Fish-WIKS News

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN), a Fish-WIKS community partner, hosted a two-day fisheries forum meeting that included Tla-o-qui-aht haw’ił (hereditary leaders), fishermen, T’aaq-wiihak (with authority of the chiefs, negotiation and implementation table for court case) negotiators, Tribal Parks, TFN Seafoods, Uu-a-thluk, and the TFN Fisheries program, as well as the salmon enhancement manager, and a FishWIKS researcher.

The meeting was lead by Fish-WIKS Community Liaison Coordinator, Terry Dorward, facilitated by FishWIKS researcher Saul Milne, graphically facilitated by Kelly Foxcroft-Poirier. TFN Seafoods provided salmon and roughly 35 people participated over the 1.5 days.

The objectives of the meeting were to:

1. Clarify the purpose of the various groups with a mandate to work on TFN fisheries.

2. Develop a visual representation of the various groups with a mandate to work on TFN fisheries. TLQ Fisheries Forum Mural [PDF 2MB]

3. Determine next steps in collaboration amongst the various groups with a mandate to work on TFN fisheries and the Community.

The meeting provided an opportunity to identify how existing TFN fisheries initiatives can increase collaboration and improve performance. Each of the TFN Fisheries initiatives presented and participated in the creation of the poster that was illustrated by Kelly Foxcroft-Poirier. A follow up meeting occurred at the end of April 2017 and has lead to quarterly meetings amongst TFN fisheries initiatives, including FishWIKS researcher.