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

• nes not being tackled…”

How SCC Started

§ First Nations: frustration with IFMP/IHPC process (salmon and

• ther 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:

1.

Advancing First Nations concerns about DFO’s management of salmon stocks,

2.

Ensuring access to food, social, and ceremonial fish for First Nations, and

3.

Expanding First Nations economic opportunities in Fisheries

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

• pportunities

§

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

1.

Conservation of salmon populations

2.

Sustainable fisheries for future generations

3.

Food and Ceremonial access to meet community needs

4.

Economic access to contribute to community needs

5.

Increased management authority for First Nations to achieve the above

• bjectives

Southern Salmon CC Structure

Level 2

• 14 FNFC regions
• Coordination of nomination &

appointments between FN parties in region

• Information medium between the

provincial and community level

Level 1

• FN communities, governments,

Nations, fishing programs &

• rganizations
• Ultimate source of authority and

Title & Rights

• Nomination & appointment source
• Mutual information sharing

Level 3

• Consensus based Tier 1 process identifies issues of broad concern

to FN and enables strategic Tier 2 engagement with DFO on IFMPs

• Regionally focused committees allows for efficient

engagement in IHPC process with DFO through nomination and appointment from Level 1 and 2 (ex. SSC)

• Coordinating committee brings together FN representatives

from the Northern and Southern regions (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

First Nations Communities

Uuathluk (NTC) West Coast VI IMAWG North Coast VI & Mainland Inlet Fraser Valley FN Fraser Valley Lower Mainland FN Lower Mainland Okanagan & Secwepemc Mid Fraser 1 Nlaka’pamux & St’at’imc Mid Fraser 2 UFFCA Upper Fraser ONA Trans. Columbia

Southern Salmon Committee (SSC) Salmon CC (SCC)

South Coast VI & Mainland Inlet

Level 4

• IHPC process (Tier 3) now has designated representatives from

FNFC regions

• Results of FN and DFO engagement provide direction to revamped

IHPC process and North and South Coast Salmon IFMPs.

Committee Structure

Process of Salmon CC

Outcome DFO IFMP/IHPC Process

Level 2

• 14 FNFC regions
• Coordination of nomination &

appointments between FN parties in region

• Information medium between the provincial

and community level

Level 1

• FN communities, governments/Nations,

fishing programs & organizations

• Ultimate source of authority and

Title & Rights

• Nomination & appointment source
• Mutual information sharing

Level 3

• Consensus based Tier 1 process identifies issues of broad concern

to FN and enables strategic Tier 2 engagement with DFO on IFMPs

• Regionally focused committees allows for efficient

engagement in IHPC process with DFO through nomination and appointment from Level 1 and 2 (ex. NSC)

• Coordinating committee brings together FN representatives

from the Northern and Southern regions (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

First Nations Communities

Northern Trans.

IFMPs developed with DFO Yukon Region

SFC Upper Skeena North Coast CCIRA Central Coast CHN Fisheries Haida Gwaii

Northern Salmon CC Structure

Committee Structure Process of Salmon CC Outcomes

Level 4

• IHPC process (Tier 3) now has designated representatives from

FNFC regions

• Results of FN and DFO engagement provide direction to revamped

IHPC process and North and South Salmon IFMPs. DFO IHPC Process/ IFMP

Lax

Kw’alaam

NC SFNSS

Northern Salmon Committee (NSC) Salmon CC (SCC)

Nisga’a

Fisheries

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.

1.

Food and Ceremonial Salmon

§

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

§

Transition from Interim to Salmon CC; e.g., finalize Terms of Reference,

• perating procedures, funding etc.

§

Complete appointments from 13 regions to SCC §

Strengthening Tier 1 relationships with First Nations fisheries organizations and other processes to identify efficiencies, align processes and scales, and collaborate on appropriate matters

• f collective interest

§

Support development of Pilot Integrated First Nations Salmon Harvesting Plans

Tier 2

§

Concentrate on 3 – 4 achievable, substantive recommendations to demonstrate bilateral progress

§

Consolidate feedback from the13 Salmon CC delegates into one Comment Document on this years Salmon IFMP

§

Comments on the Northern & Southern IFMP and section of general recommendations

Building Complementary Solutions

§

Agreement between the Salmon CC, FRAFS EC, and FNFC to maintain regular communication, align processes, and work to common purposes

§

Collaboratively working to advance First Nations salmon management

• n the Fraser and province wide in BC through:

§

Advancing technical and policy recommendations on Salmon management

§

Identifying and recommending how to create long-term change in management structures

§

Empower First Nations, local and regional organizations to move forward with best practices in Tier 1, 2, and 3 processes

§

Following SCC Terms of Reference and directing funding for delegate participation to regional organizations, communities, or nations.

Where are we going?

First Nations in the drivers seat on an alternative salmon management process §

Creating a functional Tier 1 process that works efficiently with

• ther existing processes (Tier 1, 2, 3)

§

Supporting First Nations and organizations to develop local Salmon Management Plans and reconcile plans regionally and provincially

§

Developing 3 – 4 achievable recommendations to revise the salmon IFMP to incorporate First Nations interests (e.g., increase F&C access; increase economic access fisheries; improve shared science and information sharing; WSP implementation)

§

Increase DFO’s accountability to First Nations in dealing with IFMP recommendations