We sat down with John Henderson, Vice President of First Nations Fisheries Council of BC (FNFC), to talk about Coastal First Nations and their connection the ocean.
Can you provide some insights into the significance of the ocean for First Nations communities?
The values that the First Nations have regarding the ocean is far reaching. The ocean and everything in it are vital teachers for Coastal First Nations. We have learned, from all the past generations, how to be elite fishermen and how to utilize everything in the ocean.
How has the relationship between First Nations and the ocean evolved over time, and what are some of the key traditional practices associated with it?
Over time we have kept quite true to our traditional practices. However, due to no fault of their own, First Nations have been disconnected from traditional harvesting practices in their own territories, often having to acquire licenses or travel long distances. As the ocean has changed, there is a deep sense of displacement from what once provided food, teachings, and culture.
What are some of the current challenges faced by First Nations communities in maintaining their cultural connections to the ocean?
The ocean is an important teacher for many First Nations people and the depletion of marine resources have limited access to teachings, culture, and traditional food sources. In the past we, as First Nations, worked together, went to the beaches, and provided for our communities. Now, in many cases, food is being trucked into communities whose territories can no longer provide for them. Being disconnected from our traditional harvesting practices, makes it harder for the youth to be involved and get the experience they need to continue to uphold these traditions.
We spoke with Marie-Chantal Ross, Program Director of the National Research Council of Canada's (NRC) Ocean Program, to discuss the importance of ocean research and innovation, and what it can do to help towards the sustainable management of our ocean.
How does the NRC’s research contribute to our understanding of ocean ecosystems and their biodiversity?
We have two areas of research — a bio perspective and a coastal resilience one. We work with phytoplankton as a tool to detect and understand environmental changes in the ocean that impact marine organisms. Phytoplankton are the photosynthetic microbes distributed throughout the ocean that provide roughly 50 per cent of the atmosphere’s oxygen. Monitoring natural phytoplankton communities as biosensors will help us to quickly detect changes in the ocean resulting from broader climate change impacts.
For coastal resilience, we engineer with nature by working with our collaborators in what are called nature-based solutions. When there's storm surges or erosion, rather than putting up these gray infrastructures (like breakwaters), we're now using things like living dykes. Living dykes can be seagrass, an island, or a trough. It’s about using nature and learning from it to help with these resiliency issues so we can adapt to climate change without having our infrastructure washed into sea.
Can you explain any recent discoveries or breakthroughs in your field of ocean research?
There are always breakthroughs in this space. The global research community has been studying microplastics in marine environments for quite some time. However, new technologies and predictive models must be developed to accurately measure the amount of plastics in the environment and better understand their impacts on marine life.
Recently, most of the research has focused on using spherical plastic particles to understand the impact of microplastics. However, microplastics are not perfectly spherical beads in the real world and their unique characteristics have important effects on their behaviour and fate in the environment. So, we've been using zebrafish, a model organism used for research, to characterize and predict the bioaccumulation and toxicity of plastic debris.
This week, individuals, organizations, and communities across the country are coming together to celebrate Ocean Week Canada and raise awareness about the significance of the global ocean and its vital role in sustaining life on earth.
Ocean Week Canada is an annual celebration that started in 2022 and rapidly grew into a nationwide festival of events. Community-led events are the heart of the celebration because they reflect unique geographical and cultural connections to local waters. The Ocean Week Canada festival connects these regional celebrations to form a national movement of public engagement, knowledge sharing, and community action.
The wave is growing! There are over 160 registered events in 2023 and organizers expect over 500,000 people to dive into Ocean Week.
The weeklong festival features a number of activities including a traveling giant ocean floor map/Augmented Reality experience, science talks and book readings, art exhibits and performances, water quality testing, shoreline tours and cleanups, film screenings, and more.
One of the biggest events is hosted by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Canadian Geographic at 50 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, which features an exhibit titled PRESSURE, showcasing James Cameron’s DEEPSEA CHALLENGER. A complete list of public events can be found on the Ocean
Week Canada website.
Ocean Week Canada is organized by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC), a national project office that coordinates multi-partner collaborations to advance ocean literacy in Canada.
“Through these events, the goal is for Canadians to gain a deeper understanding of humanity’s relationship with the ocean. By creating spaces for public conversations and diverse pathways for engagement in conservation, we hope to draw attention to the urgent need for ocean conservation, through education, collaboration, and community action,” says Meghan Callon, Communications and Design Lead for COLC.
Ocean Week Canada is back for its second year, with events being hosted across the country, helping get Canadians involved in and passionate about the protection of our ocean.
Uniting First Nations Voices to Preserve BC’s Waters
BC's First Nations share a deep connection to the province’s waters. The First Nations Fisheries Council unites their interests towards effective conservation and stewardship.
BC is home to more than 200 distinct, diverse First Nations communities. Despite significant differences in language, governance, and knowledge systems, First Nations peoples have one fundamental thing in common: a strong, time-honoured connection to their lands and waters. As stewards of their ancestral territories, First Nations communities coast-to-coast have nurtured a deep connection with their environment since time immemorial — and persevered through colonial obstacles.
The First Nations Fisheries Council of BC (FNFC) is a non-rights holding organization that supports First Nations in protecting, reconciling, and advancing their Aboriginal Title and Rights and Treaty Rights as they relate to fisheries and the health and protection of aquatic resources in British Columbia (BC). FNFC plays a crucial role in convening, eliciting, and amplifying First Nations' priorities to influence the integrated planning and management of fisheries and aquatic resources at the province-wide level. Its primary focus is to support the capacity and relationships necessary for collective action among First Nations for a unified voice on all fisheries-related matters.
