Revitalizing Indigenous Law with the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

Item

Title
Revitalizing Indigenous Law with the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance
Legal Traditions of the Peoples of the Lower Fraser
Summary Report
Description
The LFFA-RELAW (Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance and Revitalizing Indigenous Law for Land, Air and Water) project provides a summary report of the legal traditions of the peoples of the Lower Fraser. It focuses on the First Nations’ legacy, governance, rights, and responsibilities for fish and watersheds.
Creator
Rayanna Seymour-Hourie
Jessica Clogg
Leah Ballantyne
Abstract
We learn through our oral stories that we have been here since time immemorial. Our stories go way back and speak of the old ways: the powers of earth, air, fire, water. The waters that come through our territories were abundant and provided life for many plants, animals, birds, and of course the abundant fish that used to freely travel through our territory to nourish the body, mind and spirit of our people. We continue to recognize our important relationship with fish through ceremony and sharing throughout the Lower Fraser. Respect for the past by learning our oral stories and coming to understand and respect our laws will collectively carry us forward to a much better place than we find ourselves in today. Since colonization, we have been asked to prove our existence on these territories. The teachings of our eternal ancestors are powerful and form the foundation of our laws. Our stories tell us so. I would hope that one day our laws are respected by all who live or participate in the decisionmaking of our territories --to the extent that various levels of government recognize our laws and incorporate them into decision-making processes. This is one way that we may reconcile and move forward together in the decisions made on the uses of our lands and resources, especially for fish. The LFFA-RELAW project amplifies our legacy, our governance, rights and responsibilities for fish and the watersheds they depend on.
pages
75
uri
https://www.wcel.org/sites/default/files/medialib/2021-10_relaw_lffa_summary_doc_october_4_2021-compressed.pdf
Is Part Of
See all items with this valueState of the Salish Sea
Publisher
Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance
Item sets
Salish Resources