A Yukon First Nation is keeping a crucial part of its culture alive this summer, thanks to financial assistance from two mining companies.
Selkirk First Nation is one of many communities along the Yukon River which has voluntarily imposed a full closure on Canadian-origin chinook salmon fishing, due to low numbers in fish stocks.
Every summer, fish camps bring people together as salmon is harvested, smoked, dried and shared.
But this year, many First Nations have decided to help the salmon replenish its population by not fishing.
With the potential loss of traditional ways looming, both Capstone Mining Corp. and Casino Mining Corp. stepped in to support Selkirk financially.
The contribution helped Selkirk bring in sockeye salmon from the Skeena River.
“The 2014 salmon fishing closure along the Pelly River has affected Selkirk people’s food supply and traditional practices of harvesting salmon,” said Selkirk First Nation Chief Kevin McGinty in a news release yesterday.