To start, my future vision in regards to the world being more just from a socially economic standpoint, is that I really do think we need to have a lot more communication with our indigenous and early resident populations of people. Specifically, when we think about the idea of halibut fisheries and economical policy, some may view that these early indigenous populations had the first rights to these fishing quotas and if they want to continue fishing just keep the quota. However, that is a very narrow pointed view of the whole situation. First of all I believe that we need to put ourselves in these peoples shoes and think “If any of us were offered $300,000 for a fishing quota, would we take it.” I think most likely we would. Furthermore, we need to think about the long term effects for indigenous populations in regards to how they are supposed to acquire another fishing quota when the price of each quota has inflated drastically. We also need to think about even though there are rights and acts set in place to benefit indigenous groups when it comes to fishing, how are they supposed to compete with the large hi-tech fishing boats of the people who can afford a $300,000 quota. In light of all these questions, I think it would be appropriate for someone higher up to propose a reduced cost mechanism for these minorities with respect to fishing quotas and infrastructure. These people deserve government supplemented benefits that put them on the same playing field as wealthy newcomers to the rich tradition.
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Hi Hunter. I think its great that you are considering the effects on indigineous peoples and aiming to find a reduced cost mechanism for minorities.
This discussion seems to be framing framing a reduced fee for Indigenous groups to buy IVQs as a solution to Indigenous peoples being excluded from the Halibut fishery, and I'd like to provide a dissenting opinion to that idea.
No matter how subsidized that fishing license is, this scenario is premised on the idea that the DFO has a right to charge or control Indigenous nations fishing in their own waters. R v. Marshall (1999) demonstrated that the Mi'kmaq have a right to self-regulate a commercial "moderate livelihood" fishery. I would thus argue that it is not the role of the Canadian state to control Indigenous fisheries.
Justice is not making it cheaper for Indigenous peoples to buy permits from the Canadian state to harvest their own resources. Justice would look like ceding control of the fisheries to the Indigenous nations who fish those waters, and letting them reap the benefits of the enormous IVQ bidding price...they could even use those revenues to buy boats and start their own fisheries if that is what they wished to do.
Although the law recognizes indigenous peoples as co-managers of natural resources, it is clear that they are being suppressed in their fishing rights, and it is important to support them economically or through the education system by reducing fishing quotas so that more indigenous people can take courses in fisheries science and management.
Hello Hunter! I think the idea of reducing costs for minorities is a great start towards making changes and giving minorities the justice they deserve in such disadvantageous situations :)
I would love to hear your ideas about the future of the salmon spawn program by the government. I wonder, could this be integrated better with indigenous knowledge or is this something worth abandoning if it doesn't solve the problem we want it to? I also would love to hear your thoughts on the amount of money we allocate to spawn all these salmon to make up for the declining spawns.
I like this idea of a reduced fee for Indigenous people in regards to fishing licences. I think there could also be something put in place to give them access to purchasing licences before other people/companies to ensure they're able to fish without the pressure of the quotas.
I agree with your point on the government offering benefits to Indigenous groups to make it more just and fair in regards to competition with large fishing corporations!