Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to speak today.
My ancestral name is Kwilosintun. My English name is Murray Ned. I'm the executive director of the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance. We are an alliance of 30 first nations along the lower Fraser River who work together to advocate for the health of fish and water. I also serve on council at my home village, Sumas First Nation, where I've held the fisheries portfolio for many years.
Before I begin, I want to acknowledge our neighbours on the Sumas Prairie and Abbotsford, especially the farming community, whose homes and livelihoods [Technical difficulty—Editor] flooding events. I'm not certain that all of them will be able to build back better or rebuild. For those who are able to rebuild, I hope they don't have to risk it all again in the future.
The 2021 atmospheric rivers and subsequent Sumas Prairie flooding events brought Sumas Lake back to its former state, exactly as it was 100 years ago. For those who aren't aware, there was a massive lake between Abbotsford and Chilliwack, known to us as Semá:th Xόtsa, which was occupied by our people. Spanning an area of 36,000 acres, Semá:th Xόtsa could naturally absorb the changing water levels in nearby rivers, including Fraser River freshets. It was host to thousands of birds and fish, including all five Pacific salmon species, steelhead and sturgeon. The Semá:th people relied on the lake for sustenance and its central location for easy travel to other harvesting, gathering and hunting areas.
In 1915 the royal commission met with Sumas Chief Selesmlton about diking and draining Semá:th Xόtsa. He told them that it would mean more starvation for us, “because the lake is one of the greatest spawning grounds”. This diking would cut it off, and in that way it would cut off our fish supply.
In 1924 the lake was drained. It is now supported by dikes, small canals and the Barrowtown pump station.
A century later, the Semá:th people still feel the devastating effects of losing the lake. It's important to reflect and fully understand the environmental impacts and remember that Semá:th Xόtsa isn't really gone; it's simply being suppressed by vulnerable flood infrastructure.
In the aftermath of the 2021 Sumas Prairie flooding, the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance contacted government agencies on behalf of Sumas and other first nations to organize fish recovery and water quality testing. It quickly became evident that there were limited to no immediate government emergency plans in place for these purposes. It was also difficult to identify who had the decision-making authority and responsibility among the multiple jurisdictions and ministries involved.
Not wanting to wait, nations like Sumas proceeded to partner with NGOs and other interest groups to deploy fish recovery and water quality testing. Since then, the federal government has announced a $5-billion flood recovery plan, but there hasn't been any formal engagement with lower Fraser first nations. UNDRIP requires that any flood planning and proposed infrastructure improvements must have the nations' free, prior and informed consent. Nations must be part of the planning process to determine what actions and investments will take place in our territories.
Nations understand their watersheds better than anyone, and have a growing capacity to participate in flood recovery and emergency response implementation through organizations like the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, the Emergency Planning Secretariat and the S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance, to name a few. What we need now is government partnership and a commitment to invest in developing that capacity further to support the nations and rights holders.
As a witness to both the 1990 and 2021 flood events, I was reminded that the spirit of the Semá:th Xόtsa is alive and well. Both times I enjoyed temporary lakefront property, and it became evident to me why our ancestors located Semá:th village where they did, on high ground.
In our Halq'emeylem language, there is a word, lets'emo:t, which means one heart, one mind: All things are connected. Our ancestors chose wisely to harmonize their lives with the natural landscape rather than try to control it or change it. Today we face the realities of rising sea levels and climate change, and must consider natural flood management options, including the gradual return of natural water surge areas like Semá:th Xόtsa. This is only one example of many in the lower Fraser.
Thank you again, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to speak to the standing committee today.
I look forward to the dialogue and questions.
[Witness spoke in Halq'eméylem]