A conflict between the Tseshaht First Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada could spill over into this weekend’s Labour Day Salmon Derby.
Tseshaht councillor and fisheries negotiator Hugh Braker said DFO’s refusal to allow an economic opportunity fishery for Tseshaht members has sparked an angry response that will force people onto welfare.
When asked if there will be protest blockades of the boat ramp this weekend, Braker simply said: “I can’t promise there won’t be”.
He said he hopes others will respect any peaceful protest.
“We don’t want confrontation with sport or commercial fishermen, our problem is with DFO,” he said. “Most of the commercial fishermen understand Aboriginal right to food, social and ceremonial fish, and we have no desire to confront them, but at the same time our people are very angry with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.”
They believe DFO is penalizing Tseshaht for launching an unlicenced Sockeye Salmon fishery in June when the numbers of fish exceeded the original forecast, and are now preventing accress to the lucrative chinook fishery.
Braker says DFO is ignoring reconciliation and is instead encouraging confrontation.
“You have to understand that some Tseshaht people just had their entire income for the year just taken away from them, so they’re understandably upset and angry with DFO,” he said.
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