Nuu-chah-nulth fishermen are relieved after news the federal government will finally stop appealing the BC Supreme Court decision allowing the commercial sale of their catches.
Five Nuu-chah-nulth Nations successfully argued their historical right to sell seafoods harvested within their territories.
The courts ordered Fisheries and Oceans Canada to negotiate a framework, but the government delayed discussions by launching multiple appeals.
Ahousaht Fisheries Negotiator Cliff Atleo said fisheries resources should be shared 50/50.
“To simplify things they should actually consider half of all aquatic resources for Indigenous people in the province,” he said. “To me that makes a lot of sense and I’ll keep pushing that. If we don’t get half of everything then there’s no way we’re going to be self-sustaining communities.”
Nuu-chah-nulth Nations started work towards the fisheries case 20 years ago, with the courts upholding Indigenous fishing rights in 2009, and through subsequent appeal court decisions.
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