THE INDIAN RSHERY 185 



ranching policy. Until satisfactory arrangements are 

 demonstrated, only a few such ventures should be 

 approved. In the long run, however, this form of commer- 

 cial fishing activity may provide a major base for eco- 

 nomic development in Indian communities. Under 

 appropriate arrangements, the allocations of fish to 

 Indian bands proposed earlier in this chapter could be 

 incorporated into mariculture leases. 



Assistance 



Initially at least, some Indian bands will probably need 

 assistance to take advantage of the opportunities afforded 

 by Indian fishery agreements and mariculture leases. I 

 therefore recommend — 



13. The Departments of Fisheries and Oceans and Indian 

 and Northern Affairs, in consultation nith Indian 

 organizations, should explore means of providing tech- 

 nical, financial and educational assistance to enable 

 Indians to develop opportunities under Indian fisherv 

 agreements and mariculture leases. 



In Chapter 1 1 I referred to certain consultations that 

 have already begun on these matters, and suggest that 

 these be pursued vigorously. 



CONCLUSION 



A major impediment to developing satisfactory policies 

 for Indian fisheries has been the lack of public under- 

 standing of Indians' traditional reliance on fish, the cul- 

 tural and economic significance they attach to these 

 resources, and the complicated legal questions surround- 

 ing them. This has generated many of the frustrations 

 and confrontations that have beset Indian fisheries in 

 many parts of the province. The government has an 

 important responsibility to resolve the prevailing vague- 

 ness of public policy on this issue and to improve public 

 understanding of it. 



Earlier in this chapter I suggested that new policies 

 should be directed toward certain objectives. First, was 



the need to clarify and strengthen Indian fishery rights. I 

 have proposed, among other things, that this be done by 

 clearly defining Indian rights to the resources quantita- 

 tively, and obliging the Department to see that these allo- 

 cations are provided. 



Second, I pointed to a need for Indians to become 

 involved in fisheries management, and my proposals for 

 new Indian fishery agreements and mariculture leases are 

 designed to meet this need. Third, I suggested that new 

 policies should provide opportunities for Indians to take 

 economic advantage of their rights to fish. Thus I have 

 proposed arrangements to allow them to use their catches 

 for commercial purposes and to develop economic 

 opportunities through enhancement and fish culture. 

 Finally, I emphasized a need to improve the administra- 

 tive and enforcement arrangements governing Indian 

 fisheries. My proposals will lighten the burden of enforc- 

 ing fishing activity and the way that fish are used, and 

 will enable Indians themselves to participate in regulating 

 their fishing activities. 



The proposals in this chapter are intended to provide 

 an improved framework for recognizing Indians' fishing 

 rights. They do not, of course, resolve the legal questions 

 about Indian claims under treaties and aboriginal rights. 

 Those must be dealt with through legal and political pro- 

 cesses. My proposals offer means of accommodating 

 Indian fisheries in the meantime, and they should be 

 adopted without prejudice to the ultimate resolution of 

 Indian claims. 



In spite of the friction and frustration that has aggra- 

 vated relations between the govenmient and certain Indi- 

 ans over their fishing activities, I have found in the course 

 of my consultations with Indians a concern to find more 

 constructive arrangements that will enable them to enjoy 

 their fishing rights, while at the same time contributing to 

 resource management and development. My proposals 

 are aimed at providing these opportunities; but to imple- 

 ment them successfully, a major coop^erative effort on the 

 part of both Indian organizations and the government is 

 required. 



