First Nations Salmon Coordinating Committee (SCC) Lets talk about - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

First Nations Salmon Coordinating Committee (SCC) “Let’s talk about real salmon issues, the tough ones not being tackled…”

How SCC Started § First Nations: frustration with IFMP/IHPC process (salmon and other species) § Community feedback to various FNFC meetings & workshops § First Nation participants at IHPC (salmon and other) concerns First Nations input to IFMP development not apparent in final § IFMP (no accountability by DFO) Participation in Tier 3 IHPC process weakening bilateral § relationship and DFO’s duty to consult FN representation at IHPCs an issue § § IFMP/IHPC Tier 2 Workshop in Vancouver, October 2011 § Most First Nations decide to meet Tier 1/2 rather than attend Tier 3 IHPC process

How SCC Started § November 2011 meetings with First Nations representing almost all 14 FNFC Regional areas § First Nations representatives commit to developing an effective Tier 1 process, then to engage in the Tier 2 and 3 processes § Interim First Nations Integrated Salmon Harvesting Committee (FN_ISH) formed January 2012 § Name transition from FN_ISH to Interim Salmon Coordinating Committee to SCC

Purpose of the SCC Terms of Reference The purpose of the SCC is to advance First Nations priorities and recommendations in the management of salmon and the development of DFO’s salmon IFMPs. SCC priorities include but are not limited to: Advancing First Nations concerns about DFO’s management of salmon stocks, 1. Ensuring access to food, social, and ceremonial fish for First Nations, and 2. Expanding First Nations economic opportunities in Fisheries 3.

What Does the Terms of Reference “Purpose” Mean in Practice? To develop a functional Tier 1 forum, where First § Nations can reconcile their fisheries and harvest plans and discuss common management issues and opportunities Supplementary value (no overlap) to other Tier 1 and § Tier 2 processes (e.g., Fraser Roadmap and Fraser Forum) To provide an alternative to DFO’s IHPC process § To inform the Salmon IFMP with consolidated § recommendations from Tier 1 discussions

Long-Term Objectives Conservation of salmon populations 1. Sustainable fisheries for future generations 2. Food and Ceremonial access to meet community needs 3. Economic access to contribute to community needs 4. Increased management authority for First Nations to achieve the above 5. objectives

Southern Salmon CC Structure Level 1 First Nations Communities • FN communities, governments, Nations, fishing programs & organizations Committee Structure • Ultimate source of authority and Title & Rights Okanagan & • Nomination & appointment source Uuathluk Fraser Valley Lower Nlaka’pamux & IMAWG UFFCA ONA (NTC) FN Mainland FN St’at’imc Secwepemc • Mutual information sharing South Coast VI & Level 2 North Coast VI & Lower Trans. West Coast VI Fraser Valley Mid Fraser 1 Mid Fraser 2 Upper Fraser Mainland Inlet Mainland Inlet Mainland Columbia • 14 FNFC regions • Coordination of nomination & appointments between FN parties in region • Information medium between the provincial and community level Level 3 • Consensus based Tier 1 process identifies issues of broad concern to FN and enables strategic Tier 2 engagement with DFO on IFMPs Southern Salmon Committee Process of Salmon CC • Regionally focused committees allows for efficient (SSC) engagement in IHPC process with DFO through nomination and appointment from Level 1 and 2 (ex. SSC) • Coordinating committee brings together FN representatives Salmon CC from the Northern and Southern regions (SCC) (SCC) • Structure could be applied to FN engagement in other processes such as IHHPC, GIAPC, IMAP, etc. and relate to overarching FN venue that relates to DFO on policy on integrated management plans Level 4 • IHPC process (Tier 3) now has designated representatives from FNFC regions DFO IFMP/IHPC Process Outcome • Results of FN and DFO engagement provide direction to revamped IHPC process and North and South Coast Salmon IFMPs.

