Transcript – First Nations and Aquaculture - A Norwegian Experience

---

Tom Nelson, Quatsino First Nation
I've got to admit that I was excited when I was invited to come to Norway. I've always wanted to learn more about the aquaculture there on Atlantic salmon. We've been told a whole bunch of things, that everything was ugly all the time. So, when I was phoned and asked to come to Norway, I said to myself, "I am going to go because that is where it all started was in Norway. What a great opportunity to learn more about Atlantic [salmon] fish farming."

Narrator
Norway has been at the leading edge of salt-water aquaculture since its early beginnings, and a visit to this country was seen by the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association as an excellent opportunity for First Nations from Canada to network with the leading industry operators and researchers, and to learn about emerging developments in aquaculture science and technology.

The Aboriginal Aquaculture Association was established to promote the involvement of First Nations in aquaculture development and to encourage aquaculture advancement that supports First Nations communities, cultures and values. With this goal in mind, the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association, with the support of federal and provincial agencies, hosted a delegation of 13 representatives from eleven First Nations communities on a fact-finding tour to Norway. Over a twelve-day period, delegates would have an opportunity to visit the world's largest aquaculture exhibition and tour a variety of industry-related facilities throughout Norway.

Upon arrival in Norway, the tour's first stop was in Trondheim for the Aqua Nor International Tradeshow.

Svein Ludvigsen, Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs
This year, there are prominent officials and delegations from many countries from Canada, this year's featured country, Vietnam, Germany, the US, Australia, Scotland and Ireland. We welcome you all. It is my hope that your days here at Aqua Nor will prove both fruitful and enjoyable. And to all of you, I hereby declare, Aqua Nor 2005 officially opened.

Narrator
Aqua Nor is the largest aquaculture conference and tradeshow in the world attracting over 15,000 participants from over 40 countries and over 400 exhibitors. Canada was the featured country this year and over 100 delegates from federal and provincial government, First Nations, academic institutions and industry were in attendance.

The Canadian Pavilion included twelve official exhibitors and was a focal point of the tradeshow.

Les Neasloss, Kitasoo/Xai'zais First Nation
We've met a lot of different people from all over the world that went to AquaNor and there's lots of different equipment. I picked up lots of brochures that I can bring home.

Fred Glendale, Da'naxda'xw First Nation
The booths and displays were really interesting. We didn't get through them all, but I think the whole group combined might have seen most of it. I think the information we received at Aqua Nor was really valuable and it changed my perspective for the aquaculture industry.

Narrator
While Aqua Nor enabled delegates to gather a wealth of information about aquaculture, it also presented the opportunity to interact with government and industry officials from both Norway and Canada to form beneficial new contacts and relationships.

In addition to networking with industry experts, exhibitors and public officials, members of the Canadian delegation presented several seminars to this international forum. Scientist and researcher, Teresa Ryan of the Tsimshian Nation, presented one such seminar which illustrated the leadership role First Nations must play in working with government and industry to support sustainable aquaculture.

Teresa Ryan, Tsimshian Nation
Bringing this to aquaculture and what this means to us First Nations people and British Columbia in particular in my area specifically is that we have something to contribute to the larger picture and what goes on in our territories and with the resource.

Narrator
While attending Aqua Nor, the delegates also had the opportunity to meet with Marius Holm, the Research and Program Manager for the Norwegian Environmental group, Bellona Foundation. While much of the meeting consisted of the sharing of concerns and ideas about the environment, Mr. Holm was quick to point out numerous positive advances his foundation had realized with the aquaculture industry.

Mr. Holm encouraged local communities to work together with industry and responsible ENGOs (environmental non-government organizations) to acknowledge problem areas and concerns and to disregard extreme groups that would never change their opinion on aquaculture.

Les Neasloss, Kitasoo/Xai'zais First Nation
It seemed to be so refreshing to be able to sit in the same room and discuss the environment and aquaculture between ourselves and him (Mr. Holm). They've been so positive in being able to work with industry and it is really refreshing to be able to do that without all the other rhetoric that we are usually faced with the environmental group back in Canada.

