The Native Fishing Association (NFA)
Promotes and Supports Indigenous People
in BC's Commercial Fishing Industry.

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The Native Fishing Association (NFA)

Supporting Indigenous
BC Fishers

The Native Fishing Association (NFA) promotes and supports Indigenous commercial fishers in BC. Whether you have an established commercial fishing business or have just become interested in the industry, we are here to help.

We provide loans and grants, shared licenses and quotas, and a variety of support services to help you grow or start your fishing business.

Please browse our website to learn more about our programs and services, and get in touch if you have any questions.

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Treaties aren’t about land. Treaties (and for that matter all reserve land allocations) are about fishing. It’s all about the waters!

BEFORE he signed the 14 pre-Confederation treaties on Vancouver Island James Douglas wrote to the Hudson Bay Company (HBC), “…would strongly recommend, equally as a matter of justice, and from regard to the future peace of the colony, that the Indians Fishere’s [sic], Village Sitis [sic] and Fields, should be reserved for their benifit [sic] and fully secured to them by law.”HBC secretary Archibald Barclay replied, “…right of fishing and hunting will be continued to them.”As a follow-up, in 1850, after concluding 9/14 treaties, James Douglas wrote to HBC, “I informed the natives…that they were at liberty to carry on their fisheries with the same freedom as when they were the sole occupants of the country.”Treaties are about EXCLUSIVE fishing rights, meaning no competition from ANY non-Indigenous interests. ... See MoreSee Less

Treaties aren’t about land. Treaties (and for that matter all reserve land allocations) are about fishing. It’s all about the waters!

BEFORE he signed the 14 pre-Confederation treaties on Vancouver Island James Douglas wrote to the Hudson Bay Company (HBC), “…would strongly recommend, equally as a matter of justice, and from regard to the future peace of the colony, that the Indians Fishere’s [sic], Village Sitis [sic] and Fields, should be reserved for their benifit [sic] and fully secured to them by law.”

HBC secretary Archibald Barclay replied, “…right of fishing and hunting will be continued to them.”

As a follow-up, in 1850, after concluding 9/14 treaties, James Douglas wrote to HBC, “I informed the natives…that they were at liberty to carry on their fisheries with the same freedom as when they were the sole occupants of the country.”

Treaties are about EXCLUSIVE fishing rights, meaning no competition from ANY non-Indigenous interests.

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Always love your information

It's Indigenous #WomenInFishingWednesday and this week's feature is the Native Sisterhood members in this clip from the NFB film, 'Power to the Native Voice: The Road Forward".

Vera Newman, 'Namgis and Karen Jeffrey, Tsimshian have made some very powerful statements throughout the clip. One of the biggest highlights that we've taken from the clip is that, "Women are the backbone... and were dedicated to supporting the Brotherhood and their families."Here at NFA we offer microloans, specifically for Indigenous Women in Fishing. If you've thought about growing your fishing business, we encourage you to reach out to us and we're here to help. Send us your fishing photos too, you could be next week's feature! ... See MoreSee Less

Out of respect for the grieving family, we have postponed our workshop in Bella Bella. See the new dates for later in the week!

We understand there is a Potlatch in Bella Bella on the Friday, we will be finishing earlier in the day to allow workshop attendees to head into town to attend. Giaxsixa! We look forward to seeing you, Bella Bella and surrounding communities. ... See MoreSee Less

Out of respect for the grieving family, we have postponed our workshop in Bella Bella. See the new dates for later in the week! 

We understand there is a Potlatch in Bella Bella on the Friday, we will be finishing earlier in the day to allow workshop attendees to head into town to attend. 

Giaxsixa! We look forward to seeing you, Bella Bella and surrounding communities.

“Become a Brotherhood member and have a STRONG voice”

The Brotherhood has always been – and continues to be – solely financed by membership fees. This is an incredible position of strength in today’s landscape of organizations focused on BC’s Indigenous fisheries (and other) issues. Virtually all other organizations are financed by the federal or provincial governments and to ensure their ongoing sustainability they cannot “bite the hand that feeds them” too often or too strongly. This is not the case with Brotherhood. They are ideally positioned to lead coast-wide changes that may be contrary to priorities of the Crown. Consider being a Brotherhood member and part of shaping a STRONG voice for BC’s Indigenous people’s interests!www.nativebrotherhood.ca/membership/ ... See MoreSee Less

Fishing under Indigenous rights, title or treaty rights and “trading” those seafood products with other Indigenous people is legally protected.

The practice has a long history that predates the Constitution of Canada.pubsdb.lss.bc.ca/pdfs/pubs/A-Guide-to-Aboriginal-Harvesting-Rights-eng.pdf ... See MoreSee Less

Fishing under Indigenous rights, title or treaty rights and “trading” those seafood products with other Indigenous people is legally protected.

The practice has a long history that predates the Constitution of Canada.

https://pubsdb.lss.bc.ca/pdfs/pubs/A-Guide-to-Aboriginal-Harvesting-Rights-eng.pdfImage attachment

Indigenous #womeninfishingwednesday is featuring, Megan Stewart of Prince Rupert, BC. Megan loves fishing so much that she took a year off of work to move to Hartley Bay, BC to spend her time fishing and beach combing. We adore your passion for fishing, Megan! Thank you for your willingness to share your pictures and your story.

We are always looking for more Indigenous Women to feature. If you would like to be featured, please reach out to Mercedes: mercedes@shoal.ca ... See MoreSee Less

Indigenous #WomenInFishingWednesday is featuring, Megan Stewart of Prince Rupert, BC. Megan loves fishing so much that she took a year off of work to move to Hartley Bay, BC to spend her time fishing and beach combing. We adore your passion for fishing, Megan! Thank you for your willingness to share your pictures and your story.

We are always looking for more Indigenous Women to feature. If you would like to be featured, please reach out to Mercedes: mercedes@shoal.ca

2 CommentComment on Facebook

You look so happy on the water!! 😊

Happy #WorldFisheriesDay! “World Fisheries Day is celebrated every 21st November and represents a chance to recognize the vast and sometimes underappreciated food source for millions of humans that is the sea.” ... See MoreSee Less

Happy #WorldFisheriesDay! “World Fisheries Day is celebrated every 21st November and represents a chance to recognize the vast and sometimes underappreciated food source for millions of humans that is the sea.”

2 more weeks, Bella Bella! Have you signed up with Mercedes yet? We are looking forward to coming to the Central Coast and hope to see you all there.

Call (604)913-2997 or email, mercedes@shoal.ca to sign up! ... See MoreSee Less

2 more weeks, Bella Bella! Have you signed up with Mercedes yet? We are looking forward to coming to the Central Coast and hope to see you all there.

Call (604)913-2997 or email, mercedes@shoal.ca to sign up!
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