Columbia River to undergo restoration

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Communities along the much-dammed Columbia River in southeastern B.C. will soon see the start of a program to begin restoration of the river. They will also see some compensation from the renegotiating of the Columbia River Treaty and the ongoing work of the Columbia River Treaty Commission.

The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program in Nelson was officially established Feb. 17 and, as of March 27, the First Nations people along the river will be launching their first collective enhancement and restoration program. The program is receiving funds the province is starting to get from the United States for the delivery of hydro-electricity.

On the morning of March 27, the Shuswap Band was to host a confirmation ceremony for the Canadian Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commissioner at Invermere's David Thompson Secondary School.

"The stewardship of the land and resources of the Canadian Columbia River Basin flows to First Nations from the Creator," reads the commission's mission statement, which was four years in the making.

"The Canadian Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commission will ensure that the Aboriginal right of First Nations to fisheries resources is protected. Under the authority of the First Nations of the Canadian Columbia River Basin, the commission will facilitate and co-ordinate protection, conservation, management, harvesting and enhancement of native fish stocks and their habitat including water quality. The commission will also facilitate compensation, mitigation and reparation to these First Nations for the depletion, degradation and loss of fisheries resources."

"The commission will work towards a whole range of projects" to help restore fisheries and work on enhancing the river, said commission director Bill Green, working out of the Ktunaxa-Kinbasket Tribal Council office at the St. Mary's Band outside Cranbrook.

"We'll be doing things such as improving spawning habitat and rearing habitant. It will be a comprehensive basin-restoration project."

As for funding to help cover the costs of the commission and the projects, Green said that the bands involved will make contributions, as well as outside funding from a variety of sources such as B.C. Hydro, governments and the Columbia Basin Authority.

Shuswap Chief Paul Sam said he's pleased to be hosting the opening ceremony, which will last the entire day, and include a traditional welcome, speeches, meals, tours of the Columbia River at Fairmont for delegates, a "first salmon" or "return of the salmon" ceremony, and the official signing of the commission memorandum of agreement.

"The ceremony will help to publicly confirm the commitments made by First Nations within the Columbia Basin to work together within the commission towards the restoration of basin fisheries and fresh water ecosystems," he said.

It will also demonstrate to the public "the fisheries and aquatic resource losses that First Nations within the Columbia Basin have suffered," and show the resolve of First Nations people "to restore and care for basin fish and freshwater resources."

Sam added that the commission will be seeking "partnership with groups interested in the restoration of the basin."