Marius Holm, Bellona Foundation
People in Norway and, I guess people in British Columbia too, are very well aware that we make a living in the world from harvesting various resources from nature. So we have a very open mind toward food production in the sea. We accept that nature must be harvested - that's how we make a living in the world - so we are, in general, positive toward the idea of producing food in the seas.

Verne Jackson, Kitkatla First Nation
If the environmentalist think [aquaculture] is going to harm the site then get on board to show us how we can make it safe. Work with us instead of working against us so our communities can move forward. For those of us who are in favour, we always say it's a sustainable industry and we want to move on.

Moses Martin, Tlaoqui-aht First Nation
One of the surprises in our trip to Norway was looking at how people worked together, including the environmentalists, something that we don't see in our own country.

Verne Jackson, Kitkatla First Nation
It's something that is completely different in Canada. We are met with more challenges there. But here, it's industry, government and environmentalists working together to see the industry moving ahead. These people here, similar to ours, it's going to happen so why not work together to make it safe. I was really overwhelmed to see that.

Narrator
At a meeting in Tronheim, the federal Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan and his staff, First Nations representatives from across Canada were given the opportunity to personally discuss specific issues of concern and gather more information on the future of aquaculture in Canada. During the meeting, Minister Regan acknowledged the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association for its ground-breaking efforts to provide reliable and accurate information to First Nations communities.

On invitation by Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, Svein Ludvigsen, the First Nations delegation also enjoyed a much anticipated seafood luncheon with Norwegian and Canadian officials, and representatives from Norwegian aquaculture companies currently operating in Canada.

Svein Ludvigsen, Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs (9:05)
As a national business, you have to respect local culture and local history, but they also have to take care of the environment. On the other hand, we have to accept that economic growth is a key factor for developing the rural district. We see in Norway that those areas and those villages which does not have economic growth, and fish farming is such a key factor, that the young people leave. We destroy the traditional culture, the traditional back-bone, of the way of living.

Narrator
During lunch, each of the delegates was given the opportunity to speak about their communities and priorities with respect to aquaculture development.

Tom Nelson, Quatsino First Nation
I've learned quite a bit from the different people I've talked with in Norway. I have a better understanding about Atlantic salmon and what I need to do when I go back home. In my traditional territories, we have room for Atlantic salmon.

Narrator
A highlight of the event was the giving of a copper and an Indian name to Minister Ludvigsen by the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association and First Nations Chiefs.

Minister Ludvigsen
Thank you very much. I am honoured and I feel humbled to get a gift that expressed what you have said. It's good to have you here. It's good to be reminded that somebody came before, and that somebody was there already when we think we came first. [laughter]

Narrator
While in Trondheim, the delegation was able to visit SINTEF, the largest independent research organization in Scandinavia. Interestingly, SINTEF's fisheries and aquaculture division has worked with British Columbia companies in the development of aquaculture technology in the past. The group enjoyed presentations by senior scientists and researchers on fish husbandry issues and the need for international cooperation in problem solving.

With Aqua Nor now at an end, the delegation split into two distinct groups to embark on several days of touring the many aquaculture-related facilities of coastal Norway. While one group headed north of Trondheim to Snåsa, the second group travelled south to Sunndalsőra.

In Sunndalsőra, the group visited the Akvaforske Institute of Aquaculture Research where delegates discussed the requirements of a profitable, competitive aquaculture industry that produces safe and healthy food in a sustainable way. With the group's interest running high, this meeting generated much dialogue. Areas of discussion included selective breeding, nutrition, production management and product quality.

The group then travelled to Kristiansund where delegates had the opportunity to visit the Pretrocenter to learn about Norway's offshore oil and gas industry. This industry has many technical and socio-economic parallels with aquaculture. The petroleum and aquaculture industries are the primary economic drivers in coastal Norway. Delegates were given a brief summary of the development and current state of Norway's oil and gas industry and shared a traditional Norwegian meal with their hosts.

