One of the leading recommendations emerging from the discussion at the HELIT TŦE SȽOṈ,ET (Let the Herring Live) Forum in February this year was obtaining a legal opinion on changing herring management in BC to better benefit First Nations. This is the route being taken right now by W̱SÁNEĆ Hereditary Chiefs in their ongoing efforts following their Herring Declaration last November. Their legal advisor, John Rich, recommended that the W̱SÁNEĆ Hereditary Chiefs would have the best chance of leading the court challenge under their Douglas Treaty rights to fish in their territories.
The SIPS Board of Directors recently discussed supporting the legal challenge and passed the following motion.
“The SIPS Board of Directors agrees to donate C$500.00 to the Herring Conservation Society for the purpose of assisting with funding for the WSANEC Hereditary Chiefs to launch a legal challenge to DFO management of Pacific Herring in the Salish Sea including Saanich Inlet”.
