Treaty fishery’s first season deemed a success for Lennox Island, young Indigenous fishers

LENNOX ISLAND, P.E.I. — Prince Edward Island’s first treaty-protected fishery completed its first lobster season with no hitch.

Chief Darlene Bernard of Lennox Island First Nation stated general the season, which launched on Could 7, was a hit, particularly for the younger group members who took half within the fishery.

“It was nice, and the true nice a part of it was we had three younger folks in our group who had been on the market fishing and making a residing,” she stated. “They had been very comfortable about it. I used to be speaking to 1 younger fella who stated it was nice. It was an incredible introduction to the fishery and he’s trying ahead to collaborating once more.”

The group’s treaty-protected fishery despatched out two boats with 250 traps, stated Bernard. Two younger group members manned a bigger boat with 100 traps every, whereas one other younger member manned a smaller boat with 50 traps, she stated.

“This individual needed to start out out small. He had all the time been on a dory all his life and felt assured there in order that’s what he needed to attempt,” she stated. “That’s the great thing about it’s it’s a treaty fishery that we are attempting to make work for the younger folks.”

DFO understanding

Initially, the fishery was launched with out approval from the Division of Fisheries and Oceans, nonetheless, on Could 12, the band introduced an understanding had been reached between the group and DFO.

Bernard stated though the understanding isn’t a signed settlement, it allowed the fishers to hit the water with out concern and fish underneath the circumstances of the understanding. She stated the understanding may even assist when the group takes its fishery to LFA 25 within the fall.

“We did announce that we’re going to be fishing 1,000 traps by the (spring and fall) lobster seasons, so we can be launching some extra traps on the south facet throughout that fishing season,” she stated. “I hope, and I really feel assured, that we are going to be welcomed over there. We’re not fishing something further, we’re staying throughout the pressures that had been there already. I feel that was the largest concern of business fishermen. We’ve addressed that.”

Job creation

With Lennox Island First Nation and different Indigenous communities discovering success with their treaty fisheries, Peter McKenna, chair of UPEI’s political science division, stated we must always anticipate to see extra First Nations communities contemplate an identical operation of their very own.

“I feel it is logical for (different communities) to need to check out that and supply some earnings, job creation and employment for First Nations communities and I feel we’re prone to see extra of that going ahead,” stated McKenna. “It’s a possibility for Indigenous Folks to develop their very own homegrown business and I feel that’s what we would like.

“In the event that they suppose it’s a good suggestion, they suppose it is worthwhile and it does present earnings, alternative, improvement and employment for indigenous communities, I feel it is one thing we must always all assist.”

McKenna stated as Indigenous communities proceed to discover alternatives to develop and self-govern, the federal authorities ought to open itself to working with them and letting them take the lead of their nation.

“I feel within the spirit of reconciliation, the function of the federal government must be to encourage extra Indigenous improvement at a tempo they need to decide,” he stated. “First off, the federal authorities must take heed to what Indigenous communities are saying. Cease making an attempt to dictate what they’ll do and take heed to what they should say and what they’re hoping to perform.”

No pushback

The understanding between DFO and Lennox Island First Nation, in addition to with different First Nations throughout the area, is an effective first step towards permitting them to take the lead. Nevertheless, McKenna stated there’ll possible all the time be pushback from non-Indigenous Canadians, one thing he stated will not be new to First Nation communities.

Thankfully, for these participating within the treaty fishery, Bernard stated it was uneventful when it comes to pushback for essentially the most half.

“From my reviews that I’ve obtained, there have been no incidents, that they had their catches monitored with our business fishery and all went properly,” she stated.

Bernard stated the group is trying ahead to the autumn season and is getting ready to convey extra boats, younger fishers and traps – as much as 700 – to the waters southeast of P.E.I.

“We’re beginning planning now and have been placing some feelers out in the neighborhood to see who would have an interest,” she stated. “It’s a brand new place for us as a result of we solely have two business fishers who fish there. We’re bringing over in all probability seven extra younger folks to fish on larger boats there, with a mentor.

“I don’t see any points actually and I’m hoping that we’ll be capable of go over there, discover a protected berth and fish.”

Cody McEachern is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He might be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @CodyInHiFi.