Canneries employ people seasonally. My grandmothers sister, and her brother both depend on the Cannery to keep them going year round. Every year, will they get enough hours for employment insurance. Salmon is something that Nisga'as, Tsimshian's, and Haida's have all lived off for thousands of years. I heard one warrior women speak, saying salmon is in our DNA. I don't doubt that one bit. Most of our origin stories tell of a time of famine, and darkness, when salmon came to us as a gift to keep our people alive, as we were near starvation. That is why our Chiefs wear the Ermine Skin on their hats, to remember how the salmon came to save humans by providing its flesh to us as nourishment. To carry that responsibility to the land, and always be a protector for the salmon as well.
Today, we are fighting for our Salmon. We have so much industrial development projects proposed in the harbour of Prince Rupert, it will collapse the salmon run most likely of the Skeena and the Nass rivers. We are facing three development projects in our delicate ecosystem here. Each will deliver acidic rain from the flare stack emissions going 24/7, and most likely local residents will soon become riddled with rare cancers and diseases. I recently went to aurora LNG's open house, and ask the lead for the EAO if he's willing to live in Dodge cove if they wish to have their LNG facility there, he said no. I said you don't want to be the first one getting a rare cancer. He said no. Then I said if your not willing to live this life, being threatened with pollution that will cause serious health concerns, then don't expect us local residents of this area to support that kind of life. It's not fair.
With the Occupation of Lelu, the Lax Uula camp is giving us all an opportunity. To learn why Flora Banks needs to be saved, what we are capable of, and do we live in fear?!
