A8 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 14, 2002 Kitwanga chiefs stage fish protest BY LARISSA ARDIS GITXSAN HEREDITARY chiefs from Kitwanga say their aboriginal rights to fish for economic reasons are being denied on by both the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Gitxsan Watershed Authority, and they’re hop- ing to shake things up with some direct action. About a dozen Gitxsan nalion members from Kit- wanga, including heredi- tary chiefs Peter Turley (Gillawoa) and Calvin Hy- zimhiefss (Simidiiks) set up camp Aug. 6 on the banks of the Skeena a few kilometres east of Kitwan- ga. Beside a tarped lean-to, campfire and ice chests, several posted signs bear slogans such as: “DFO ig- nores aboriginal concerns” and “How do you raliona- lize your conservation po- ticies?” The group’s plan is ta harvest sockeye salmon and sell them from a high- way stand to non-native passersby —_ risking charges for violating the federal Fisheries Act and possible fines of up to $12,000. - The protest’s organizer Art Loring explained their rationale. “The Gitxsan should have an allocation of our own to fish for economic teasons, not just food, so- cial and ceremonial purposes,” said Loring. He is the executive director of the Gitwangak Chiefs Fishing Corporation, which represents 13 Kitwanga chiefs, and about 1000 house members (including 100 fishers). Loring emphasized that ihe crew is not planning to sell the fish to make money. “We're thinking ‘we’ ll let them go for Canadian Tire money, or maybe just $5 per, fish ta cover. some of our expenses,” he said. The object is to land themselves in court, ex- plained Loring, because the Kitwanga chiefs have lost faith in the Gitxsan Watershed Authority to fight for their aboriginal Tights. “This is our last resort,” declared Loring, adding that a court case is the only way their complaints will be heard. The chiefs’ ongoing frustration with the GHA and the DFO has been ex- acerbated by this year’s loss of an important source of income. Lower than usual esti- mates of returning sockeye has meant that the Excess to Salmon Spawning Re- quirements license wasn’t granted this year. It’s been deeply felt in unemploy- ment-ridden native com- munities. On Aug. 7, the Kitwan- ga chiefs drove their fish- laden ice chests to a small roadside stand a few kilo- metres down the highway, _ to stage the key part of their protest: illegal sales of the fish to passersby But even before the chiefs’ had unloaded the ice chests from trucks, DFO officers ar- rived to “monitor the si- tuation.” The two officers stayed at the site until 9:30 p.m., their presence effectively scuttling the possibility of any illegal sales. Loring says the Kitwan- ga chiefs intend to carry. on their protest fishery for as long as the sockeye rin carries on — likely no more than another week. When asked if this is an effective means of protest given that the DFO offi- cers’ presence will prevent sales, and thus the bust that they are seeking, Lar- ing conceded: “We're looking at that.” Other action has inclu- ded an overnight demon- stration by the Kitwanga chiefs in the lobhy of the DFO office in Prince Ru- pert Aug, 8. i David Hinarson,. area. their . chief of resource manage- ment for the North Coast DFO, says the GWA is considered to be a repre- sentative organization, and the DFO no intention of meddling in the “internal politics” of the Gitxsan. “We understand their frustration,” he said, but pointed out that the DFO cannot alter mid-stream agreements made with the GWA through the Skeena Fisheries Commission. “That would show bad faith,” he said. “And if we made separate allocation agreements everywhere, there’d be chaos on the rivers.” The way to get an allo- cation is through the treaty process, he added —- or by conlinuing the campaign get DFO policy changed. KITWANGA CHIEF Calvin Hyzimhiefss and helpers tried to sell sockeye salmon caught on the Skeena August 7 illegally on highway 16 in protest of their abor- iginal rights to fish for economic reasons, LARISSA ARDIS PHOTO Northarn yes Skeena Mall - Terrace _ C8 ob. 9 . GLASSES and CONTACTS eGucci 5 YOUR . ; eRalph Lauren “ONE STOP SHOP eHarry Potter sFlexen BUY ONE PAIR Silhouette GET A SPARE eEasy Clip for a friend or family member For your convenience & quick service, please bring in your prescription: | Phone: 250-638-7667 conditions and details, . 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