The government of Canada and the Ahousaht, Ehattesaht/Chinekint, Hesquiaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations have signed a new deal on planning and management of First Nations' fisheries resources.
The agreement was announced by the five Nations and Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Diane Lebouthillier on Friday.
The two year agreement, the Incremental Reconciliation Agreement for Fisheries Resources (IRAFR), provides the framework for what the Canadian government called "an effective and collaborative approach to governance, management and planning of the five Nations' fisheries resources".
The agreement recognises that the five Nations, through their respective Ha'wiih (hereditary leadership) and elected leadership, have a role in the management of fisheries in their territories.
The IRAFR also provides funding to the five Nations for implementation, capacity building and to acquire commercial fishing access. It sets out mechanisms for a Community-Based Economic Fishery plan, including shared goals and objectives to support the development of healthy, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries for the five Nations that will contribute to the local and Canadian economy.
Ahousaht Nation Lead Negotiator, Wickaninnish/Cliff Atleo, said the Nations "are pleased to have finally signed this incremental agreement".
"For a long time, we have urged DFO (Canada's department of Fisheries and Oceans) to take the right steps and support us in rebuilding our fishery," he said.
"As Nations, we have stood united and will continue to do so - we are here to stay. We look forward to collaborating with DFO to re-establish sustainable fisheries and view this as an opportunity to forge a renewed relationship with Canada for the benefit of our fishers."
Canada's minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Gary Anandasangaree, said the Incremental Reconciliation Agreement on Fisheries Resources is "a new chapter in the relationship between the Government of Canada and the Ahousaht, Ehattesaht/Chinekint, Hesquiaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations".
"This agreement paves the way for collaborative fisheries management and access, and ultimately, it will help the five Nations return to their traditional economies and governance structures that supported their families and contribute to the Canadian economy," he said.
Minister Lebouthillier said the signing of the Incremental Reconciliation Agreement for Fisheries Resources marks "a transformative step" forward towards reconciliation and partnership with five Nuu-chah-nulth Nations.
"This agreement strengthens our collective stewardship of fisheries and honours the inherent rights of the Five Nations, enabling them to reclaim and sustain their traditional practices and economies," she said.
The Ha'oom Fisheries Society, an independently operated organisation, collaborates with DFO to administer and manage the five Nations' fisheries within their territories.
In 2009, the Supreme Court of British Columbia held that the five Nations (Ahousaht, Ehattesaht /Chinehkint, Hesquiaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Tla-o-qui-aht) have an Aboriginal right to fish for any species of fish to sell that fish. Since 2019, the five Nations have been fishing and selling fish under a multi-species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) in a Court Ordered Area.
The new Community Based Economic Fishery annual fishing plan will replace the FMP, expand the fishing area to include more of their ha-ha-houlthee (traditional governance area) and is intended to support enhanced participation in commercial fisheries for the five Nations' community members.
The Canadian government said on Friday that it is "committed to renewed relationships with Indigenous peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership".
"Through agreements like the IRAFR, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is actively working to achieve reconciliation and redress for losses experienced by the five Nations in the fisheries."