Traditional/Local Knowledge Salmon Survey Yukon River Panel Project CRE-16-03 Final Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Traditional/Local Knowledge Salmon Survey Yukon River Panel Project CRE-16-03 Final Report Prepared on behalf of the North Yukon Renewable Resources Council (RRC) and the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation by Isaac Anderton & Phyllis Frost ABSTRACT: References to historic fish trap and salmon locations in the Porcupine River watershed were researched in the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation’s Oral History Project and the Yukon Archives. Seven elders in Old Crow were interviewed regarding the historic location of fish traps and salmon. Results of interviews and previously documented references were analysed and compiled in this report, which documents the historic location of fourteen fish traps, fourteen locations of salmon, and associated information within the Porcupine River watershed. OBJECTIVES: 1. Inspire and build community capacity and stewardship for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of salmon stocks and their habitat in the Porcupine River sub-basin: In order to carry out needed research and to ensure long-term salmon habitat stewardship, the human capacity must be developed within the community of Old Crow. This is consistent with goals and objectives of the Vuntut Gwitchin Final Agreement and that of VGFN. This project will provide valuable experience in this regard to community members; 2. Identify all areas where salmon are known to exist in the past: This information will tell managers where present and past salmon habitat exists in the Porcupine River system. This information will assist in filling current information gaps and provide the basis for future research, restoration and enhancement work. It will also provide the community with tools that will assist in the local management, conservation, and restoration of Porcupine River salmon stocks; 3. Document historic locations of fish-traps throughout the Porcupine River watershed. This information is of key importance in identifying areas of important, productive fish habitat. This information will assist in filling current information gaps and provide the basis for future research, restoration and enhancement work. It will also provide the community with tools that will assist in the local management, conservation, and restoration of Porcupine River salmon stocks; 4. Set the stage to ensure the long-term conservation of the coho salmon resource and its habitat in the Porcupine River sub-basin: Both the knowledge acquired and experience gained by community members through this project will provide a basis from which local managers will pursue the conservation and restoration of this valued food resource. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1 INTRODUCTION: ................................................................................................... 2 2 METHODS:............................................................................................................... 3 3 RESULTS:................................................................................................................. 4 3.1 LOCATIONS OF FISH TRAPS IDENTIFIED: .............................................................. 5 3.2 LOCATIONS OF SALMON IDENTIFIED:................................................................... 6 3.3 MAPS OF HISTORIC FISH TRAP AND SALMON LOCATIONS: .................................. 8 3.3.1 Overview Map of Porcupine River Watershed with Study Areas ............... 8 3.3.2 North West Porcupine River Watershed..................................................... 9 3.3.3 North East Porcupine River Watershed...................................................... 9 4 DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: ............................................................................ 9 4.1 FISH TRAP LOCATIONS: ....................................................................................... 9 4.2 LOCATIONS OF SALMON: ................................................................................... 11 4.2.1 Chum Salmon............................................................................................ 12 4.2.2 Chinook Salmon........................................................................................ 13 4.2.3 Coho Salmon............................................................................................. 15 5 RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................................ 16 5.1 TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ............................................................................... 16 5.2 CHUM SALMON.................................................................................................. 16 5.3 CHINOOK SALMON............................................................................................. 16 5.4 COHO SALMON .................................................................................................. 16 6 REFERENCES: ...................................................................................................... 17 7 DOCUMENTATION: ............................................................................................ 17 8 APPENDICES......................................................................................................... 17 8.1 SUMMARY TABLES OF COLLECTED INFORMATION............................................. 17 8.2 RESULTS SUMMARY TABLES AND MAPS FROM 2002 TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE RESEARCH (CRE-16-02): .............................................................................................. 26 8.2.1 Locations of Fish Traps Identified: .......................................................... 26 8.2.2 Locations of Salmon Identified:................................................................ 29 8.2.3 Maps of Historic Fish Trap and Salmon Locations: ................................ 32 8.2.3.1 Northern Porcupine River Watershed................................................... 32 8.2.3.2 Southern Porcupine River Watershed................................................... 32 1 1 Introduction: The Porcupine River is one of the largest tributaries in the Yukon River system. It extends from its mouth at Fort Yukon, Alaska, across the Canada/U.S. border where it drains a large portion of the north Yukon and most of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation’s Traditional Territory. The Porcupine has a number of large tributaries in Canada, including three significant rivers that form its headwaters: the Whitestone, Miner, and Fishing Branch Rivers. The only settlement within the Porcupine River watershed is the village of Old Crow, located approximately 80 kilometres east of the Canada/U.S. border at the mouth of the Crow River. Old Crow has a population of roughly three hundred, mainly Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation members. Three species of salmon migrate up the Porcupine River. These include a chinook run that passes Old Crow mainly during the month of July, a chum run that passes Old Crow mainly in September, and a coho run that passes Old Crow between early October and late January. The coho and chinook salmon runs in the Porcupine River system are an important food fish to the Vuntut Gwitchin; the preferred chinook being a large summer salmon, while the more abundant coho is caught during the late fall/winter. Vuntut Gwitchin Citizens fish both runs in the vicinity of Old Crow. The coho run is unique in two ways: it represents one of the most northern stocks, and it is the only confirmed coho stock in the Canadian portion of the Yukon River drainage basin. The Vuntut Gwitchin also depend on the chum run for a substantial subsistence fishery. There have also been reports of summer chum in the vicinity of Old Crow. A significant lack of information regarding salmon stocks in the Porcupine River system has been identified as an issue that needs to be addressed. Filling such information gaps has been identified as a priority to ensure the future success of stock and habitat management. To fill existing knowledge gaps and ensure the long-term sustainable co- management of Porcupine River salmon stocks, on-going community engagement and capacity building must be undertaken. This project represents an important step in this process. The Traditional Knowledge documented in this report can be used as the basis to further this process and facilitate future research, planning, restoration, or enhancement work. In 2002, the first Traditional/Local Knowledge Salmon Survey (CRE-16-02) was undertaken with considerable success. However, it was apparent that information gaps remained, and that further relevant Traditional Knowledge remained undocumented (Anderton, 2002). To fill such gaps, a second year’s efforts at documenting fish-trap and salmon related Traditional Knowledge regarding the Canadian portion of the Porcupine River watershed was undertaken. This report details the information gathered in 2003 regarding historic fish trap and salmon locations in the Porcupine River watershed. Historic locations of salmon throughout the watershed can be compared with current known locations and used in management decisions as well as to determine priority locations for future 2 salmon research. The historic location of fish traps can provide valuable information regarding the presence/absence of fish species and their abundance in tributary streams of the Porcupine. This information will also be valuable in identifying and addressing stock and habitat management issues, as well as future research priorities and opportunities. 2 Methods: Two local researchers were hired in Old Crow to carry out the project research. They followed a process of research similar to that conducted the