Fisheries committee  I have one comment to provide for that. It's funny that they ask, because the executive steering committee from the Fraser Basin Council was just approached about partnering on an assessment of possible slide sites along the Fraser River. We're researching it. We think we know

Fisheries committee  If you're talking about how much funding is needed, it's almost a bottomless bucket right now, or we're looking at extinction. It's never been this low. We've never had such a run on record. I can't put a specific dollar amount on it, but what's worth more, money or salmon? Dar

Fisheries committee  That's my personal point of view, but I think a lot of other people would support it.

Fisheries committee  I was going to let the chief go first, but I could add one additional comment. By the time we're finished with Big Bar landslide, we'll probably end up at close to $100 million. If it's an equal and equity-based partnership, 33% should be for first nations involvement in the fut

Fisheries committee  Thank you. That was a key point. The work to remove rock will take decades. Fish ladders can take a year to two years. The fish don't have the time.

Fisheries committee  Currently, we have two local first nations: Stl'atl'mx, which is part of the Fraser, and Secwepemc, which is the Shuswap part of the Fraser, so it's a collaboration of two nations. Individual bands within those nations have provided contractors, managers, technicians and security

Fisheries committee  Do you want me to step in and mention a few comments?

Fisheries committee  My speech was cut off by about 30 seconds because I guess it was too long. Anyway, the inclusion of our indigenous knowledge is essential to the success of these types of agreements, but that information isn't cheap. It needs to be resourced similar to the acquisition of biologi

Fisheries committee  Frankly, no. There are not enough funds available to provide full traditional knowledge. We can scrape the top off the butter, but we can't dig in deep with the knife. That's a funny way of putting it, but, yes, seriously, there are not enough funds. For the amount of resources o

Fisheries committee  I can start off. In B.C. as a whole, there is an organization that we work closely with. It's the First Nations Fisheries Council. It's led by executive director Jordan Point. He might have been a witness here in the past. We're Fraser Basin-specific, the Fraser Salmon Manageme

Fisheries committee  I'm a chief, but not an elected chief. They call me “the fish chief” back home here. I'm a traditional hereditary chief.

Fisheries committee  I'm also the indigenous project manager for the Big Bar landslide indigenous engagement committee, so I can answer your questions. The more of those salmon get touched by human hands, the less chance they have of getting over the slide. All the scientists we've worked with are t

Fisheries committee  That one I'll definitely answer. There's going to be a fish ladder needed, much like at Hell's Gate. Because of the water levels and the amount of rock deep in the river there, there's no other way there. That decision is already on the table to be hashed over by the parties. We'

Fisheries committee  I'll try to answer a little bit of that. I might also rely on President Darren to jump in. The Fraser Salmon Management Council is unique. It's never been done in the history of DFO. I talked about DFO as being put in place for policing Indians. Our role is significant. Co-manage

Fisheries committee  [Witness spoke in Secwepemctsin and provided the following text:] Weyt-kp xwexéytep. Greg Witzky ren Skweskwst. Quelmuc te Secwepepmcul’ecw. [Witness provided the following translation:] Hello, everyone. My name is Greg Witzky. I'm indigenous from the Shuswap Nation. [Englis