FNFC's activities are guided by a council of delegates appointed by First Nations in each of the 14 geographic regions in BC. Through a range of initiatives, FNFC advances the diverse interests of First Nations in BC, with a strong emphasis on amplifying Indigenous-led management and stewardship of aquatic resources. This dedication
serves to safeguard the interests of both present and future generations.
Safeguarding salmon through collective action
In February 2023, the Save our Salmon (SOS) Coalition was launched in partnership, between the First Nations Fisheries Council of BC, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, and the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, to address a shared problem: the potential of Wild Pacific Salmon extinction across five native species.
Since the 1970s, the population of these wild Pacific salmon species has decreased by over 90 per cent. This decline can be attributed to three main factors: logging, overfishing, and pollution. Logging practices, especially clear cutting near waterways, have resulted in sediment runoff that harms salmon eggs and disrupts their habitat. Overfishing has depleted the overall salmon population, while pollution from chemicals like pesticides and industrial waste has led to health problems and reduced reproductive success for salmon. These combined factors pose a serious threat to the survival of wild Pacific salmon and the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems in BC.
To safeguard the survival of wild Pacific salmon, it is crucial for the public to endorse sustainable fishing practices, champion habitat conservation efforts, and work towards reducing pollution in rivers and oceans. SOS supports these objectives through community engagement, scientific research, and collaborative partnerships.
Empowering communities with cumulative effects assessment
The First Nations Fisheries Council of BC and Transport Canada have teamed up to co-develop and implement an assessment on the cumulative effects of marine shipping along
coastal ecosystems and com munities in BC. Results will confirm the layered impact of the shipping industry across interconnected ecosystems.
FNFC has worked diligently with First Nations changemakers across BC to develop the Indigenous Cumulative Effects Assessment Framework (ICEAF); which places emphasis on Indigenous knowledge of coasts and coast line. ICEAF has been developed to equip Indigenous communities in BC with a roadmap to develop their own cumulative effects assessment. This initiative will help drive community-based action to restoring our coasts and coastline.
Ocean use guided by Marine Spatial Planning Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a systemic and integrated approach to managing human activities in marine and coastal areas, ensuring there is balance between economic and ecological priorities. The primary goal of MSP is to effectively manage fishing, shipping, and conservation efforts to safeguard the health of marine habitats and ecosystems. FNFC, in partnership with many South Coast Nations, has developed an Indigenous Marine Spatial Planning Readiness Guidebook to ensure First Nations in BC have access to the information they need to meaningfully engage in provincial MSP as well as their own community-specific marine planning. This resource will empower Nations to address marine planning from an Indigenous lens while accounting for the unique and differing capacities, priorities, and values each Nation has.
How Ocean Wise Is Creating a Movement and Helping Our Ocean Thrive
Ocean Wise recently announced a series of new additions to its Board of Directors to inspire and scale a global movement.
the world — Ocean Wise is inspiring a movement to take action and create a future where our ocean, and the people who depend on it, can thrive.
On World Ocean Day, Ocean Wise is announcing exciting additions to its leadership team and Board of Directors, adding global insight, experience, and passion to drive its ambition to the next level.
Mike Gerbis, CEO, The Delphi Group, GLOBE Series, Leading Change Canada, & Canadian Business for Social Responsibility
Mike Gerbis has been a pioneer in the sustainability and climate space in Canada for over three decades, helping companies become leaders and advising governments on effective policy. He leads the strategic direction, growth, and impact of the group of organizations that includes The Delphi Group, GLOBE Series, Leading Change Canada, and Canadian Business for Social Responsibility.
Isabella Lövin, Co-Chair, Friends of Ocean Action
Isabella Lövin is a best-selling author and former journalist who served as a minister in the Swedish government between 2014 and 2021, as Minister for International Development Cooperation, as Deputy Prime Minister, and as Minister for the Climate, as well as co-leader of the Swedish Green party from 2016 to 2021. She’s a columnist, writer, and co-chair of Friends of Ocean Action, a network of some 80 ocean champions with its secretariat at the World Economic Forum.
Pascal Mittermaier, Entrepreneur in Residence, SeaAhead
Pascal Mittermaier’s career spans over 30 years, 10 countries, and three industries, including health care and sustainable development. Formerly the
Global Managing Director of Cities at the Nature Conservancy, Mittermaier currently serves as Board Chair of Nature Sacred and is Entrepreneur in Residence at SeaAhead, helping Bluetech startups and incubators prepare for market launch.
Tuck Rickards, Manager Director — Leader, Global Technology Sector, Russell Reynolds Associates
Tuck Rickards works closely with high-growth technology companies and Global 1000 organizations on the recruitment of high-impact digital and technology executives. He’s also a member of the Sustainability and Social Impact Practices. Tuck is a Board Director of the Bay Area Council in San Francisco, a Trustee of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and an Advisory Board Member of a growth stage cyber security software company, Night Vision.
Meghan Jeans, Senior Program Advisor, Binnacle Fund
A lawyer by background and training, Meghan Jeans works at the intersection of law, policy, science, and markets to help foundations, social and environmental change organizations, and private-sector clients link strategy to impact with solutions-oriented guidance, analysis, tools, and collaborations. She was most recently the Vice Chair of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
