August 2015 Inside this issue First Nations Talk Fish in the Skeena Watershed - 2 NCSFNSS First Nations Achieve Significant Milestone in Marine Planning - 3 Hartley Bay Students Take Their Education Outside the Classroom - 4 Creel Survey Project - 6 Wellbeing Indicators for Long Term Monitoring - 7 Tsimshian Nations Establish Tsimshian Environmental Stewardship Authority - 7 New Staff - 8 News and marine activities from the North Coast-Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society 1
Coho Salmon - Photo by Jessica Hawryshyn First Nations Talk Fish in the Skeena Watershed There is no question that First Nations in the Skeena Watershed have relied on fish since time immemorial. Fish like, salmon and eulachon, sustains communities by serving as a food staple year round and is a cornerstone of First Nations culture; yet, it has also been at the root of many conflicts between Nations and other user groups throughout history. Two recent initiatives have set out to improve communication and collaboration amongst First Nations in the Skeena Watershed, on the subject of fish. The first is the Skeena First Nations Fish Forum, initiated by the B.C. Treaty Commission as a means to advance First Nations governance and co-management of Skeena watershed fisheries. The Skeena First Nations are working towards implementing the principles of the Northwest Tribal Treaty and establish a Skeena Nations Fish Secretariat. The secretariat is made up of political representatives from the Nations within the Skeena Watershed, which includes: The Tsimshian Nations, as represented by Gitga at, Gitxaala, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, Lax Kw alaams, Metlakatla. The Gitxsan Nation group of people as represented by the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs and the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs. The Wet suwet en Nation group of people as represented by the Wet suwet en Hereditary Chiefs. The Lake Babine Nation group of people as represented by Lake Babine. The involved First Nations will work together to address issues such as conservation of Skeena fish and enhancement of First Nations access to Skeena fish. The second initiative is the Skeena First Nations Technical Committee, being coordinated by the First Nations Fisheries Council. It was formed to foster greater transparency and improved understanding between First Nations with respect to technical issues related to the management of fish populations originating from the Skeena watershed. The committee is made up of technical representatives from each First Nation that harvests fish originating from the Skeena Watershed, and from North Coast-Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society and Skeena Fisheries Commission. The committee will review fish stock assessment data and look at how DFO makes fishery plans and management decisions. It will discuss the data used to determine Skeena salmon stock status, identify knowledge gaps and potential management actions. In summary, the Fish Forum addresses governancelevel fisheries issues and the secretariat is composed of political representatives from the Skeena First Nations. On the other hand, the Technical Committee discusses fisheries data and science and is composed of technical representatives from the Skeena First Nations. Given that North Coast Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society is a technicallyfocused organization, our efforts will be focused mainly at the Skeena First Nations Technical Committee. It will be important that there is regular communication between these two initiatives as they move forward to improve working relationships between Skeena First Nations on fisheries topics. 2
NCSFNSS First Nations Achieve Significant Milestone in Marine Planning On April 27 th, 2015, an event was held at the Legislature in Victoria, BC to announce the completion and signing of the North Coast Marine Plan as well as the Central Coast, Haida Gwaii and North Vancouver Island marine plans under the Marine Planning Partnership (MaPP). After more than three years of collaborative planning between First Nations and the provincial government, this event marked a significant milestone in the MaPP process. The MaPP initiative began in November 2011, through a Letter of Intent between First Nations and the Province of British Columbia. However, member and partner Nations of NCSFNSS were involved in marine planning for several years prior to MaPP. Chief Don Roberts spoke at the event and reminded people, our Nations and organization have been engaged with marine use planning for over eight years. During that time we have developed our own community plans and worked with other levels of government on collaborative planning processes. These community-level strategic marine use plans provided a foundation for the development of the North Coast Marine Plan. At the event, First Nation and provincial representatives also discussed implementation, the next phase in the MaPP process. Objectives, strategies and spatial recommendations in the North Coast Marine