INDIANS IN THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES 155 



of the Program's termination early in 1982 the $2 million 

 in grants had been fully expended, as had the $200 thou- 

 sand in direct loans; and $700 thousand m loan guaran- 

 tees had been extended. 



This program had two significant deficiencies. First, 

 very little assistance could be provided in the form of 

 loan guarantees. Apparently because of the depressed 

 condition of the industry, banks have been reluctant to 

 extend even guaranteed loans to fishermen. Second, no 

 assistance could be provided to make payments on loans 

 from the Indian Fishermen's Assistance Program because 

 of a rule that federal funds cannot be used to write off 

 debts to the federal government. This is important, 

 because these loans are the largest form of debt for many 

 Indian vesselowners. 



Nevertheless, emergency funds for vessel repairs, start- 

 up costs and essential equipment enabled many Indian 

 fishermen to fish in the 1981 season who otherwise proba- 

 bly could not have operated. And because that was a fair 

 season for salmon, these fishermen have been able to 

 improve their financial position. 



Acquisition of a Gillnet Fleet 



In 1982 B.C. Packers Ltd. sold 243 vessels and 252 

 licences (most of its northern gillnet rental fleet) to the 

 Northern Native Fishing Corporation, an organization 

 established by three tribal councils. TTie purchase was 

 arranged through the cooperation of the Departments of 

 Indian and Northern Affairs and Fisheries and Oceans, 

 and involved a federal grant of $1 1.7 million, of which $3 

 million was provided for vessel improvements and oper- 

 ating costs, the remainder for payment to the vendors. 

 The corporation intends to retain title to the licences, and 

 to lease the licences and sell the boats to Indian fisher- 

 men, most of whom have hitherto operated the vessels 

 under company rental arrangements. 



The Salmom'd Enhancement Program 



The ambitious Salmonid Enhancement Program is 

 described in some detail in Chapter 5. I include some 

 discussion of it here because one of its official objectives 

 is to improve native well-being, which implies improving 

 incomes and employment for Indian fishermen and can- 

 nery workers. 



Several criticisms have been made about this program 

 regarding Indian involvement. Most important is its geo- 

 graphical orientation: projects are concentrated in the 

 south coast, especially in the Johnstone Strait area, where 

 Indian fishermen and conmiunities are already relatively 

 prosperous.'- Another is its focus on large hatchery pro- 

 jects; Indian groups argue that a greater emphasis on 

 small stream improvement projects would yield greater 

 benefits to Indians and their communities. 



Partly in response to such criticisms, a formal Commu- 

 nity Development Program was initiated under the Sal- 

 monid Enhancement Program in 1978, mainly for the 

 benefit of Indian communities. Its present budget pro- 

 vides $3.6 million annually for 15 community develop- 

 ment projects, of which 12 are with Indian communities. 

 Tentative proposals are aimed at expanding the program 

 to 62 projects at an additional cost of $45 million during 

 the next five years. 



Community development projects are contracted to 

 Indian bands and other groups who assume responsibil- 

 ity for specific works, such as small hatcheries, stream 

 rehabilitation and resource surveys. The Department 

 provides technical advice to the contractor and a training 

 program for those involved in the project. Problems of 

 one kind or another have arisen in most projects, but the 

 program has been generally successful (see Chapter 5). 

 The response from Indians has been enthusiastic; about 

 150 Indian communities have applied to undertake pro- 

 jects. This interest is the main reason for expanding the 

 program." 



The Indians' main criticism of the program is that the 

 Department gives the contracting bands insuflficient con- 

 trol over the projects, a criticism that must be weighed in 

 light of the experimental and risky nature of much 

 enhancement work. Other concerns are that funds are 

 insuflncient or not disbursed promptly and that Indians 

 have inadequate influence over the general design of the 

 program. 



Indian Mariculture 



The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, in 

 cooperation with the Manne Resources Branch of the 

 Ministry of Environment for British Columbia and the 

 Department of Regional Economic Expansion, is cur- 

 rently attempting to develop a program for native Indian 

 involvement in mariculture. This program recognizes the 

 keen interest of coastal Indian bands in mariculture, the 

 strategic location of Indian reserves for mariculture. and 

 the provincial goverrmient's interest in encouraging 

 Indian participation in this activity.'" 



Recently the Department of Indian and Northern 

 Affairs established an Indian Mariculture Task Force, 

 with membership comfX)sed of representatives from vari- 

 ous tribal councils. The goal of the task force is to 

 develop a mariculture program for Indians. The task 

 force operates autonomously, with Departmental person- 

 nel acting primarily as coordinators. 



This careful approach, involving Indians in the earliest 

 stages of program design, is undoubtedly appropriate in 

 view of the uncertainties of commercial success. But, as I 

 explain in Chapter 11, the potential for mariculture is 

 substantial, so the program deserves continuing support. 



