Vancouver, B.C. - The traditional territories of the A-Tlegay Member Nations span the central northeast coast of Vancouver Island and include the northern Strait of Georgia and the Johnstone Strait. These waters support extensive marine activity including commercial, recreational and First Nation Fisheries, commercial aquaculture, marine shipping, recreational boating, and commercial whale-watching.
On February 19, the Government of Canada, represented by the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, and the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minster of Crown-Indigenous Relations, joined A-Tlegay Member Nations to sign a historic 20-year Reconciliation Agreement for Fisheries Resources (RAFR). Representing the A-Tlegay Member Nations were Hegus Nicole Rempel, K'ómoks First Nation; Chief Steven Dick, Kwiakah First Nation; Chief Danial Smith, Tlowitsis Nation; Chief Ronnie Chickite, We Wai Kai Nation; and Chief Christopher Roberts, Wei Wai Kum First Nation.
The RAFR is an agreement aimed at supporting diversification and economic development of the A-Tlegay Member Nations. The RAFR will enable A-Tlegay Member Nations to acquire commercial fishing licences and quotas through an open-market process. The RAFR will also provide support for growth in sustainable shellfish aquaculture, as well as facilitate other opportunities, such as training and business development in commercial fishing. The RAFR also includes a commitment to establish a collaborative fisheries management governance structure with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
In the spirit of reconciliation between the A-Tlegay Member Nations and Canada, the RAFR will enable a more collaborative, coordinated and efficient approach to the governance and management of fisheries resources, including associated economic opportunities.
The Government of Canada is committed to a renewed Nation-to-Nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on rights, respect, co-operation and partnership and to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).
