Sointula Harbour Local Control Suits Independent Community
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Harbour Authorities april 2003 — Volume 9, no. 1 Sointula Harbour Local Control Suits Independent Community When the crew of the trawler Northisle brought up an old anchor while fishing off Estevan Point on the west coast of Vancouver Island in 1989, skipper Jimmy Erickson wanted to dump it back over- board. Crew member Calvin Siider insisted that the huge rusted piece of iron had historical value and took it back to his home harbour of Sointula. There, a marine artifact expert exam- ined the anchor and declared that it was made in England sometime between 1750 and 1800. Records of Captain Cook’s exploratory voyage of the west coast of North America in 1776 state that while the ship Resolution was anchored in the region of Estevan Point, three anchor Sointula Harbour. An anchor (inset) thought to be from one of Captain Cook’s ships graces the harbour’s Fishermen’s Memorial. Photos by Kelly Edwards. lines broke during a storm. Calvin Siider’s find, Sointula residents concluded, was Company Limited received a Crown grant harbour berths 124 boats, the majority of one of Captain Cook’s three lost anchors! of land on Malcolm Island in 1901. which are licensed commercial fishing That anchor is now the centrepiece of As with many Utopian communities, boats. The remaining vessels include the Sointula Fishermen’s Memorial, things did not go well. The land proved tugboats, pleasure craft and a ferry that installed and dedicated in the summer of unsuitable for farming, a disastrous fire runs between Malcolm Island and 2002. “Most seaports have some sort of killed 11 people and destroyed the com- Vancouver Island. memorial honouring fishers lost at sea munity centre, a bridge-building contract The construction of a rock breakwater, and we thought it was appropriate to use bankrupted the community, and a logging wharf heads and floating docks to expand the anchor in ours,” says Dick Michelson, business failed. Many of the settlers left and improve the harbour was well under- President of the Malcolm Island Lions when Kurikka resigned as leader. The way when the federal government Harbour Authority. remaining Finns took up fishing. Over approached the community about forming Sointula is located on Malcolm Island, time, they built a strong economy around a harbour authority in 1993. The Malcolm a small island off the northeastern tip of commercial fishing, fish processing, Island Lions Club was the only group in Vancouver Island. The name (which logging and lumber production. the small, independent-minded community means “harmony” in Finnish) reveals the Fishing for salmon, halibut, shrimp and willing to take over managing what every- community’s origins as a Utopian commu- rockfish is the mainstay of the economy of one thought was doing fine on its own, nity founded by Finnish coal miners. Their Sointula, home to approximately 1,000 explains Mr. Michelson. leader was a charismatic playwright with people. “We have the largest per capita But the harbour has benefited from the strong socialist leanings named Matti fishing fleet in British Columbia,” says formation of the harbour authority, he Kurikka. His Kalevan Kansa Colonisation Harbour Manager Lorraine Williams. The Continues on page 2 Fisheries and Oceans Pêches et Océans Canada Canada NHAAC Completes Annual Mandate Review On November 14 and 15, 2002, the ideas and promote better work practices discussion was a key part of the meeting, National Harbour Authority Advisory among harbour authorities. since it demonstrated members’ continu- Committee (NHAAC) held its fourth meet- At the top of the agenda were the ing desire to see the NHAAC grow and ing in St. John’s, Newfoundland and annual review of the NHAAC mandate and develop and to be as effective as possible. Labrador. After being warmly welcomed a discussion of how the NHAAC functions. The committee spent the rest of the by their hosts, NHAAC members and The group reiterated that the committee meeting discussing ongoing issues, such Small Craft Harbours (SCH) representa- functions most effectively as an advisory as fatigue among harbour authorities, the tives entered into the two-day meeting body — providing information and advice Alternate Service Delivery pilot project with a positive attitude, eager to share to SCH staff. In light of this, members and insurance. The night before the meet- questioned the format of the semi-annual ing, members elected the executive, with NHAAC meetings: up to now, members all three sitting members being re-elected: have used the meetings primarily to Osborne Burke as Chairperson, Rick Hill Sointula Harbour, update each other on recurring issues. as Vice-chairperson and Melanie continued from page 1 Members identified other issues they Sonnenberg as Secretary. would like to discuss as agenda items for The committee’s time was not com- admits. “We’re pretty busy in the upcoming meetings. pletely filled with business discussions. spring, summer and fall with commer- However, to make the most of