Canada and Gitanyow Nation Sign 10-Year Fisheries Pact

After caring for salmon in their waters for thousands of years, the Gitanyow Nation in British Columbia is getting the resources and recognition to continue that vital work on their own terms.

The Canadian government signed a 10-year Incremental Fisheries Reconciliation Agreement with Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs in September 2026. The deal strengthens the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority's ability to manage salmon conservation programs and creates new opportunities for Gitanyow people to participate in commercial fishing.

"Our people have carried the responsibility of caring for the salmon and fisheries within our Lax'yip for thousands of years," said Joel Starlund, Executive Director of the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs Office. "This agreement strengthens our ability to continue that work while creating greater opportunities for Gitanyow people to participate in the fisheries that have sustained our Nation."

The agreement covers collaborative decision-making for the next decade and supports existing programs like the Kitawanga Sockeye Recovery Program. The Gitanyow Fisheries Authority has operated full-time since 1994, employing professional biologists and seasonal staff who conduct stock assessments, habitat restoration, and environmental monitoring.

The partnership includes something even more tangible. Construction has begun on the Wilp'Ho Dix Hatchery, a $7.5 million facility that will raise 300,000 juvenile sockeye salmon annually for the Kitwanga River, with room to expand to 400,000.

The hatchery will feature energy-efficient water reuse systems, underground water supplies, and sustainable infrastructure. It represents a massive upgrade from three decades ago, when a Gitanyow chief raised salmon in a small wooden shed beside the creek because he understood the responsibility to protect them.

The Ripple Effect

This agreement shows what reconciliation can look like in action. Instead of top-down management, the Canadian government is empowering Indigenous communities who have successfully cared for these ecosystems for millennia.

The funding comes from Canada's Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, which allocated $412.9 million through 2031. National law requires five percent of awarded contracts go to Indigenous businesses, ensuring economic opportunities flow back to the communities doing the conservation work.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson emphasized that collaborative decision-making keeps salmon healthy and fisheries strong. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty joined her at the signing, demonstrating federal commitment at the highest levels.

The Gitanyow Fisheries Authority's three-decade track record proves that Indigenous-led conservation works. Now they have the backing and funding to expand that success for generations to come.

The new hatchery will stand at the entrance to Gitanyow Village, a daily reminder that ancient knowledge and modern partnerships can restore what seemed lost.