Plan will be put into action within the communities during this phase. Work is currently being done through NCSFNSS to finalize an implementation agreement with the provincial government and develop a five-year work plan. As Chief Roberts stated, we at the North Coast-Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society look forward to working with all levels of government to implement our plan priorities during the next phase of our Marine Planning Partnership. To watch a recording of the event at the Legislature please visit: http://mappocean.org/about-mapp/announcement-of-marine-plans/ Our Nations and organization have been engaged with marine use planning for over eight years. During that time we have developed our own community plans and worked with other levels of government on collaborative planning processes. Photo courtesy of Government of British Columbia 3
Identifying marine species at Lu lax kyook Photo Courtesy of Hartley Bay School Hartley Bay Students Take Their Education Outside the Classrooom It has been an exciting year for the students of Jeremy Janz s Grades 6-8 class at Hartley Bay School. They have been involved in an Ecological Monitoring Program in partnership with the Gitga at Guardians, creating opportunities for students to get outside and learn from community members through hands-on monitoring activities. This partnership has created educational experiences for the students and the community members. These experiences deepen relationships between the students, the community and their ecology. The partnership was initiated by Jeremy. Driven by his passion for the environment and First Nations culture, he wanted to create an opportunity for his students to experience their education and engage in a traditional way of learning. The school principal, Cameron Hill, and Chris Picard of the Gitga at Guardians also saw value in this, so they worked together to develop a program that integrated the school s curriculum into the goals of the Guardians and Gitga at community. Between January and June of this year the Guardians worked closely with the class to collect baseline data and conduct ongoing environmental monitoring at Lu lax kyook estuary, about 1km SSW of Hartley Bay. Lu lax kyook means the place where the grass grows and is also known as Mossy Bay. The area is culturally important and is a popular spot for local food harvesting as well as home to a variety of wildlife. Students travelled by boat to Lu lax kyook about twice a month and monitored salinity, temperature, stream flow and depth at various spots in the estuary. They also went beach seining and catalogued fish populations. The program was designed to foster cross curriculum learning. Students applied, and developed, their math and science skills through the collection and analysis of data, and English through the reporting of their findings and journal entries about their experience. Social These experiences deepen relationships between the students, the community and their ecology. 4
Studies was also an integral part of the program as students talked with elders and asked them how they used the land at Lu lax kyook in the past and what they harvested there. In partnership with Pacific Wild (www.pacificwild.org), four motion sensing cameras were also set up around Lu lax kyook to allow the class to observe wildlife in the area. The students watched the camera footage in the classroom and recorded the animals they saw, as well as what the animals did. One camera captured a bear scratching its back against a tree. All information was shared with the Guardians. Throughout the course of this program, Jeremy observed that his students were most engaged when they were outside, experiencing their education. Similarly, students felt that they were learning more by getting outside and into the community. They particularly enjoyed beach seining as it was the most hands-on activity. Students wore waders and beach seined at low tide, observing fish and other marine species up close. Measuring Fish Photo Courtesy of Hartley Bay School The class recently won the Learning for a Sustainable Future Jack Layton Award for Youth Action in Sustainability for their unique Ecological Monitoring Program at Lu lax kyook. They placed first out of 50 schools across Canada and were awarded with a certificate as well as $500. The students, the school and the community were excited and very proud when they heard the news of the award. It reaffirmed the value of the work they have been part of. Beach seining at low tide Photo Courtesy of Hartley Bay School 5