these The conference hosts demonstrated the cial fishing and pleasure craft. On-site discussions, members said they would famous Newfoundland hospitality by hold- harbour management is necessary to need to know about these issues in ing a reception at the end of the first day’s keep track of all the activity all year advance, so they could discuss them with proceedings, and the group spent the day round.” And local control of the their respective regional advisory council following the meeting visiting Petty management of the harbour — an or association. In this way, NHAAC Harbour, Port de Grave, Harbour Grace, important element of the Small Craft members would be able to give feedback Bay Bulls and Tors Cove. Harbours program — suits the inde- that truly represented the views of all The next NHAAC meeting will be held in pendent character of Sointula and harbour authorities, rather than just their Quebec’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine in early May. its fishers. own opinions and experiences. This Harbour Authorities Forum, Vol. 9, No. 1 New Look Editor: Tara Hartley Associate Editor: Linda Brisebois for Web Site Assistant Editor: Monia Charlebois Staff Writers: Lisa Dyche and Erin Sloan From Internet Coordinator: April Rose The Small Craft Harbours Web site Fax: (613) 952-6788 was recently redesigned in response to the Editor E-mail: [email protected] the Government On-Line Common Web site: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sch I am very excited to see such wonder- Look and Feel initiative. The site was Editorial and Production Services ful material in this issue of Harbour redesigned keeping harbour authorities Whitehall Associates Authorities Forum. It gives me great in mind. While most of the information Publisher pleasure to be able to help you share you are used to seeing on the site is Small Craft Harbours, 14N178 these stories with your colleagues. Fisheries and Oceans Canada still there, many of the page names Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6 I am also very grateful to all of the have changed, so you should update people in the Pacific Region office for © Minister of Public Works and Government your bookmarks accordingly. At your Services Canada 2003 their hospitality, especially to Stacee convenience, please type the following Martin and Levi Timmermans who ISSN 1203-5564 link into your browser to view the site: so capably arranged the details of Printed on recycled paper http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sch. Your my visit. comments and suggestions for improv- ing the site are always welcome. Tara Hartley 2 Harbour Authorities Forum Goodwill Brings Fishers Together Thanks to goodwill and extensive consul- the Richibucto Port Authority. A restruc- Native and non-Native fishing activity tation, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal tured harbour authority board reflects the were subject to regulations and would be fishers who work out of the harbour in interests and concerns of all the harbour closely monitored went a long way Richibucto, New Brunswick, are working stakeholders. Much needed construction towards calming the situation.” together to keep their communities thriving. to expand and improve the harbour is Restructuring the harbour authority “What was done there could be seen as a under way. board was key to achieving a solution. role model for the rest of Canada,” says What turned the situation around? The board now comprises three Abori- Maurice Girouard, Director of Aboriginal “Cooperation and good will from every- ginal and three non-Aboriginal members Harbour Development in Maritimes Region. one,” says Mr. Girouard. “Everyone from the fisher group, two members repre- He led a team of representatives from Small wanted to avoid confrontation, but not at senting pleasure boat users, one member Craft Harbours, other parts of the Depart- any cost.” There was a clear understand- each from the chamber of commerce, the ment of Fisheries and Oceans, the local ing that any solution to the community’s business development association, the Member of Parliament’s office and the problems had to be a balanced one, one harbour-based business operators, the fishers’ union that worked with community that wasn’t seen as favouring one group Town of Richibucto and the Aboriginal members to restructure the harbour author- over another, he says. communities of Big Cove and Indian Island. ity and develop lines of communication As an example, Mr. Polchies explains The new by-laws require the board’s execu- between the various stakeholders. that “provincial ministry and federal tive to have a 50-50 split between Aborigi- Difficulties began for the community department assurances that both the nal and non-Aboriginal members. after the Marshall decision of September 1999, which granted Aboriginal fishers the right to fish for food and to generate a moderate income. The food fishery starts several weeks before the commercial fishery opens, which raised concerns among non-Aboriginal fishers about competition for limited fish stocks.