Sea lions, salmon, and oolichan have nourished the Nisga’a people for millennia, playing a key role in the prosperity and culture of the Nation. This tradition continues today.
Each year the Social Development department funds fishers and hunters to harvest these key species. The harvest is distributed to community members to be canned, smoked, and processed. This way, traditional skills are passed on from Elders to younger adults and youth, and every household benefits.
In the early stages of the project, distribution of the harvest is targeted to the Elders and people on fixed income.
Read more about the significance and history of oolichan for the Nisga’a Nation here: https://coastfunds.ca/stories/the-saviour-fish-protecting-nisgaa-connection-to-oolichan/