A Vancouver Island First Nations leader said that two aquaculture companiesB次元官网网址� move to seek a judicial review of the federal decision to phase out 19 Discovery Islands fish farms directly challenges reconciliation and Aboriginal rights of First Nations.

Homalco First Nation Chief Darren Blaney said that the matter is now about the First NationsB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渋nherent right to self government,B次元官网网址� and added, B次元官网网址淔irst Nations will have to intervene, since our Aboriginal rights are on the line here.B次元官网网址�

On Jan. 18 Mowi Canada West and Cermaq Canada applied to the Federal Court of Canada for a judicial review of the decision by Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan to phase out salmon farming in the waters off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island by June 30, 2022.

Minister JordanB次元官网网址檚 announcement on Dec. 17 was made after a months-long B次元官网网址渘ation-to-nationB次元官网网址� consultation process with seven First Nations that hold title in the area B次元官网网址� Homalco, Klahoose, KB次元官网网址櫭砿oks, Kwaikah, TlaB次元官网网址檃min, We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations.

A coalition of Indigenous groups and wild salmon advocates have been calling for fish farms to be removed from B.C. waters, arguing they threaten the health of wild salmon.

The declining numbers of salmon B次元官网网址� food fish for the First Nations B次元官网网址� also had several cultural implications. JordanB次元官网网址檚 decision to phase out the farms was welcomed by First Nations in the area who said that her decision gives salmon B次元官网网址渁n opportunity to come back.B次元官网网址�

However, aquaculture industry stakeholders and local mayors have been at the forefront of voicing dissatisfaction with the federal decision stating that it affects 1,500 jobs and the economy of Vancouver Island.

Cermaq said in a statement Jan. 19 that their judicial review focuses only on the conduct of DFO and the Minister of Fisheries and that the companies respect the opinions and the rights of the First Nations in the Discovery Islands region.

B次元官网网址淐ermaqB次元官网网址檚 goal is to allow time for engagement with the local First Nations to examine opportunities to achieve mutually beneficial agreements,B次元官网网址� read the statement.

But Blaney said that these statements coming from the company are B次元官网网址渉ollowB次元官网网址� just words, no action.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚f they (aquaculture industry) want to reinstate the farms they will have to consult with First Nations going all the way up to the end of the Fraser and every other person who gets impacted on the B.C. coast,B次元官网网址� said Blaney and added that the First Nations have begun discussions about this matter with the BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN).

He also said that it was disappointing to see B次元官网网址渦nanimous supportB次元官网网址� coming from city halls to fish farms.

Calling Minister JordanB次元官网网址檚 decision a B次元官网网址渂adB次元官网网址� one, North Vancouver Island mayors raised concerns about the economic impact it would have in their jurisdictions. Some of the mayors expressed their support for fish farms and in a letter to the fisheries minister told her that they feel B次元官网网址渄isposable and discarded.B次元官网网址�

Blaney said that the reaction coming from them, B次元官网网址渟hows how little regard people have for First Nations,B次元官网网址� and added that itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渞acism.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hey voted unanimously to overturn this decision saying that it was a B次元官网网址榤istakeB次元官网网址� and so does that mean my culture is a mistake? We passing on our culture to future generations, is that a mistakes? ThatB次元官网网址檚 what this challenge is. It goes right back to the kind of racism that our people have been treated throughout Canada.B次元官网网址�

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