Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative – What We Heard

Chief Richard Harry

Executive Director

Aboriginal Aquaculture Association

Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative

DFO and AANC partnered with 4 organizations to obtain input from First Nations regarding opportunities, challenges and constraints in aquaculture development

• First Nations Fisheries Council (BC)

• Assembly of First Nations (Central)

• Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs (Atlantic)

• Aboriginal Aquaculture Association of Canada

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Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative

The AAEI was used to gather input to shape the agenda for NAFF II

• Workshop participants told us what was important to them

Input was obtained from First Nations and Aboriginal groups across the country

• 17 Tier I meetings

• 4 Tier II meetings

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Tier 1 & Tier 2 Meetings

Host Organization Tier 1 Meetings Tier 2 Meetings

AAEI – NAFF Meetings

Atlantic Policy Congress of

First Nations Chiefs

Charlottetown PE Port Hawkesbury NS Fredericton NB Listuguj QC Conne River NL

Moncton NB

First Nations Fisheries Council Courtenay BC Kamloops BC Masset BC Nanaimo BC Port Alberni BC Port Hardy BC Prince Rupert BC

Vancouver BC (with AAA)

Aboriginal Aquaculture Assoc’n Nanaimo BC Vancouver BC (with FNFC)

Assembly of First Nations Montreal QC Saskatoon SK Other Meetings

Aboriginal Aquaculture Assoc’n

Strategic Planning Sessions

Nanaimo BC (Dec 2011)

Waubetek Business

Development Corporation

Sudbury ON (Mar 2012) Sudbury ON (Sept 2012)

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What We Heard

Considerable interest in sustainable aquaculture development as a prospective area for employment and economic activity

• Requires access to information, resources and expertise

• Capacity building is a key requirement

• Community buy-in is essential to successful economic development

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What We Heard

Development of a national strategy for aboriginal aquaculture development • Must be a collaborative and cooperative exercise between

Aboriginal groups, governments and industry

• Different issues in Atlantic, Pacific and inland regions must be recognized, respected and accommodated

• There appears to be more issues in-common to all First Nations

• Incorporate appropriate First Nations culture into development plans e.g. “Mimajuaqn" - making a living from natural resources with

conservation in mind

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Guiding Principles for Aboriginal Aquaculture Development

Respect for each First Nation’s autonomy

Enhance economic development opportunities for each First Nation

Implement shared decision-making and co-operative management of resources between each First Nation and government

Ensure that First Nations realize the benefits from a sustainable aquaculture industry

Promote both socioeconomic and environmental sustainability

Source: First Nations submission to NASAPI 7

Opportunities Awareness

First Nations are interested in aquaculture for business development, stock enhancement, youth opportunities and to complement traditional values

Consideration should be given to both band-owned projects and to private businesses owned by Aboriginal groups or individuals

First Nations would benefit from aquaculture backgrounders that describe opportunities in each region of the country

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Planning Leadership & Governance

First Nations require increased involvement in all aspects of planning, policy and management of aquaculture in traditional territories

Protocol and Impact Benefit Agreements with aquaculture corporations can provide a platform for First Nations to assume a more substantive co-management role in the aquaculture industry

Stable systems of corporate governance will enhance investor confidence, prospective partnerships and market access

Greater cooperation between First Nations can stimulate successful economic development

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Access to Sites

It can be difficult to gain access to aquaculture production sites in traditional territories for First Nation ventures

First Nations have insufficient autonomy regarding resource access

In many cases, the best sites are already occupied

The site application process is cumbersome and expensive (red tape)

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Training & Skills Development

The best approach seems to be via on-site training initiatives • reduced costs and complications associated with travel

• ensures participants gain practical work experience

Training must coincide with immediate employment opportunities

Learn from other First Nations that have already developed aquaculture businesses • Critical success factors

• Key pitfalls to avoid

Management training is as important as technical training

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Partnerships

Explore partnership agreements with aquaculture corporations and with other First Nations

First Nations should define proper consultation and engagement processes so the lack of consultation is not an obstacle

Develop a partnership guidebook and deliver regional partnership workshops

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Access to Capital

Equity Gap – the comparative inability for a First Nation community or individual to attract investment capital for a commercial venture

• Inability to pledge real and personal property on-reserve as collateral

• Risk is widely perceived to be greater for First Nations ventures

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Access to Capital

"Asset Mapping" will help to identify First Nations’ capital that can be leveraged for economic development; e.g.

• Aquatic and land-based natural resources

• Human resources

• Existing infrastructure

• Supporting ventures and institutions (e.g. services ventures, training facilities, etc.)

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Environmental Monitoring & Management

Lack of confidence within First Nations communities regarding the environmental performance of the aquaculture sector

First Nations involvement in delivery of environmental monitoring and reporting would improve confidence • Need to develop capacity to conduct environmental

monitoring & reporting

• Opportunity to participate in non-production side of aquaculture

• Creation of employment opportunities in remote First Nations communities

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Aboriginal Principles for Sustainable Aquaculture

Elements of the APSA: • Third party certification program

developed by AAA • Transparency and First Nation

(Aboriginal) Inclusiveness • Social Responsibility • Environmental Responsibility • Economic Responsibility

Ahousaht First Nation & Mainstream Canada • First to receive certification

Looking Ahead

These issues will be further explored and discussed in the Aquaculture Session tomorrow • Many case studies will be presented

• Ideas will be shared amongst First Nations

Your participation and ideas are important • They will help to shape a national strategy for

aboriginal aquaculture development

• They will identify specific areas for resource investment

• They will help to define the scope of a successful economic development plan

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Thank you for your attention

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