First nation seeks aquaculture opportunities

Odd Grydeland

The hereditary Chief of the Tlatlasikwala First Nation took part in a fact-finding trip to the Aqua-Nor Conference and Trade Show in Trondheim, back in 2005, and who knows if this helped Chief Tom Wallace to see the merits of salmon farming.

In an arrangement that appears to echo that made between Marine Harvest and the local First Nation in the coastal village of Klemtu, the Tlatlasikwala Nation will apply for and presumably be the owner of the land tenure licence to be issued, following a governmental review of and public input to the 352-page application package.

On its website, the tribe explains: “Our Territory covers the lands and waters of northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, and our home village is at beautiful Bull Harbour on Hope Island. Once numbering 500, today 70 surviving members are working hard to rebuild our community. Our goal is to provide economic opportunities at our home village that respects our lands, waters, and resources, so our families may once again thrive. The Tlatlasikwala First Nation invites responsible business partners into the Territory to help create diverse and sustainable economic initiatives, so our people may once again return to Hope Island and thrive. These economic opportunities may include aquaculture, wind power, and tourism.

“In 2010, the Tlatlasikwala First Nation approached the finfish aquaculture industry, including Marine Harvest Canada, to inquire whether the Territory would be suitable for salmon aquaculture. Since 2010, the company and Nation have worked together to locate two potential aquaculture sites for salmon and to research the science-based data required for site application. Applications for two salmon farms were submitted by the Tlatlasikwala First Nation to regulating authorities in December 2013”.

The tribe also describes what it takes to be doing business within its Traditional Territory by providing the following Information for Project Proponents:

The Tlatlasikwala First Nation welcomes economic development in our territory. Our vision is economic development that:

• Is respectful of Tlatlasikwala Aboriginal Rights and Title to the lands and resources

• Is conducted following protocols of early communications and consultation

• Is environmentally sustainable and conserves all natural resources on the land and in the waters

• Is carried out in a manner satisfactory to the environmental stewardship goals of the Tlatlasikwala First Nation

• Protects non-commercial resources that are important to the Tlatlasikwala peoples

• Is respectful and poses no threat to our cultural or sacred sites

• Provides training, jobs and benefits for the Tlatlasikwala peoples

• Recognizes that everything in the natural environment is linked together

   

  The Tlatlasikwala First Nation is working on creating economic opportunities so that the community can return to Hope Island to live and work. Current projects include:

• Renewable wind energy

• Finfish aquaculture