Marine Conservation from a First Nations' Perspective: A Case Study of the Principles of the Hul'qumi'num of Vancouver Island, British Columbia Cheri Anne Ayers, BSc, University of Victoria at Malaspina University College, 1996 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Interdisciplinary Studies OCheri Anne Ayers, 2005 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. Evidence for the decline of marine biodiversity is being noted worldwide (Pauly and Watson, 2003). Indigenous peoples around the world have a key role to play in marine conservation efforts. With the collapse of many fisheries stocks, including stocks in the Georgia Strait of British Columbia, Canada, the Canadian Federal Government is pursuing conservation strategies such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Section 35 of Canada's Constitution Act protects indigenous peoples' rights, such as the right to harvest natural resources for food, social and ceremonial use. Conservation efforts that potentially infringe upon Aboriginal rights secure a duty to consult and accommodate First Nations' interests on the Government of Canada. Indigenous peoples on Canada's West Coast ofen oppose the creation of MPAs as these have the potential to impact their indigenous rights. This opposition has contributed to the delay in the development of MPAs on the Pacific Coast of Canada. This research contributes to understanding of indigenous use of marine resources and how effective government proposed MPAs are in meeting the conservation goals and perspectives of the Hul'qumi'num peoples. First Nations' marine conservation and management principles, goals and objectives are explored, through a case study of a Central Coast Salish indigenous group, the Hul'qumi'num. These approaches are compared to current government principles and strategies. Some similarities exist between the two, although there are fundamental differences that may be dificult to reconcile. The Hul'qumi'num worldview that everything is connected has some similarities to ecosystem-based management where humans are viewed as part of the ecosystem. However, in a Hul'qumi'num philosophy, humans are a fundamental component of the ecosystem, whereas ecosystem-based management recognizes humans as part of the ecosystem in order to better manage anthropogenic impacts. Simply integrating traditional ecological knowledge in current management efforts does not go far enough to address the goal of reconnecting Hul'qumi'num Mustimuhw (people) to the marine environment and resources. Attitudes towards permanent no-take zones are influenced by beliefs such as limiting aboriginal rights by closing areas to harvesting. Participant support for permanent no-take zones was significantly increased if the no- take areas were proposed and managed by Hul'qumi'num. Community-based management, where First Nations have a legitimate role in managing may begin to address this gap. Further exploration of how to accommodate First Nations' principles, goals and objectives directly in marine conservation and management of marine resources will increase the success of marine conservation eforts on the Pacific Coast of Canada. This thesis provides the beginning of a foundation to bridge between current government conservation strategies and traditional management systems. The integration of social sciences and natural sciences in conservation eforts will increase the acceptance and success of conserving marine ecosystems. 1. Table of Contents .. Abstract ........................................................................................................................11 1. Table of Contents ........................................................................................ iv .. 1.1 List of Tables .............................................................................................. VII ... 1.2 List of Figures............................................................................................ VIII Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... ix 1. Introduction.................................................................................................. 1 1.1 FIRST NATIONS'ISSUES WITH CONTEMPORARYMARINE CONSERVATION ...... 1 1.2 STUDYGOALS AND OBJECTIVES..................................................................... 7 1.2.1 Goals ..................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2 Research Objectives .............................................................................. 7 1.3 STUDYAREA - COASTSALISH MARINE TERRITORY ....................................... 8 1.4 ETHNOGRAPHICLITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................ 9 1.4.1 The Coast Salish ................................................................................... 9 1.4.2 First Nations' Traditional Management ........................................11 1.4.3 Social Institutions ................................................................................ 13 1.4.4 Worldviews ......................................................................................... 14 1.5 HUL'QUMI'NUMAND THE BC TREATYPROCESS .......................................... 18 1.6 METHODOLOGY............................................................................................ 19 1.6.1 Research Design and Method ............................................................. 19 1.6.2 Focus Group ........................................................................................ 21 1.6.3 Face-to-face Questionnaire Interviews ............................................... 25 1.6.4 Getting out on the Land ......................................................................28 1.6.5 Ethical Considerations ........................................................................ 30 1.7 THE RELEVANCEOF THIS INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDYTO GEOGRAPHYAND ENVIRONMENTALSTUDIES AND IN OCEANSCONSERVATION THEORY ......... 30 1.8 THESISORGANIZATION ................................................................................. 31 2 A Comparison of the Hul'qumi'num First Nation's and the Government of Canada's Principles. Goals and Objectives for Marine Conservation ............................................................................................... 33 2.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................. 33 2.2 LITERATUREREVIEW .................................................................................... 34 2.2.1 Parks and People ................................................................................. 34 2.2.2 Co-management and Community-based Management with Indigenous People in Canada ................................................................................. 38 2.2.3 Current System of Marine Resource Management in Canada ............ 39 2.2.4 Canada. Indigenous Peoples and Marine Conservation...................... 42 2.2.5 Ecosystem-based Management as an Objective of Marine Conservation ....................................................................................... 44 2.3 THESTUDY AREA ......................................................................................... 45 . 2.4 THECOAST SALISH ................................................................................ 46 2.5 METHODS...................................................................................................... 48 2.6 RESULTS....................................................................................................... 5 1 2.6.1 Hul'qumi'num Principles for Marine Conservation ...........................51 2.6.2 Defining Hul'qumi'num Goals and Objectives for Marine Conservation ....................................................................................... 56 2.6.3 Goals and Objectives Expressed by the Hul'qumi'num Youth .......... 60 2.6.4 Hul'qumi'num Principles for Marine Resource Management and the Contemporary Use of Traditional Management Practices ..................60 2.7 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................. 63 2.7.1 A Comparison of Principles ................................................................ 65 2.7.2 A Comparison of Marine Conservation Goals and Objectives ........... 77 2.7.3 Traditional Management Systems Informing Current Management Regimes ............................................................................................... 82 2.8 CONCLUSIONS............................................................................................... 90 3 An Exploration of Hul'qurni'num. Coast Salish Indigenous Peoples' Attitudes Towards the Establishment of MPAs in Georgia Strait. British Columbia. Canada ......................................................................... 95 3.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................. 95 3.2 LITERATUREREVIEW .................................................................................... 95 3.2.1 Oceans in Trouble ............................................................................... 95 3.2.2 MPAs as Part of the Solution ..............................................................96 3.2.3 Indigenous People and Parks ..............................................................99