August 6, 2024 — Williams Lake, B.C.
Tŝilhqot’in National Government initiating Emergency Salmon Task Force
In response to the Tŝilhqox (Chilcotin River) landslide, the Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) is initiating an emergency salmon task force. Increased sediment, debris, and flow to the Tŝilhqox and ʔElhdaqox (Fraser River) have and will continue to have dramatic impacts to this year’s sockeye and chinook run.
The TNG is also calling on all levels of government, downstream First Nations, the Pacific Salmon Commission, and other Nations and States, especially Alaskan fisheries, to take all precautionary measures possible to conserve Tŝilhqot’in territory-bound salmon, and to immediately cease from fisheries that may impact these stocks, until the impacts from the landslide and breach are fully understood.
The TNG continues to operate a world-class fisheries team with enhanced conservation measures and research being utilized to help ensure the survival and increase of salmon stocks in the territory. The task force will be led by the Tŝilhqot’in as the Nation determines the proper Indigenous and science-based path forward.
Government partners are invited and asked to support the Tŝilhqot’in leadership in this important work. Other First Nations and experts will be invited to contribute both their traditional and science-based knowledge.
“Salmon are the main food source for our people. We already face major health problems due to a lack of access to traditional foods. Hunting in the grocery stores has brought extremely high rates of diabetes and other diet related diseases to our communities. This emergency task force will bring together experts with traditional and science-based knowledge for informed decisions to be made on the Tŝilhqox salmon stocks. We call on the Province and Canada to support us in this work. All levels of government will be invited to this task force to ensure all expertise is heard.”
“We need long term alternative solutions to the salmon stocks. We also need full rehabilitation of our fishing sites and must look at stabilizing the upstream and downstream areas. There will be a lot of work ahead of us.”
—Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Joe Alphonse, O.B.C, LL.D. (hon.). Tribal Chair
Tŝilhqot’in National Government
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