INfDIANS IN THE COMMERCIAL FISHERIES 157 



solve Indian problems; it has therefore been seen as the 

 agency responsible for these problems and has conse- 

 quently become a target of criticism. Thus, many Indian 

 groups that have appeared before this Commission have 

 expressed frustration and even hostility over the Depart- 

 ment's apparent insensitivity to their problems. 



The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, with 

 its direct responsiblity for Indian affairs, is best placed to 

 initiate and financially support programs of social and 

 economic development for Indians. The Department of 

 Fisheries and Oceans must adapt its policies to accom- 

 modate these programs without obstructing the objec- 

 tives of Indian administration or of the Indians them- 

 selves. Of course, the technical administrative advice of 

 the Department of Fisheries and Oceans should be 

 sought in designing any such projects involving the 

 fisheries. 



For the reasons presented above, the government must 

 initiate a well-defined program to protect and expand 

 Indian participation in the commercial fisheries, using the 

 considerable experience of past programs of assistance. It 

 should have long-term goals, and hence be more than an 

 emergency aid program, though its ultimate objective 

 should be to eliminate the need for its continuance. 

 Accordingly, it should not only assist Indian vessel- 

 owners to improve their productivity and young Indians 

 to enter the fishery for the first time, but also provide 

 training to enable them to succeed. 



In the present circumstances of the Pacific fisheries, 

 any program designed to encourage Indian participants 

 must be compatible with the general need to rationalize 

 and reduce the overexpanded fleets. This presents an 

 obvious difficulty, and it calls for careful program design. 

 First, it requires that any additional fishing licences made 

 available to Indians be drawn from the existing stock, 

 rather than being added to it. Second, it requires that 

 provisions be made to ensure that Indian licences will 

 remain in Indian hands, rather than be transferred to 

 non-Indians. Third, it requires that provisions be made to 

 ensure that Indians will have access to credit and finan- 

 cial support that will enable them to operate and improve 

 their position. Finally, it should provide for a high degree 

 of Indian participation in the program's administration. 



Indian Fishermen's Economic Development FVogram 



These conditions are largely met by the Indian Fisher- 

 men's Economic Development Program proposed by the 

 Native Brotherhood of British Columbia. Following 

 extensive consultation within the Indian fishing commu- 

 nity, the program has been the subject of intensive plan- 

 ning during the last three years by a working committee 

 consisting of representatives of the Native Brotherhood 

 and the Departments of Indian and Northern Affairs, 



Fisheries and Oceans, and Employment and Immigra- 

 tion. 



The essential objectives of the program are to provide 

 financial assistance to young Indians to enable them to 

 acquire vessels and enter the industry-, to provide training 

 in fishing skills and business management, to secure a 

 permanent block of fishing licences for Indian fishermen, 

 and to assist Indian owners of marginal vessels to 

 improve them. 



The proposed program was presented in a submission 

 to this Commission.'^ Having examined it and alterna- 

 tives, I make the following recommendation: 



1. The federal government should proceed toward imple- 

 menting the Indian Fishermen's Economic Develop- 

 ment Program as quickly as possible. 



I support this program's general outline, but since nego- 

 tiations are already taking place, I refrain from making 

 recommendations on matters of detail. 



Its proposed structure is designed to alleviate some of 

 the problems encountered by the earlier Indian Fisher- 

 men's Assistance Program. The program would be man- 

 aged by the Indian Fishermen's Development Corpora- 

 tion, which would be a nonprofit organization controlled 

 by Indians. Directors would be elected from regional 

 groups of Indians traditionally involved in commercial 

 fishing to ensure representativeness and equitable treat- 

 ment. The Corporation is expected to be affiliated in 

 some way with the already-established Northern Native 

 Fishing Corporation. 



The current proposal calls for a budget of about $20 

 million over five years to meet the costs of purchasing 

 licensed vessels, upgrading existing vessels, training and 

 administration. It is proposed that this be funded by a 

 governmental grant, provided through a special alloca- 

 tion from the budget of the Department of Indian and 

 Northern Affairs, the Western Initiatives Fund, other 

 sources, or a combination of these. 



An issue that is not addressed in the present proposal 

 concerns the possible continuing need for operating sub- 

 sidies for Indian fishermen. Many Indian fishing opera- 

 tions are marginal, and the objectives of the program 

 imply that they may require financial assistance. More- 

 over, past experience suggests that the success of such 

 programs often rests on some support beyond the initial 

 assistance. So I recommend the following: 



2. The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs 

 should provide staff and resources for the purpose of 

 monitoring the financial performance of Indian fishing 

 operations under the Indian Fishermen's Economic 

 Development Program. 