Creel Survey Project The summer of 2015 marks the beginning of an exciting new project for NCSFNSS. In recent years, North Coast- Skeena First Nations have expressed interest in being more involved in the monitoring of recreational fisheries, at the same time that there have been cuts to DFO program funding and staff. So, in 2014, NCSFNSS submitted a funding proposal to the Pacific Salmon Commission, to take over the Areas 3 and 4 Creel Survey in 2015. A creel survey is a recreational fishery monitoring program which collects important salmon and ground-fish harvest data and biological samples that are used by DFO to do stock assessment and fishery management. The Pacific Salmon Commission funds projects that can provide improved salmon stock assessment information, so NCSFNSS proposal was well received and was awarded the funding. The Areas 3 and 4 Creel Survey program is based in Prince Rupert and Port Edward and involves stationing trained technicians at locations where recreational anglers typically start and end their daily fishing trips: the Rushbrook boat launch, the Prince Rupert Yacht Club, and the Port Edward boat launch. Additionally, a survey of fishing Areas 3 and 4 is carried out by aircraft to count recreational fishing vessels. NCSFNSS biologists will be working with a fisheries consulting firm, LGL Ltd., to analyze and report on the information collected. During the months of April and May, NCSFNSS prepared for the project by hiring staff and purchasing equipment needed to carry out the survey. Six new seasonal staff were hired to carry out all of the coordination and field activities associated with the project, and surveyors started in the field on June 1 st, 2015. Monthly harvest estimates of fish including halibut, coho and chinook, will be produced for the months of June, July and August, with final reporting taking place late in 2015. NCSFNSS hopes that running the creel survey program will be a step in the right direction for increased First Nations involvement and capacity building in fishery monitoring. Brittany Fenwick (Creel Survey Lead Hand) about to conduct an overflight recreational effort survey 6
Wellbeing Indicators for Long Term Monitoring Seaweed harvesting Photo by Colin Nelson Gitxaala Environmental Monitoring (GEM) continues to apply elements of the Gitxaala Marine Use Plan. Over the winter, GEM contracted Nicole Kaechele to develop Gitxaala social, economic, and cultural wellbeing indicators that can be incorporated into GEM s work on various Environmental Assessments. Working from the Nation s Marine Use Plan, Wellness Plan, and other GEM documents, Nicole used a methodology developed with Tribes in the Pacific Northwest to identify relevant indicators that can be monitored over the long term. This initial list will be reviewed by Gitxaala technicians, Elders and leadership. The indicators will be used to monitor Gitxaala community and territorial wellbeing in the context of major projects and community programming. Tsimshian Nations Establish Tsimshian Environmental Stewardship Authority (TESA) The Gitga at, Gitxaala, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum and Metlakatla Nations have come together to form the Tsimshian Environmental Stewardship Authority (TESA). The announcement was made on July 9, 2015. TESA has been formed in response to increasing industrial development pressures in the North Coast. The letter signed by the elected Chiefs of the five Nations stated: While the responsibility to evaluate and manage the impacts of development remains with each First Nation, the Authority will provide a venue for the Nations to come together to address common environmental stewardship issues, including development proposals and cumulative impacts, through coordinated engagement with governments and projects proponents throughout Tsimshian territories. The announcement letter went on to state that the critical work that will be done under the auspices of TESA will include, but not be limited to, activities such as: Providing expert advice regarding the establishment of baselines studies and monitoring progams Communicating potential project impacts and proposed mitigation measures Maintaining a regional forum where common concerns and potential mitigation strategies can be discussed and implemented together TESA will seek to engage Lax Kw alaams, as well as the federal and provincial governments, and industry to work together to find a path forward that protects the environmental legacy with which we are entrusted. 7
New Staff: Angela Addison, Fisheries Biologist Angela grew up in Prince Rupert and has worked in the fields of fisheries biology and management with First Nations, commercial and recreational fisheries on the North Coast since the year 2000. Angela holds a BSc degree in Global Resource Systems from the Faculty of Land, Food and Community at UBC and a technical diploma in Coastal Integrated Resource Management from NWCC. She has experience in planning and implementing fishery catch monitoring programs for stock assessment and management purposes as well as supporting First Nations commercial fisheries and parallel community development projects. Having worked with Federal and Provincial agencies as well as First Nations Governments, stakeholder groups and other community interest groups, Angela enjoys finding commonalities and strengths that link resource user groups together to collaborate on creation of improvements in fisheries management. 612 2nd Ave West Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1H2 250-624-8614 www.northcoastskeenafirstnations.ca 8