Delegates from both groups also had the opportunity to visit a number of commercial salmon farms as well as research and commercial halibut facilities and commercial shellfish operations involving mussel culture.

Rick August, Sechelt Indian Band
I've learned that salmon are not the only thing you can look at in the aquaculture industry. There are different aspects, there's halibut, cod and mussels. You don't hear a lot of that happening on the West Coast [of Canada]. Here in Norway, they are heavily into all aspects of aquaculture.

Narrator
While Norway is involved in the development of many species, farmed salmon are the driving force of the industry. With tours arranged by Marine Harvest and K.F. Oppdrett,　the delegation was able to visit several salmon farms at the leading edge of technology. In sharp contrast to Canada, commercial fishing companies are major shareholders in the K.F. Oppdrett　operation as is the case with many Norwegian salmon farms.

Norway has been the largest producer of farmed salmon since its early beginnings in the 1970s, although recent production out of Chile challenges this ranking. With 800-850 salmon farm licences covering 2,400 salmon sites, aquaculture is extremely important to coastal communities. With two-thirds of those farms operating at any one time and a similar coastline, population and marine environment to British Columbia, Norway produces ten times the farmed salmon produced in BC.

Aquaculture is an important activity to the coastal communities of Norway. With the decline of the world's fisheries, and prior to aquaculture development, Norway experienced many of the same problems of coastal BC in the loss of people from their communities due to lack of employment and opportunity. Today, aquaculture provides much of the employment and economic activity for these communities and has resulted in the development of coastal aquaculture. When asked about his thoughts on this topic, Les Nesloss had this to say:

Les Neasloss, Kitasoo/Xai'zais First Nation
You make an agreement with whomever you are going to be working with and however you are going to do it - you move cautiously and careful - but move on and it'll do your community well. It will provide them with the employment that is necessary and will take away some of the hopelessness that some of the people have. That is one of the things I'd really like to see is for people to have the opportunities in remote areas of British Columbia - being able to provide jobs, but not in the way that would harm our environment and our traditional territories.

Narrator
Once of the groups was able to travel to the Institute of Marine Research in Austevoll. Federally funded, the Institute of Marine Research is an agency of the Ministry of Fisheries whose main objective is to provide accurate scientific information to the authorities, industry and the general public. Delegates were given an overview of the Institute's current research in the areas of animal welfare, environmental effects of aquaculture and the development of marine culture of alternate species.

Following the presentation, the group was guided through an extensive tour of the Institute's indoor tank facilities and marine net-pen site. One of the areas of research of most interest to the group was the marine culture of new species such as halibut. Here the group was able to observe halibut culture from the larvae stages, through early development of juveniles, to grow-out and maturation.

Halibut research in government-sponsored facilities, such as Austevoll, has provided the knowledge and expertise needed for the production of halibut on a commercial scale as witnessed by delegates on the second tour at Marine Harvest's Atlantic halibut facility near Rørvik. Escorted by Walter Olsen-Ryum, General Manager of this facility, the delegates were able to observe the hatchery reproduction cycle of halibut. While the farming of halibut is similar to salmon, these fish are much more complex in the hatching and nursery stages. Fish grow over several years at this hatchery and will be moved to sea-water pens at about two kilograms in size where they will be grown-out to harvest.

With production of farmed fish in Norway exceeding 600,000 tonnes in 2004, fish processing facilities are a vital part of the production chain. A representative of Marine Harvest escorted one group of delegates to a state-of-the-art fish processing facility on the Island of Hitra. While small-fish processing plants used to dot the coastline, delegates learned that processing plants today are becoming much larger and more integrated. With processing plants becoming more centralized, demand increases for transportation vessels and infrastructure to move the fish to processing facilities.

