Volume 3 Issue 2 2007 Uu-a-thluk Kyuquot Taking Care Of Nootka Success an Example for Nuu-chah-nulth When Uu-a-thluk (NTC) Fisheries support, maintain and increase Program Manager Don Hall first saw their participation in the seafood Clayoquot the large number of boats in Neah Bay economy.” this past June, he thought the Makah In addition to strengthening the Nation leased out marina space to non- cultural and family ties that the Makah Barclay native recreational and commercial share with Nuu-chah-nulth, Hall and fishermen. Then he learned otherwise. Frank made the trip to Neah Bay to see The boats were actually the Makah how Nuu-chah-nulth relatives to the Ditidaht fishing fleet. Hall was impressed. south structured their economy post- “Here’s a pretty isolated coastal litigation victory. Given the pending Nation that has developed their trial in the Nuu-chah-nulth fisheries fisheries access that they won initially litigation, there are many parallels. Pacheedaht through the court into an important “Makah are a model for Nuu- part of their economy,” said Hall. “The chah-nulth to look at now and into the potential is there for Nuu-chah-nulth future,” said Hall. Given that the Makah Inside This Issue to do the same kind of thing here on currently harvest an area much smaller Page 2 the west coast of .” than the Nuu-chah-nulth’s traditional Groundfish Integration Update Looking at the Makah success fishing grounds, the potential is there was part of the reason Hall and for Nuu-chah-nulth harvesters. Wild Salmon Policy former NTC president Francis Frank Greeted by Ryland Bowechop, Clam Licence visited the small town of Neah Bay Tourism and Economic Development on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula Planner for the Makah Nation, Hall Transferability and for two days last June. In addition to and Frank then met with the Makah Sub-area Licensing being the southernmost Nuu-chah- Tribal Council Vice Chair Debbie Page 3 nulth Nation, the Makah Nation is Wachendorf, Micah McCarty, and Tim Collaboration Builds demonstrating what is possible when Green. Success for Ash River the courts uphold Aboriginal rights and In a meeting with Chief Judge Jean title, creating access to sea resources. Vitalis, Hall and Frank learned about Page 4 Just over thirty years ago, the Makah the Makah tribal court, a separate From the Sea were in a very different situation. justice system dealing specifically with Although their original treaty signed fisheries and other infractions on- with the State of Washington in 1855 reserve. They also met with Russ Svec said the Makah reserved the right to and spoke with Steve Joner, both from fish, the state continued to limit their the Makah Fisheries Program. access to salmon. In a landmark ruling On the second day, Hall and known as the Boldt Decision, the court Frank met formally with members of affirmed the Makah right to harvest. the Makah Tribal Council, including “The Boldt decision thirty years Chairman Ben Johnson, to talk about ago was the start of it,” said Hall. how the two Nations could work “The Makah have built on the Boldt together. Issues discussed included decision and have structured their business relationships with seafood governance with their Tribal Council companies, generating revenue to and their Fisheries Program to help maintain fisheries programs, business

Continued on page 4 Nu u -c h a h -n u l t h initiatives A f e w i t e m s t h e f i r s t n a t i o n s a n d u u -a-t h l u k s t a f f a r e w o r k i n g o n Pacific Salmon Treaty Canada and the U.S. are currently (WCVI). The NTC and Alberni- negotiations and convey the Nuu- renegotiating several Chapters Clayoquot Regional District chah-nulth interest that Canada and Annexes of the Pacific Salmon have written to DFO Regional needs to maintain and rebuild Treaty due to expire in 2008. Of Director General and Chair of the the WCVI fishery and express particular relevance to Nuu-chah- Canadian Commissioners Paul concerns about the potential nulth Nations is the Chinook Sprout to convey to Canada the impact of the three U.S. options Annex. The U.S. has proposed west coast interest in protecting on Nuu-chah-nulth fishermen three options for renegotiation and rebuilding our west coast and Nuu-chah-nulth access to that would potentially reduce the troll fleet. NTC President and staff salmon. NTC Executive and harvest of Chinook by Canadian met with Paul MacGillivary (DFO staff will meet again with DFO fisheries, and in particular the Associate RDG and lead negotiator in early November for continued Area G salmon troll fishery on the for Canada on the Chinook Annex) dialogue on the renegotiation of west coast of Vancouver Island in June to discuss the status of the the Chinook Annex.

Clam License Transferability and Sub-area Licensing DFO is interested in making communities and individuals and Nuu-chah-nulth interests and commercial clam licences (Z2s) further discussed clam licence would not address problems in transferable. Following initial transferability with DFO. After the clam fishery. Uu-a-thluk has discussions under the DFO’s considering different options, requested further meetings with Consultation Protocol, Uu-a- Uu-a-thluk decided full market DFO to explore other options. thluk requested input from transferability does not meet

Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI) DFO recently announced funding chah-nulth Seafood Development develop a comprehensive business to increase access Corporation is working with Uu- plan so that Nuu-chah-nulth can to licences and quota. The Nuu- a-thluk and individual nations to benefit from the program.

