For thousands of years, Nuu-chah-nulth Ha’wiih managed the land and ocean resources within their Ha-houlthee. Nuu-chah-nulth parents and grandparents taught hishukish ts’awalk and iisaak to each new generation, strictly enforcing management practices which sustained an estimated pre-contact population of 30,000. Although much has changed in the last century, hishukish ts’awalk and iisaak remain core Nuu-chah-nulth principles. Now Ha’wiih are reinvigorating their roles as the managers of Nuu-chah-nulth resources. Uu-a-thluk In 2005, the 14 of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and Pacheedaht First Nation established Uu-a-thluk to implement the How does my Nation above principles and increase the voice of Ha’wiih on matters related to benefi t fr om Uu-a-thluk? ocean resources. The Nations established a Council of Ha’wiih to work more closely with Canada on decisions affecting their communities. Three goals were By partnering with Uu-a-thluk established for Uu-a-thluk: and participating in the 1. Improve the working relationship between Canada and the First Nations to Uu-a-thluk Council of Ha’wiih, conduct shared aquatic resource management your Nation will: 2. Help Nuu-chah-nulth people gain more skills in ocean resource management to • Have a larger voice in make sharing the responsibilities more successful 3. Develop ocean-based opportunities for Nuu-chah-nulth people and communities aquatic management issues. so that more people can make a living from the ocean • Benefi t from greater access In the past four years, Uu-a-thluk has tackled these objectives and worked to manage to sea resources for current aquatic resources the Nuu-chah-nulth way. The tasks are not easy and there is still much and future generations. work to be done, but there are successes indicating that progress is being made. Below are some of the achievements that Uu-a-thluk has delivered since 2005. • See more employment, greater independence, and increased skills among community members.

• Receive specialized skills from the Uu-a-thluk team in areas such as fi sheries stewardship, capacity development, and collaborative management.

A Stronger Voice in Management More Access to Fish and Ocean Res ources ≈ Improved working relations with DFO, including ≈ Increased Nuu-chah-nulth access to sea resources near agreement on sea otter harvest, and involvement through participation in PICFI (recent submission of in Pacific Salmon Treaty renegotiations $4 million business plan for six Nations) Influenced DFO policy through legal action, ≈ Convinced DFO to lift unnecessary restrictions on consultations, recommendations, and relationship- ≈ communal lingcod licences building ≈ Incorporated cultural practices and protocols into ≈ Promoted Nuu-chah-nulth ownership of sea meetings and events resources through the voices and statements of Nuu-chah-nulth Ha’wiih, and activities such as the Built a reputation for Nuu-chah-nulth as a national ≈ cookbook publication, public events, presentations, leader in aboriginal aquatic resource management and a cultural exchange with DFO through Uu-a-thluk ≈ Took the lead in crab reform to have a significant More Stewardship voice in the restructuring of the fishery ≈ Raised new funding to complete side channels and continue salmon enhancement projects Jobs and Training for Communities ≈ Coordinated chinook escapement projects on seven ≈ Raised over $450,000 for education, awareness, streams in the Northern Region and recently received training, and mentoring programs reaching over 500 approval for two new chinook assessment projects Nuu-chah-nulth youth and adults that will provide new jobs and improved information. ≈ Supported Nuu-chah-nulth university students in science programs with career planning, training, and employment

The Uu-a-thluk team looks forward to exceeding the goals and objectives of the Ha’wiih and First Nations. For more information about Uu-a-thluk, please contact Don Hall at [email protected] or by phone at 250-724-5757. Visit Uu-a-thluk www.uuathluk.ca for general information. Taking Care Of