Southern Resident Killer Whale Symposium

October 10-12, 2017
Vancouver, British Columbia

What We Heard Report

FIRST NATIONS REVIEW OF LINKAGES BETWEEN THREATS

Dr. Teresa Ryan, Tsimshian Nation; Tim Kulchyski, Cowichan Tribes; Carleen Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation; Ray Harris, Stz’uminus First Nation

Key Messages

Killer whales are very important to First Nations, and are showcased in many stories. For example:

• Killer whales represent a specific clan in Tsms’yen – Gibutsada.
• For Tulalip nation, the killer whale is extremely important and is featured in many early stories.
• Nuu Chah Nulth has stories of Luna the killer whale.

It is easy to say killer whales are important and iconic, but to First Nations it’s hard to relate how important they really are, and difficult to give context, because there are many stories, images and carvings of the killer whale.

• First Nations stories are interconnected. For example, there are stories that showcase how wolves and killer whales are related.
• To First Nations the teachings and context of stories is what matters.
• One of the most pertinent stories is about how killer whales and people connect.
• In First Nations teachings, animal forms are all equal.
• Killer whales are not simply a resource to First Nations, they are important in cultural traditions and teachings. They are part of their family.
• These stories are the root of First Nations language and history.
• Teachings describe how people could transform. Transformation holds a lot of significance for First Nations because it also forces you to struggle to understand things that are not always evident.

In order to protect the killer whale, we have to understand the ecosystem, and take care of everything in the cycle, in balance.

• The medicine wheel represents balance.
• The copper shield is the highest symbol of wealth. Carrying the copper shield represents the heavy burden of stewardship, and demonstrates that the lineage is doing what is necessary to maintain resources and wealth.
• The T-shape represents balance and stewardship between seven generations.
• Generosity and sustainable use of resources are necessary for abundance.
• Feast system represents social reproduction, laws and history.

Aboriginal Ecological Knowledge is complex. The Aboriginal perspective is holistic, whereas the science perspective is linear. These systems can complement each other, for example:

• Local people were monitoring herds of Porcupine Caribou in the Arctic Borderlands. This resulted in collaboration between ECCC and hunters to monitor caribou.
• The West Kitikmeot Slave Study – Ecological monitoring five-year research program.
• Hawaii – Marine National Monument involved Hawaiian elders.

Species at risk are a critical concern to First Nations. The Species at-Risk Act is convoluted and difficult for First Nations to engage in. There are opportunities to look at broad scale issues, including impacts to killer whales and the state of watershed environments. Support is needed in protecting connections and taking care of obligations to future generations by providing diverse perspectives.

This year, smoke house drying racks will be empty for the first time in our lifetime. If our freezers and drying racks are empty, we know that the killer whale will be hungry just like us. Recommendations to the symposium include:

• To the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Government of Canada: that’s looking after our food – get your act together.
• DFO has decided that there are only a few indicator streams worth looking after. Some streams that offer important food sources for the SRKW are neglected. DFO needs to take its obligations seriously and look after those streams, as it would more than double the amount of salmon on the West Coast.
• There is not enough fish in the Fraser River and DFO is responsible for fish.
• The Minister of Environment and Climate Change has a big responsibility to assist in taking care of the SRKW, its habitat, and its food source.

The return of the salmon and the recovery of the killer whale is possible if the Government of Canada leverages First Nations knowledge. First Nations heard some wonderful words from the government earlier in the symposium. We have the words, now the hard part is to make the music, so we end up with a song that we can all sing. We want to sing a song with everyone about how the salmon are abundant, the whales are happy and the clams are clean.