The occupation of the salmon farms east of Alert Bay is now at day 51.
The Premier of British Columbia, whom this entire effort is aimed at, finally met with the nations of the Broughton Archipelago on October 10. The original four nations had doubled to eight nations standing firm in their resolve to have salmon farms removed from their collective territories.
In a historic show of unity the four nations of the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, Namgis, Mamlilikula. Ma’amtagila and Tlowitsis dropped overlapping border disputes in regards to the issue of salmon farms and locked arms.
There was an air of hopefulness as Premier Horgan, and Ministers Trevena, Popham and Fraser arrived.
Forty hereditary leaders and elected chief councillors stood before the representatives of the BC government in full regalia. Each nation stepped forward to deliver their message:
“We want fish farms out so we can survive – this is genocide,” hereditary leader Robert Mountain.
“Our council is demanding removal of salmon farms and that Larson Island farm not be restocked.” Elected chief Dicki Sumner.
“Marine Harvest, the only thing we want to hear from you is when you are leaving, so we can plan the celebration, no more studies or committees!” Hereditary leader Art Dick, Mamalilikulla.
“Killing salmon is the same as killing our people.” Hereditary leader Bill Cramner, Namgis.
“The people with vision know that fish farms are going to go,” hereditary and elected leader Don Svanvik, Namgis.
At first Horgan didn’t give an inch. His language seemed dismissive – I am hear to here your stories about what salmon mean to you. “Stories,” no the indigenous leaders were not there to share stories, they were there to say that destroying wild salmon was no longer going to be tolerated, that salmon farms had to get out.
I wondered if Horgan had strong words later with whoever advised him to dress causal, as if he was going to a soccer game. The other leaders were dressed in regalia that put heat to their words. The fire that roared between the indigenous and non-indigenous governments warmed and threatened at the same time.
At first Horgan refused to give any indication he had heard the words spoken in the Big House. Minister Trevena was telling anyone who would listen that they were afraid of a lawsuit if they cancelled the licences, as if a people facing loss of their culture and food resource would be moved by government’s fear of a lawsuit.
Then in an unscripted moment, leaders Bill Wilson and Willie Moon took Horgan to task on the fact that all but two of the salmon farming Licences of Occupation in the Broughton Archipelago will expire in June 2018. Horgan went on defense – the Licences are not up for renewal yet, but Chief Moon pointed out that when Marine Harvest puts young fish into farms with only 8 months of tenure left they knew full well that it would take 20 months to grow those fish to harvest. Moon wanted to know would Horgan put Marine Harvest on notice?
It was a tense and very public moment all eyes were on the leaders and Horgan to his credit saw there was no way out, he replied “If those leases are up in less than two years they shouldn’t be able to restock.” Agriculture Minister Popham heartily agreed. The moment passed, but three cameras captured the exchange and what is spoken in the Big House becomes law.
On October 12 the massive 150’ Norwegian registered Viktoria Viking headed north to the Marine Harvest hatchery in Ocean Falls on the BC Central Coast. It loaded up with Atlantic salmon smolts and late at night turned south. Would Marine Harvest breach the First Nation occupation of the farms in the Broughton Archipelago and put the fish into pens in the territory where 8 nations are standing united against the damage by salmon farms to wild salmon.
Marine Harvest informed the court that five out of six of its hatcheries are infected with the salmon blood virus piscine reovirus.
On Friday the 13th in the pre-dawn October morning the Viktoria Viking entered Knight Inlet. Ernest and I followed in my speedboat. We knew the farm in Port Elizabeth was empty and sure enough this Viking headed there. As we turned the corner towards the farm two large black RCMP zodiacs streaked out of the bay along the far shore. We had heard rumours that an RCMP tactical team were gathering in nearby Port McNeill, but why were these boats leaving the farm?
As we, the biologist and the school teacher, circled the farm a woman with POLICE across her back slipped out of sight in the Marine Harvest building tied to the farm. Another peered out a window showing only half his face, POLICE across his cap. We asked to speak to them, but they refused. The Viking extended a large hose across the walkway and young Atlantic salmon poured into the waters of Knight Inlet. I found a good position to film this, but Marine Harvest came up behind me towing a house and tied it up so the view was obstructed. The workers and crew laughed at how small we were against them.
However, Ernest took to social media and in minutes media began to phone.
With its load discharged the Viktoria Viking pulled out and began steaming back out the inlet for another load. The two zodiacs came around the corned and picked up 9 officers. As we sat there watching them a man lying in the bottom of one of the boats peered over the pontoons. Was he hiding? Did we know him? And then they roared out one on either side of me and disappeared.
Who exactly are we up against here?
People took over Horgan’s office today and locked the door in solidarity https://www.cheknews.ca/premier-john-horgans-constituency-office-targeted-salmon-farm-protesters-376436/
Tomorrow is another day in the fight to save the last wild salmon and the movement is growing.