Submitter: fiona devereaux

Community: Victoria

Date Submitted: December 14, 2023

Summary:

The lack of salmon has a devastating nutritional, social and spiritual effect on First Nations communities on Vancouver Island. Fish are connected to First Nations culture, and their loss jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of First Nations communities.

Submission:

I am a health and nutrition expert in First Nation communities on Vancouver island. I have seen the devestation the lack of fish has on a community both nutritionally but also socially and spiritually. With this years large run i was able to see again how much of a large part of the culture having the fish and preparing the fish is for the community members. All of the teachings are based and connected to the food. If you lose the food you lose those connections and that will devestate the health and wellbeing of the people.