Selkirk First Nation takes bigger role in Yukon salmon management

Traditional knowledge and community involvement areessential formanaging chinook salmon, says a fishand wildlife officer withthe Selkirk First Nation in Pelly Crossing, Yukon.

Last year, the First Nation began operatinga sonar station, located about 20 kilometres upstream from the mouth of the Pelly River, to startcounting spawning salmon.

Yukon Riverchinooksalmon runs have dwindled in recent years,prompting fishingrestrictions in Yukon and Alaskaas well as the need for ways to protect fish numbers.

• FROM 2016 |'New salmon run:' Planes now fly in fish as Yukon chinook decline

Eugene Alfred, fishand wildlife officer, says the First Nation continues tobe more involved than ever in this process. He says community members are part of the discussions that lead to formal recommendations to the federal minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

"This is where we are seeing more and more community-based salmon management taking place," said JesseTrerice, executive director of the sub-committee that helps manage the chinook salmon.

"The elders are being brought into these conversations, the youth are being brought into these conversations."

Last year, the Selkirk First Nation asked members to restrict their catch to 30 fish per camp, and to release all female fish.

Alfred saysthis year, the First Nation will operate the sonar site for a full season,from the beginning of July to mid-August.

Hesays it will share the data with the federal fisheries department and the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee as well as their Alaskan counterparts.

"It's something as a First Nations people, we try to look down the road," he said. "Everything we do is not about us today, it's about our future generations."

Alfred saystheSelkirkFirst Nation uses the traditionalDooliLawthat requires caring, sharing, teaching and respect for the land, fish, wildlife and daily life in the community.

"You know, it's through our final [land claim and self-government]agreements, our settlements," he said.

"It does say we have the responsibility managing our own resources and we do have the right to take that lead in that area and we are."