
WOLASTOQEY TERRITORY – The Six Chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation urged fisheries minister Joyce Murray to reopen this year’s elver fishery to allow Wolastoqey fishers to land the modest quota set out by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
“We presented two viable options to resolve this matter, but the minister failed to commit to a timely response to our request, which we need to land the quota. It is clear she is operating without the benefit of solid scientific data on the species,” said Chief Patricia Bernard of Matawaskiye (Madawaska First Nation).
“It was insulting to hear the Minister for DFO, a department with a long history of being combative with Indigenous people, tell us that ‘nobody likes to have things taken away’ in the context of lucrative commercial licenses she issues to non-Indigenous fishers. Our people have a long history of having things taken away by the government: our resources, our culture, our language, our children, our rights, our lands,” said Chief Gabriel Atwin of Bilijk (Kingsclear First Nation).
“We fully appreciate the careful balance between economics and conservation with respect to resources from our territory. If the fisheries minister is concerned about conservation, the first step should be to halt commercial fishing, not to punish our community members,” said Chief Tim Paul of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
This spring, for only the second time ever, DFO authorized 750 kg of quota to the Wolastoqey Nation under an interim communal commercial license: significantly less than the 1,200 kg quota enjoyed by each of the eight other non-Indigenous commercial license holders. This understanding permits provincially-registered buyers to purchase elvers from Wolastoqey fishers without penalty.
Following threats of violence among fishers in Nova Scotia and the inability of DFO to manage unauthorized fishing, the entire fishery was prematurely closed – with less than a third of the Wolastoqey Nation’s quota fished. The license conditions state that Wolastoqey fishers are limited by DFO to streams that spawn later than the ones fished by New Brunswick’s commercial licensee. Otherwise, buyers cannot purchase Wolastoqey elver catch without the threat of having their buyer’s permits suspended.
“Many community members spent significant time and money on equipment and training to earn a modest income from this fishery, and then the season was called off early without any consultation. What does that say about DFO’s priorities?” Chief Ross Perley of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) said.
At a meeting Wednesday evening, the chiefs requested minister to find other ways of compensating Wolastoqey fishers for this year’s poorly-managed and unfulfilled fishery, if she is unwilling to reopen it.
Canada has an obligation to implement Wolastoqey inherent and treaty rights, in this matter and all matters.
“The past months have left our communities deeply frustrated by unfulfilled promises. Collaboration with DFO must be seen as effective and economically beneficial to our members,” added Chief Shelley Sabattis of Welamukotuk (Oromocto First Nation).
The chiefs also presented proactive proposals to gather clear data on the American Eel species in Wolastoqey territory which is required to better define how the fishery can be managed in future years.
“We want to work with DFO to establish index rivers in New Brunswick that will provide the data needed to manage a healthy fishery in our territory,” said Chief Allan Polchies Jr. of Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation).
Media contact:
Logan Perley media@wolastoqey.ca