Two Vancouver Island First NationsB次元官网网址� chiefs broke their silence this week, saying the federal Discovery Islands fish farm process was filled with missed opportunities.

Campbell River area Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai were among seven First Nations that federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan consulted prior to her decision to phase out 19 Discovery Islands fish farms by 2022.

But the chiefs said that even though the decision aligned with the sentiment of their communities in favour of removing open-pen farms from the ocean, the process was hollow.

Chief Chris Roberts of Wei Wai Kum First Nation said they were given inadequate time to have a B次元官网网址減ragmatic dialogueB次元官网网址� with Jordan and were dissatisfied with the way the process was conducted.

The First Nations were left with no alternatives, nor were they given the opportunity to arrive at an autonomous decision through the principles of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Instead they were left B次元官网网址榳earing the decisionB次元官网网址� the federal government made for them.

Roberts said he is not a proponent/supporter of the aquaculture industry and shares the serious concerns of his community about the impact of open-pen fish farming in its traditional territory.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not trying to give false hopes to the industry that we might have arrived at some sort of permission for them to stay, but it certainly could have been done in a way that was not so abrupt.B次元官网网址�

But as an elected chief with a background in economics and privy to understanding the full picture of the economic consequences of decisions, Roberts said there are several missed opportunities for everyone involved.

And according to him, no one is off the hook for the consequences of this decision B次元官网网址� the federal and provincial government and aquaculture industry included.

Former We Wai Kai chief Brian Assu said they were B次元官网网址渞ailroadedB次元官网网址� by the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 decision, in a with MLA Michele Babchuk.

B次元官网网址淲e literally had 30 minutes between Wei Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum to consult with the minister and out of that, 15 minutes of it basically was telling us that she was going to announce her decision,B次元官网网址� said Assu.

B次元官网网址淲hen I say we got railroaded, I really truly mean thatB次元官网网址� ThatB次元官网网址檚 our traditional territory and the (federal) government decided to base their decision on all external parties to us B次元官网网址� including other First Nations. It was a mess,B次元官网网址� said Assu.

The actual site of the fish farms comes under core Laichwiltach territory (We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum and Kwaikah) and overlaps with four other First Nations (TlaB次元官网网址檃min, Klahoose, Homalco, KB次元官网网址櫭砿oks). But apart from these Nations, there were other commentators brought in to the discussion, said Roberts.

Lumping a broader regional group of First Nations into the process was unnecessary, as it interfered with the autonomy of the title-holding Nations in their jurisdiction, according to Roberts.

He is also disappointed with the process because all the rhetoric of reconciliation and commitment to UNDRIP were nothing more than B次元官网网址渨indow dressings.B次元官网网址� According to him, the government did not get reconciliation right as it was not a B次元官网网址済enuine consultation processB次元官网网址� and they werenB次元官网网址檛 afforded the opportunity to arrive at a decision on their own terms.

B次元官网网址淚f theyB次元官网网址檙e going to recognize us as title holders in these areas, and itB次元官网网址檚 going to be our decision, then letB次元官网网址檚 establish the process that helps us arrive at a decision in a responsible way.B次元官网网址�

Instead of a shared decision making process or a consent-based model, it was the same old consult B次元官网网址� where the minister hears your concerns (and Roberts gives Jordan the due recognition for listening to the concerns from the First NationsB次元官网网址� perspective) but still has the ultimate decision making power, he said.

B次元官网网址淪o even though it appears that the minister got it right this time, the risk is that nothing will change,B次元官网网址� said Roberts with regards to future consultations.

He feels that JordanB次元官网网址檚 decision was more of a political move to meet Prime Minister TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 2019 election mandate that promised to remove open-pens from B.C.B次元官网网址檚 waters by 2025.

When asked about the First NationsB次元官网网址� dissatisfaction with the consultation process, JordanB次元官网网址檚 office told the Mirror that prior to the decision to phase out the first farms in the Discovery Islands, the minster met directly with First Nations in the Discovery Islands, and B次元官网网址渆very effortB次元官网网址� was made to have meaningful consultation.

B次元官网网址淥ur relationship with these Indigenous communities is extremely important, and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure they have a say in the economic activity that occurs on their territory,B次元官网网址� said Jordan in the statement.

The federal decision has been met with criticism from the industry and political leaders who have repeatedly pointed out the economic repercussions and jobs lost through this process.

Last week, B.C. Premier John Horgan criticized the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 handling of the Discovery Islands consultation process.

But Roberts calls HorganB次元官网网址檚 criticism B次元官网网址渋ronicB次元官网网址� because they had approached the province to table a Broughton-like process before the federal government got involved.

But according to Roberts, the B次元官网网址渄oor was shut without an explanation to us as to why.B次元官网网址�

As far as economic repercussions are concerned, the decision hit Wei Wai KumB次元官网网址檚 businesses too.

The status quo the aquaculture industry was operating on was not okay, and for First Nations saving wild salmon and environmental sustainability will always be foremost priority. But probably there were missed opportunities for the industry too, said Roberts.

B次元官网网址淚 really wish there would be more appetite to explore things like land-based aquaculture, he said and added, B次元官网网址渙r even closed containment.B次元官网网址�

He is tired of hearing the industry say that land based aquaculture is not a feasible option for them.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see them step up and prove it or disprove it. Until then I donB次元官网网址檛 buy it,B次元官网网址� he said.