Crab Reform DFO is proposing changes to the many difficulties facing the reform productive relationships with way it manages Dungeness crab process, it presents an opportunity the recreational and commercial resources, seeking to move from for Nuu-chah-nulth to have sectors and DFO. Success in the a system focused on the needs significant influence on how the crab reform process can lead of the commercial sector to one crab fishery will be managed in the to success in creating positive that puts more emphasis on First future. For this to happen, Nuu- changes for Nuu-chah-nulth in Nation’s and recreational crab chah-nulth First Nations must other fisheries. fisheries. Although there are take a leadership role and build

For more information on any of these projects contact [email protected] or Don Hall at 724-5757

Page 2 Collaboration Builds Success for Ash River The Ash River Restoration Board, the Department of Working Group (ARRWG) is Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), proving that collaboration builds MOE and BCCF. By the fall success. After years of struggling of 2004, the ARRWG was in to obtain funding independently action. from BC Hydro’s Bridge The goal of the ARRWG Coastal Restoration Program is to work together to develop (BCRP), local governments and proposals for the restoration stakeholders decided to work of fish and their habitat in the together. Forming the ARRWG Ash River system. All project in 2004, the partners have proposals are reviewed by the leveraged over $500,000 in the A view of Elsie Lake reservoir, which is no group and submitted to BCRP longer accesible to salmon and steelhead. past three years for restoration with Hupacasath as the project work in the Somass watershed. administrator. Among other river systems, the Somass River Since adopting this collaborative approach, watershed includes the Ash, which is home to over 85% of the ARRWG’s proposals have been populations of Steelhead, Coho, Chinook and successful in obtaining BCRP funds. In the three Sockeye. Back in the 1950’s, a hydroelectric dam years since its inception, the ARRWG has pioneered cut off salmon and Steelhead access to Elsie Lake feasibility studies, fish habitat restoration projects, and the upper Ash River. The project’s power and salmon distribution research. Trevor Jones, requirements also resulted in reduced flows in the Executive Director of the Hupacasath First Nation, Ash River below the dam, which reduced fish habitat is excited about the ARRWG’s success. “All parties and limited the ability of salmon and steelhead to began to work together in an incremental way,” he get over Laternman Falls and Dickson Falls. said, “working on areas of agreement and shared In the 1990s, BC Hydro established the Bridge interest.” Coastal Restoration Program (BCRP) to help Not only does the ARRWG collaboration repair and restore fish and wildlife affected by allow the Hupacasath to work with biologists at a hydroelectric developments like the Ash River dam. technical level, it demonstrates long-term changes From 1999 to 2004, the Hupacasath First Nation, in the ways of doing business. The collaboration has the Provincial Ministry of the Environment (MOE), been so successful, BC Hydro hopes to replicate the the BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF) and the ARRWG model to other areas of the province. Alberni Valley submitted several proposals to the “We call what is happening with the ARRWG BCRP for the Ash River. Most were rejected because the ‘Ash model’,” says Andrew McDonald, Acting the proponents couldn’t show comprehensive Program Manager for BC Hydro, Fish and Wildlife, community support. BCRP Program. “The idea of the ARRWG is that when Seeing many common interests around the a project comes forward, we know all parties have restoration of the watershed, Uu-a-thluk Fisheries sat down and prioritized the best project. Everyone Biologist Jim Lane suggested forming a working signs one letter and all projects are supported 100%. group to collaboratively develop funding proposals. There is no competing applications and the result In July of 2004, the Hupacasath contacted local has been a real turnaround.” enhancement groups, the Aquatic Management

In the year since its inception the Ash River working group collaboration generated over $500,000 in funding for resoration work.

Page 3 Makah Success an Example Continued from page 1 and political relationships continue to dwindle, we’re with fishermen, and more. The able to add because we use the two Nations also discussed best science available and the the sharing of technical knowledge that’s been handed information such as data and down to us.” genetic samples. “We felt it was For Hall, the trip to Neah important to share our science Bay reinforced that Nuu- with our family,” said Ryland chah-nulth are on the right Bowechop. track. “There are steps that Hall and Frank concluded Nuu-chah-nulth are taking,” Uu-a-thluk is: the trip with a visit to the Makah he said. “Fisheries litigation, Museum, “a very impressive negotiating agreements with Council of Ha’wiih: exhibition,” according to Hall. Canada, taking advantage of The Ha’wiih or their representatives of: But what struck him most of program opportunities that Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’, all were the numbers. Out of come up, protecting habitat so Nuchatlaht, Ehattesaht, Mowachaht/ the approximate 2000 people that there can be access, trying Muchahtlaht, Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, living in the small town of Neah to retain the knowledge that Tla-o-qui-aht, Ucluelet, Toquaht, Uchucklesaht, Tseshaht, Hupacasath, Bay, over 150 were earning at Nuu-chah-nulth fishermen Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht. least part of their living from have to pass on to younger the sea. generations: all these steps Joint Technical Working Group: Said Ryland Bowechop are currently being taken by First Nations, Uu-a-thluk, and Department of those numbers: “Our the Council of Ha’wiih and of Fisheries and Oceans staff working together to solve problems and take management schemes are the First Nations. Seeing the advantage of opportunities. deeply rooted in science and Makah example shows that the knowledge of our ancestors. these can work.” Secretariat: While the American fleets Biologists, Managers, Outreach, Capacity Development, Fundraising and Economic Development. Conducting the day to day work under the direction of the Council of Ha’wiih.

Contact Information From the Sea Uu-a-thluk Secretariat P.O. Box 1383 , B.C. V9Y 7M2 Ph: 250.724.5757 Fax: 250.724.2172 Email: k`waqmis/siih=muu tii>uup [email protected] Herring Row Octopus

Next Uu-a-thluk Council of Ha’wiih meeting is scheduled for January 2008, dates to be announced. @aamiiq Horse Clam