While in the town of Vestnes, delegates visited a renowned shipyard operated by the third generation of the Aas family. Olaf Aas gave an excellent presentation to the group about the workings of this facility and the many different ships built here. Delegates learned that in addition to tankers and fishing vessels, this company specializes in building live-haul well boats for the aquaculture industry. This boat shown here is one of two boats built by this company that works the waters of BC's central coast. Following the presentation, the group toured the shipyard and got a first-hand look at the engineering and technology behind these massive vessels. At the end of the tour, as was customary, Fred Glendale presented Mr. Aas with a token of the group's appreciation.

Fred Glendale, Da'naxda'xw First Nation
What we have here is an authentic native carving knife to help you in your woodwork. It's called a bent-knife.

Narrator (19:15)
A highlight of the many tours throughout Norway was the delegation's visit to Snåsa to meet the indigenous people of Northern Scandinavia, the Saimien. The first stop on this much anticipated visit was at the Sami museum. Delegates learned about Sami culture and history and shared their common experiences as Aboriginal people. They heard about how reindeer to this day is essential to their existence providing the Sami with food, clothing, shelter and tools.

Rod Sam, Ahousaht First Nation
One of the things that caught my attention was the visit to the Sami and the similarities to the predicament of First Nations in British Columbia as well in their fight to keep to keep their language and culture alive.

Narrator
That evening, the group gathered at Sami house to socialize and share a special meal with their hosts consisting of a variety of reindeer meat dishes and other traditional Sami delicacies.

Rick August, Sechelt Indian Band
It was very nice to sit down with the Sami people and talk with them and listen to their stories and find out that there are a lot of similarities between indigenous people no matter where they are in the world.

Narrator
While one group was enjoying Sami culture, the second group had an opportunity to experience Norwegian culture of a different kind at a dinner generously hosted by Per Grieg of Grieg Seafoods in Bergen. With operations in Canada, our hosts at Grieg had an opportunity to talk with members of the delegation who well represented their communities as ambassadors. The resulting dialogue was valuable in strengthening relations between Norwegian investors and BC First Nations communities. Once again, reindeer was on the menu at this magnificent three-course dinner, which to the guest's surprise, was followed by three young graduates of the Grieg Academy of Music at the University of Bergen. At this point, Per Grieg shared his thoughts on doing business in other countries and the importance of understanding and appreciating other cultures.

Per Grieg, Grieg Seafoods
We feel that this is how we can make business; understanding what other people do and understanding how we can do business around the world. Also respecting people's culture and their traditions which, I understand, is very much a part of the discussions for First Nations in Canada.

Narrator
After dinner, time was taken for casual conversation and, on behalf of the delegation, Verne Jackson thanked Per Grieg for a wonderful evening.

Verne Jackson, Kitkatla First Nation
It gives me great pleasure, a great honour, to thank you for the spread that you give us today. It's a wonderful opportunity and I want to say to you on behalf of our Executive Director, the best of success in your ventures.

Narrator (22:35)
As the featured country at Aqua Nor, the Canadian government hosted a closing dinner with over 250 dignitaries from international aquaculture associations, government and industry. Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Geoff Regan, was the first to speak.

Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)
Canada is a great place to be for aquaculture. I've also had the pleasure of meeting with Canada's First Nations delegation whose members are an important and growing part of Canada's diverse aquaculture industry. I want to thank and congratulate Richard Harry and the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association for their involvement this week. It's great to have you here, Richard.

Narrator
After a variety of speakers, Verne Jackson of Kitkatla had the honour of delivering an opening prayer before guests dined on an assortment of Canadian seafood specialties.

Verne Jackson, Kitkatla First Nation
I want to thank the Norwegian Government for allowing us to be in your territory. It is always customary to thank those who are the hosts of a country for allowing us to be here.

Narrator
Throughout dinner, guests took the opportunity to further acquaint themselves as well as reflect upon their past days in Norway. With dinner coming to an end, Norwegian Fisheries Minister, Svein Ludvigsen, took an opportunity to address the Canadian delegation.

Svein Ludvigsen, Minister of Fisheries (Norway)
I've had the privilege to be together with the Canadians for a few days. It has been a highlight in the history of aquaculture. It is good to see you here together with us tonight. And it is good to see a dialogue with the industry and First Nations; it is how it should be.