Northern Salmon CC Structure Level 1 • FN communities, governments/Nations, First Nations Communities fishing programs & organizations • Ultimate source of authority and Committee Structure Title & Rights • Nomination & appointment source Northern NC Lax Nisga’a • Mutual information sharing SFC CCIRA CHN Fisheries Trans. Kw’alaam SFNSS Fisheries IFMPs developed with Level 2 DFO Yukon 14 FNFC regions • Upper Skeena North Coast Central Coast Haida Gwaii Region Coordination of nomination & • appointments between FN parties in region Information medium between the provincial • and community level Level 3 • Consensus based Tier 1 process identifies issues of broad concern Process of Salmon CC to FN and enables strategic Tier 2 engagement with DFO on IFMPs Northern Salmon Committee • Regionally focused committees allows for efficient (NSC) engagement in IHPC process with DFO through nomination and appointment from Level 1 and 2 (ex. NSC) • Coordinating committee brings together FN representatives Salmon CC from the Northern and Southern regions (SCC) (SCC) • Structure could be applied to FN engagement in other processes such as IHHPC, GIAPC, IMAP, etc. and relate to overarching FN venue that relates to DFO on policy on integrated management plans Level 4 Outcomes • IHPC process (Tier 3) now has designated representatives from FNFC regions DFO IHPC Process/ IFMP • Results of FN and DFO engagement provide direction to revamped IHPC process and North and South Salmon IFMPs.

Salmon Planning 2011-2012 November Tier 1 meeting to highlight stock concerns § and opportunities for 2012 and begin process discussions for alternative approach Based on IFMP comments and reviews of First Nations, § Interim SCC identified 10 general themes and suite of recommendations to DFO re: 2011 IFMP In 2011 and spring 2012, Tier 1 and Tier 2 meetings § continued, but most Nations avoid Tier 3 IHPC process Little evidence that substantive recommendations of § First Nations are incorporated into 2012 IFMP

Example Theme & Recommendation First Nations F&C needs are not being meet. Our communities do not have fish for the winter, and our elders and children will go without. Food and Ceremonial Salmon 1. There is evidence and serious concern in most communities that F&C needs are not being met § Rationale is not provided for the DFO allocated F&C numbers; most F&C allocations were unilaterally § determined by DFO without consultation with communities, contrary to statements in IFMP [and recent Cohen report … perpetuating the myth of annual consultation] F&C allocation amounts do not reflect community needs; do not account for increasing First Nation § populations; do not account for increasing rates of seafood consumption for youth and adults Consultation around current F&C allocations is lacking or inadequate § Recommendation 1: Elaborate on F&C allocation practices in the IFMPs beyond the general statements in the Allocation Policy, i.e., how were/are allocations actually determined and how DFO proposes to rectify situations where F&C allocations do not meet community needs and/or are not being achieved. IFMP to commit DFO to engage in a Tier 2 process to evaluate and, if necessary, reform the determination of F&C allocations

What happened to the 2012 Recommendations? Lessons learned for next time… Follow up on DFO’s incorporation of recommendations through final IFMP review: § Minimal uptake by DFO; incorporation of some minor, easy fixes, but little or no action on substantive items § Lack of information on how First Nations recommendations are considered or incorporated § Lack of recognition of the priority of First Nations fishing rights § Ongoing Food and Ceremonial shortfalls for First Nation’s communities

SCC Actions for 2012-2013 Solve salmon issues, not just talk about process and meetings Tier 1 Tier 2 Transition from Interim to Salmon Concentrate on 3 – 4 achievable, § § CC; e.g., finalize Terms of Reference, substantive recommendations to operating procedures, funding etc. demonstrate bilateral progress Complete appointments from 13 § Consolidate feedback from the13 § regions to SCC Salmon CC delegates into one Comment Document on this years Strengthening Tier 1 relationships with § Salmon IFMP First Nations fisheries organizations and other processes to identify Comments on the Northern & § efficiencies, align processes and scales, Southern IFMP and section of and collaborate on appropriate matters general recommendations of collective interest Support development of Pilot § Integrated First Nations Salmon Harvesting Plans