Winners to be announced virtually June 9 at a free online event.
This is a great victory for the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations involved, as they have accessed the oceans and rivers since time immemorial for their livelihood within their territories. The court confirmed earlier rulings that the Nuu-chah-nulth have an essential relationship to the fisheries of their territories, and that relationship included a strong economic component.
Nuu-chah-nulth fishermen had been quite wealthy when they were able to fully exercise their way of life. But then their allocations were cut, and many were forced to stop fishing as they couldn’t make enough money to run their boats and crews. Today, there are few Nuu-chah-nulth who have boats and licences, and these will now be restored.