Good Sunday Morning!
The last few weeks, this letter has been largely about the latest horrors of Donald Trump. Today, I decided to give all of us a break. The reaction of most Canadians to the expansionist and illegal rhetoric of Trump has been inspiring. My MP office usually has a good supply of Canadian flags, but public demand to fly the flag yesterday totally outstripped supply. We have ordered more, so be ready to fly our flag whenever we can. Please do make a big shift in our economy by taking a Canadian vacation. Cancelations of holidays to the US are very encouraging!
This week I had a full day of education and inspiration about the fate of Salish Sea herring – at HELIT TŦE SȽOṈ,ET (Let the Herring Live):
On Feb 13, First Nations and environmental organizations gathered to discuss the restoration of the Salish Sea’s distinct herring populations.
The second HELIT TTE SLON,ET (Let the Herring Live) forum highlighted the need to revitalize communities where herring was a foundational species. Salish Sea First Nations communities discussed their perspectives on current herring management strategies and shared their understanding of the value of herring.
Previously, on Nov. 13, 2024, the hereditary chiefs of four Saanich Peninsula First Nations gathered to call for a complete moratorium on herring fishery. It was the first time in 40 years that they all came together in response to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) 2024-2025 Special Use and Food & Bait Herring Fishing proposal to allow commercial fishers to harvest up to 6,994 tons of herring in the Strait of Georgia and Prince Rupert between Nov. 24, 2024, and Feb. 12, 2025.
One of this week’s forum’s objectives, according to the Saanich Inlet Protection Society, was to develop specific steps to take in response to the calls for action from WSANEC hereditary chiefs and other First Nations leadership to ‘let the herring live’ and rebuild south Island herring populations, which were decimated by commercial fishing in the 1970s.
The science panel included Daniel Pauly (UBC Institute for Oceans and Fisheries), Chrissie Chen (Fisheries Manager, Tsawout FN), Benjamin Neal (Sustainable Fisheries, UVic) and John Driscoll (Fisheries Representative, David Suzuki Foundation). “We need to have a better relationship to protect all resources and fisheries within each territory,” Chen said. “We need to have a list of what is so important to the nations themselves. We need to be a part of that discussion.” During the forum, Dr. Eric Yoshida from the Juanes and Ocean History labs at UVic also introduced his groundbreaking work on liver diseases disproportionately affecting coastal Indigenous communities.
STHENEP (Adam Olsen) of TSARTLIP First Nation hosted the event featuring SHULQWILUM (Ray Harris) of Stz’uminus First Nation as keynote speaker along with other knowledge keepers.
HELIT TTE SLON,ET 2025 was held at the Gathering Strength Community Facility on Tsawout territory in Saanichton from 9 am to 4 pm.
Former Chief Vern Jacks of the Tseycum First Nation may have put the situation most forcefully. “We would rather have herring than money.” The critical role of herring in our Salish Sea ecosystem and in the culture and lives of indigenous peoples was brought home through many different perspectives. Dr. Eric Yoshida explained his research into a very damaging and often fatal liver disease. He admitted to his shame that medical professionals treating an indigenous patient often assume liver disease is due to alcohol. But it appears that for many older indigenous women, the fatty liver disease is due to the lack of herring in their diet.
Dr. Pauly, one of the world’s leading marine scientists, provided a global lens. Not only does DFO in Canada underestimate the volume of the catch while overestimating species recovery, other versions of DFO all over the world do the same thing.
It brought back for me the awful memories of working with heroic Newfoundland fishers who fought to have the DFO harvesting quota cut back. Northern Atlantic cod were the world’s most populous species. It was a blind faith in the theory of a spawning biomass that led DFO to wipe out the cod. Valiant fisheries scientists like Ransom Myers was fired for telling the truth.
The tragic mismanagement by DFO of the cod fishery is thoroughly documented in a brilliant book by Michael Harris: Lament for an Ocean. The anger and frustration that DFO seems to have learned nothing is unbearable.
The solution that emerged was that the commercial herring fishery should be completely shut down and management of fish in our waters be transferred to First Nations.
I will work toward that goal.
Thanks and love
Elizabeth
P.S.:
Upcoming community meetings!
MAYNE ISLAND: Satuday, February 22 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Community Meeting – Mayne Island
Mayne Island Community Centre 493 Felix Jack Road, Mayne Island, BC, Canada
We hope you consider joining a community discussion on Saturday, February 22, happening from 7-8:30pm PT! For further questions or comments, please email [email protected]
PENDER ISLANDS: Sunday, February 23 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Community Meeting – Pender Islands
Pender Island Community Hall 4418 Bedwell Harbour Road, Pender Island, BC, Canada
We hope you consider joining a community discussion on Sunday, February 23, taking place from 4-5:30pm PST! For further questions or comments, please email [email protected].
SATURNA ISLAND: Tuesday, February 25 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Community Meeting – Saturna Island
Saturna Community Hall 105 E Point Road, Saturna Island, BC, Canada
We hope you consider joining a community discussion on Tuesday, February 25, happening from 7-8:30pm! For further questions or comments, please email [email protected]
GALIANO ISLAND: Wednesday, February 26 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Community Meeting – Galiano Island
Galiano Island Community Hall 141 Sturdies Bay Road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, Canada
We hope you consider joining a community discussion on Wednesday, February 26, taking place from 6:30-8pm PST! For further questions or comments, please email [email protected]
SALT SPRING ISLAND: Friday, February 28 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Elizabeth speaking at ASK Salt Spring
Please join Elizabeth at ASK Salt Spring on Friday, February 28, from 11am-1pm PT. Bring your questions, concerns and a friend! All gatherings are in the SIMS (Salt Spring Island Middle School, 124 Rainbow Rd, Salt Spring Island.)