ullukut, Toddiuvunga, your President.
It’s been a little over a week since the opening of the NunatuKavut communal food fishery and I am checking in to see how things are going.
On a personal note, I was so happy to get to my home of William’s Harbour and to set my salmon net. And I know fellow Coucillors have also been on the water fishing. I’m pleased to report that I got my six salmon. I shared some salmon and helped another fill their tags.
It was a little bittersweet as, everywhere I went, I was reminded of my father and our life in William’s Harbour. It was a privilege really to walk in his footsteps and fish from our family’s berth.
For those who have been exercising your right to fish under our fishery, nakummek. Nakummesuak. Thank you.
I am so very proud of what you are doing to assert your rights as an Indigenous person, as NunatuKavut Inuit.
To those who are questioning why NCC is doing this now, let me tell you.
Managing our own fishery is something we have been working towards since we have been in existence. And that’s what we fought for when we protested in the late 1990s and in the early 2000s. I’m proud that our fishery is being implemented in such an efficient and orderly fashion.
In recent years, our organization and our people have been under attack. We’ve had a vicious campaign launched against us and that campaign continues even now. Our people have felt the negative impacts of being denied access and in having important opportunities taken away.
That can never be allowed to happen with our fishery. That will never happen with our fishery, the very lifeblood of our communities.
The Governing Council made a decision that our fishery would no longer be subjected to the whim and the sole control of DFO.
An NCC-led and managed fishery will ensure its protection and sustainability. It is firmly based on conservation. It is firmly based as a rights fishery.
And believe me, we must continue to assert our rights and to live out our rights. To practice our rights.
This is how real recognition comes. This is how we sustain our traditions. This is the very essence of self-governance.
For those who are still a little hesitant to fish because you may have enforcement action taken against you by DFO, I understand.
It can be very disruptive. It can intimidating. And DFO’s tactics are meant to do just that.
To date, enforcement action has included the seizure of nets with all nets being returned. People have been cautioned but no charges laid.
They are also seizing some of our fish, our food. This is a major conservation issue. You and I have the right to question what they are doing with our food, and to insist it be returned.
I again urge you, if you haven’t already fished, to consider by buddying up or coordinating your fishing activity with a group. There is strength in numbers.
NCC is here to support you and provide assistance when fishing under our plan.
NCC is also exploring ways to bolster our community freezer program because DFO is trying to suppress our fishery. And we must make every effort to ensure that our seniors and our most vulnerable get their food, that they get their fish.
In the meantime, I highly encourage you to get out on the water, to fish for food. To put your food on your table. It is your right. It is what we have done for generations.
In the coming days, I and many others will join as we go on the water to help fulfill the needs of our community.
Happy fishing.
nakummek.