ullukut, Toddiuvunga, your President.
I am pleased to speak to you again on our NunatuKavut food fishery. But before I do I want to share some personal news about my health.
As some of you may be aware, I was diagnosed with cancer approximately two months ago. While this was a shock, I am happy to report that the prognosis is very good, and I am working hard to get the proper treatment as soon as possible.
When I do need to step away, Vice-President Jim Holwell and Councillor Boyce Turnbull of the Executive will be there to lead the way.
Nakummek to those who have already reached out with well wishes. It truly means a lot.
Now let’s get to the main reason for this video message – the NCC food fishery, which is so important to you, your families and our communities.
NCC announced and is implementing an NCC-led and managed food fishery. This is another step in securing our food fishery for now and for the generations to come.
It is a fishery that is built on the exercise of our Aboriginal rights. It is a fishery that strengthens our sense of identity as Indigenous people, as NunatuKavut Inuit.
NCC’s fishery about is conservation and the preservation of our culture and our traditions. It about having more control over our own fishery, our food, our lives. It is about having an NCC led fishery rather than one that is at the whim and control of DFO.
I know that this move to our own NCC fishery will cause disruption. It will be and it has been a source of some concern. This is particularly so in regards to potential DFO enforcement.
We have heard from some of you that DFO has been threatening to take your fishing gear and equipment like boats and motors. You should not be made to feel threatened or intimidated.
We have rights. We have rights as Indigenous peoples of Canada and as Canadians. DFO or any other enforcement officer for that matter cannot just do what they want when it comes to taking what belongs to you. DFO has rules and guidelines they have to follow when it comes to things like seizures.
Seizures of boats and motors are an exceptional and seldom used enforcement measure. We have sought legal direction and none of the fishing activity permitted under our NCC fishery would require DFO to seize any equipment, your boat and motor, from our members.
In the unlikely event this does occur, NCC would view this as unnecessary excessive and enforcement overreach. Such actions on the part of DFO may in fact be illegal and it would no doubt escalate matters. NCC would take whatever appropriate actions are necessary to support you, our members.
If you are feeling a little uneasy about the fishery this summer, you may want to consider coordinating your fishing activities or buddying up.
We have prepared some information. There are questions and answers, and a guide that you can use if approached by a fisheries officer. In addition, we have provided an email and a phone number so you can get in touch with NCC right away.
If you are following our guidelines when you are out fishing, NCC is here to support you and to provide assistance if enforcement action is taken.
This, my friends, is an exciting time. This, my fellow Inuit, is the right time to move forward with our own fishery.
I highly encourage you to pick up your designations as you have done for many, many years and get out on the water to fish for our traditional foods. It is the right thing to do. I will be there. I will be joining you.
nakummek.