Narrator
Over the past twelve days, through Aqua Nor, meetings, tours and many hundreds of miles, the delegation enjoyed the hospitality of the people of Norway and learned a great deal about the aquaculture industry.

Tom Nelson, Quatsino First Nation
I will come away from Norway with a better feeling about fish farming. I was really, really glad to be invited to Norway; to come a see where it all began.

Fred Glendale, Da'naxda'xw First Nation
We learned a lot about the aquaculture industry here in Norway. It was a great experience. The Norwegian people were very hospitable to us. They looked after all of our needs and I came as a sceptic to Norway in regard to the aquaculture industry and Aqua Nor really answered a lot of questions for me.

Narrator
Many of the delegates came away from Norway with a better understanding of aquaculture, and through their observations and experiences here, a positive outlook that aquaculture could exist in harmony with the environment and wild fish resources of the BC coast.

Les Neasloss, Kitasoo/Xai'xais First Nation
The hope when I go back home is to help other people understand the things that we have learned and that there isn't too much to worry about really with regards to aquaculture. A lot of the things that I heard back home was how bad things were Norway as a result of aquaculture - it isn't true from all the sources I heard from.

Fred Glendale, Da'naxda'xw First Nation
The message I would take back to our people on the central coast of British Columbia is that we really have nothing to fear in the aquaculture industry. The information we've received here, I really am confident that we can move ahead and not have those fears that were there especially with the First Nations people. First Nations people are environmentalists to begin with - that's how we are.

Verne Jackson, Kitkatla First Nation
We still want to survive on the wild stock because, traditionally, that's our own way of survival, that's our regular diet; we want to see those things to be protected too. I survive on it too. I harvest the wild stock when an opportunity is there and I want that protected, but I also want to see us move forward. Because of the high unemployment rate that we see is happening; and it's not only happening in our community, it all over the place.

Narrator
The group also saw that while Norwegians recognize that there are concerns and problems with every industry, they accept that ocean resources must be utilized and work together to ensure aquaculture is conducted in harmony with other resources.

Les Neasloss, Kitasoo/Xai'zais First Nation
The industry, government and environmentalists, they all work together; they work together and have a common goal. That is one thing we noticed that they do work together and it makes it so much easier for this country.

Fred Glendale, Da'naxda'xw First Nation
I think the industry is improving through the years; they improve with the mistakes they've made and the aquaculture industry here in Norway - the companies and government - have talked about the mistakes made in the past and they've tried to correct those, they've moved to correct them.

Alvin Sewid, Mamaalilikula-Qwe-Qwa-Sot-Em
If there is a problem, it's being dealt with and dealt with properly which I think is very good. Hopefully, we can learn from that and maybe adopt some of their methods.

Moses Martin, Tlaoqui aht First Nation
We know as First Nations that it doesn't matter what you do you are going to somehow impact the environment. That's not the end of it. If we can look past that and do what the people here are doing - try to minimize the impact. We know there is going to be impact, but how are we going to minimize it so we don't lose that opportunity for our people.

Narrator
Aquaculture can play a major role in the future of coastal British Columbia and the success of this industry depends largely on the ability of First Nations to take a lead role with government and industry, to support its development and sustainability.

Tom Nelson, Quatsino First Nation
All I want is the best for my people. What I do today is for them, it's not for me. We have to think about the future because it doesn't look good. Our salmon industry is dying - the wild salmon - and look at this year [2005], it doesn't look good anymore. So we have to diverge into something else into the future. We can't continue to just rely on something that is going to come by and hope for a miracle to happen. That's not going to happen. We have to step up to the table and say, "This is what we have to do".

Moses Martin, Tlaoqui-aht First Nation
The opportunities that are before us, we need to have a serious look at them. They are opportunities to create employment for our people and we should look at it before we say, "no". We've done the same thing so many times in the past and been left out.

Closing credits