Ahousaht and Mainstream Canada

Wally Samuel Ahousaht First Nation

Village of Ahousaht on Flores Island, B.C.

Partnership and Protocol

Presentation Outline

Ahousaht First Nation overview

Protocol with Mainstream

Employment and benefits

Mainstream Canada overview

Sustainability

Moving Forward

Ahousaht First Nation

Located on Flores Island in B.C.’s Clayoquot Sound

Has more than 2000 members, and is the largest single First Nation on Vancouver Island’s West Coast

Led by Ha’wiih Tyee Chief Maquinna (Lewis George), A-in-chut (Shawn Atleo, current national chief of the Assembly of First Nations)

Making decisions

The Ha’wiih (Hereditary Chief) is a

collective leadership shared by three

chiefs

Their role is to look after their Ha-

Ha’houlthee (territory and resources)

There is also an elected chief and council

Ahousaht-Mainstream partnership

Based on a protocol agreement originally signed in 2002

Renewed and improved in 2010

Allows Mainstream Canada to operate in Ahousaht territory

Provides jobs and economic benefits to Ahousaht First Nations people

Why support salmon farming?

“Fish farming is replacing the

prosperity missing since the

end of the commercial

fishery.”

– Tyee Hawiih, at protocol renewal

in 2010

Timeline: revising the protocol

2002 1st protocol created

Feb 2008 Revised protocol proposed and

Ahousaht Fish Farm Committee formed

Missing: Paul Robinson, Katie Beach

Timeline

March 2008 goal was regular monthly

meetings to work on protocol revision

Dec 2009 Final draft of protocol, signed

agreement Jan 2010

Perseverance

Goal was a written agreement

Definitions and terminology were unclear

Committees had to agree and then take to

Ahousaht Hawiih and community and

Cermaq leadership for agreement

Many versions of the agreement were

completed

Advantage that Principles were in place

Trust

Successful co-existence requires a strong understanding and a commitment to the relationship

Recognized that we are all here to stay, and that coexistence is a reality

Respect and cooperation is mutually beneficial

Changing actions changed attitudes

Agreed upon dispute resolution, and a strong commitment to communicate

Partnership

Mainstream and Ahousaht developed a relationship based on trust, respect and performance, and that provided stability for both Parties.

The Parties agreed to respect each others’ distinct identities, interests and priorities while we explored common interests and opportunities.

The Parties agreed to commit to honest and open sharing of information and ideas and to joint problem solving.

Vision Statement

The Ahousaht Hawiih and Community

along with Mainstream Canada

leadership and staff will work together

to establish a sustainable finfish

aquaculture business in Ahousaht

Hahoulthee that will demonstrate a

respect for and seek a balance among,

all living things.

Vision Statement

This business will meet or exceed

existing environmental standards; will

strive to be recognized globally as a

progressive, innovative Aboriginal /

Industry partnership that seeks mutual

long term social, economic, cultural

and spiritual benefits for both parties;

and will consider the needs and

interest of future generations.

Protocol today

Based on mutual respect

Employs about 67 Ahousaht First Nations

people on farm sites and in processing

plant in Tofino

Provides jobs and skills training, financial

benefits, salmon enhancement funding

and business and contract opportunities

Protocol today

Does not extinguish, abrogate or deny any

aboriginal rights and title of the Ahousaht

First Nation

Respects claims for constitutionally-

protected rights and title in farming areas

Respects historic and contemporary uses

and stewardship of land, water and

resources in Ahousaht territory

Employment

More than 60 Ahousaht people employed

$3.9 million in wages and benefits annually for Ahousaht employees

Employee benefits include full medical and dental

200-plus people (including Ahousaht contractors) employed in support and supply

Ahousaht Fish Farm workers

Albert Frank and Tony Frank

Partnership benefits

For Ahousaht:

Financial benefits

Community Support Programs (Training and Education, Salmon Enhancement)

Employment (goal 50% of direct jobs)

Contracting & business opportunities

For Mainstream

New sites

Operational support

Local Employees

Clayoquot Sound

www.mainstreamcanada.com

Our Focus is Sustainable Aquaculture

“Sustainability:

development that meets the needs

of the present without compromising

the ability of future generations

to meet their needs”.

U.N. World Commission on

Environment and Development, 1987

Aboriginal Certification

In 2011, Mainstream Canada’s farm sites in Ahousaht territory were certified under APSA

Wally Samuel (Ahousaht), Marguerite Parker (AAA),

Richard Harry (AAA), Laurie Jensen (Mainstream) and

Karin Maier (Mainstream) celebrated Mainstream’s

APSA certification in May 2011.

APSA – Aboriginal Principles

for Sustainable Aquaculture

Aboriginal Aquaculture Association (AAA) serves as a resource body providing guidance and advice to First Nations

Elements of the Standard include:

• Transparency and First Nations Inclusiveness

• Social Responsibility • Environmental Responsibility • Economic Responsibility

Why support APSA and AAA?

First Nations people have long been stewards of the natural resources upon which their communities depend.

Sustainability is a concept that is embedded within First Nations society, but the development of a formal process by which these values can be expressed in modern society is often lacking.

APSA provides a standard for the structural and operational framework under which First Nations can be assured that their values, expectations and interests are included in the sustainable management of aquaculture operations in coastal British Columbia.

APSA certification makes sure aboriginal values are incorporated into aquaculture.

Partnerships

Time

+ Perseverance

+ Trust (relations)

= Partnership

Going forward

The parties will continue to work together

to improve the sustainability of fish

farming and its related activities in the

Hahoulthee with a focus on environmental

protection and enhancement.

Regular meetings, detailed action plans

and focus on communication

Maaqutusiis Classroom Incubator program

Sustainable Finfish Aquaculture

www.mainstreamcanada.com

George Frank, (Late) Darrell Campbell, James Costello, Greg Foreman, Paul Robinson, Tom Paul

For more information…

www.mainstreamcanada.com

www.ahousaht.ca www.mainstreamcanada.com