June 24, 2021
(Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) — The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) congratulates the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations of Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Ehattesaht/Chinehkint, Tla-o-qui-aht and Mowachaht/Muchalaht in their steadfast and ongoing defense of their fishing rights. The Government of Canada recently decided to end more than 15 years of fisheries-related litigation against these Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations.
The First Nations Leadership Council acted as one of several intervenors at the April 19, 2021 BC Court of Appeal, which then re-affirmed that the Nuu-chah-nulth fishing right included the economic component, and priority access to any species to the Nations’ fishers. Since 2003, the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations have spent millions of dollars defending their rights to access, benefit from and manage their fisheries resources – all the while Canada has continued to deny their rights and priorities over others, including commercial and recreational interests.