey said in an interview Thursday that if DFO allows a commercial fishery on salmon runs that have been built up by the work of the First Nations, the first step will be for tribal leaders to ask the commercial fishermen to stop.
If that does not work there will be more direct action.
The West Coast Warrior Society, a volunteer group, is teaching people how to stop the commercial boats from setting their nets, he said.
"We want to make sure it is non-violent and unarmed, but we are prepared for the fact that there has to be a confrontation if they insist on going ahead with this," Pelkey said.
"The West Coast Warriors Society has been brought in to train our own stommish -- our protective people."
Pelkey said the society only teaches people how to stick up for their rights, but its involvement seems to be worrying the RCMP, who are concerned weapons are being brought into the area.
But "there are no arms," he said.
RCMP spokesman Cpl. Ian Lawson said police are keeping a close eye on the situation.
"I think it would be fair to say we are concerned," he said.
"Any time you have a protest of this nature, emotions get charged up and then people step it up."
Lawson said the RCMP aim is to preserve the peace, but the behaviour of the protesters and commercial fishermen will dictate the response.
DFO is still assessing fish stocks and no decision on a commercial fishery has been taken, said Gerry Kelly, the federal department's resource manager for chum salmon on southern Vancouver Island.
"We are reviewing the data and the escapement and, as of (Thursday), no commercial fishery is likely this week. We will continue to assess and there will be an update next week," he said.
There has not been a commercial fishery in Saanich Inlet for 30 years, said Pelkey.
Pelkey said the issue has its roots in the Douglas Treaty that gives First Nations the right to fish commercially without a DFO permit and in the work the Saanich bands have done to build up the chum salmon runs over the last 30 years.
"We have done the counts in Goldstream and assured the future of the fishery by allowing the escapement into the river, and we feel the excess stocks are ours to do as we please with," he said.
Mismanagement by DFO and overfishing by the commercial fleet have wiped out almost every other run, Pelkey said.
Taiaiake Alfred, director of the indigenous governance program at the University of Victoria, said the 1852 Douglas Treaty gives the Saanich tribes the "right to fish as formerly," but DFO has shown no respect for the treaty.
The two issues are the wish of the Saanich bands to assert their right to fish under their own authority and their wish to defend their fishery from "further mismanagement by DFO," he said.
The Saanich First Nations still rely on chum salmon for food and there is a risk that the entire stock could be wiped out, Alfred said.
Kelly said it is difficult to evaluate all the factors that contribute to a healthy salmon run. The Goldstream hatchery, as well as First Nations work on spawning channels, are probably among factors which have built up the Saanich Inlet chum population, he said.