Photo by Vince Fedoroff
Lorraine Wolfe, front, Lauren Wallingham, left rear, and Kim Harper are seen at the salmon giveaway Monday. The frozen salmon were a good size.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
Chris Gleason, left, and Lorraine Wolfe bring the salmon to a vehicle.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
Yukon First Nation Education Directorate personnel hand out the salmon from a large trailer.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
Frozen and canned salmon were handed out to people. Here, seen Monday, is the salmon in the freezer.
First Nations families welcome salmon distribution
The Yukon First Nation Education Directorate partnered with Second Harvest and Agriculture Canada Surplus Food Rescue Program to provide urban-based First Nation Families with 10,000 lbs. of B.C. ocean-caught chum salmon and 20,000 lbs. of canned B.C salmon this week.
The Yukon First Nation Education Directorate partnered with Second Harvest and Agriculture Canada Surplus Food Rescue Program to provide urban-based First Nation Families with 10,000 lbs. of B.C. ocean-caught chum salmon and 20,000 lbs. of canned B.C salmon this week.
To connect the distribution of the fish with traditional practice, the organizations will also host a fish camp Oct. 5-9 for Yukon school students at Helen’s Fish Camp at Lake Laberge.
The directorate and the Council of Yukon First Nations worked together this past year to create the Rural Nutritional Service through Jordan’s Principle.
This service is now housed at the directorate. It has been extended for the next two years with an investment to communities of $6.7 million.
This will provide resources to ensure access to nutritional/traditional food, wages for cooks, equipment and freight costs.
The directorate is working to develop an urban nutritional service through Jordan’s Principle for its Whitehorse citizens, and the distribution of salmon was the beginning of that journey.
“During these pandemic times, (the directorate) is honoured to support our First Nations,” said executive director Melanie Bennett.
“We know optimal learning happens when we have healthy, happy families, and we seized the opportunity to follow our protocols, traditional values by sharing food and honouring our relations.”
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Comments (12)
Up 4 Down 3
Yukoner ‘71 on Sep 26, 2020 at 1:50 pm
@Yukon Justice, you’re the wrong colour, no salmon for you!
Up 11 Down 3
Yukon Justice on Sep 25, 2020 at 10:44 pm
I like salmon, I just wanted one can.
Up 23 Down 8
Josey Wales on Sep 25, 2020 at 10:44 am
hmmm...remember in history, separate water fountains and riding in the back of the bus?
probably not, but now...?
segregated elder transit, segregated hunger relief, hell...segregated everything!!
geez, what "progress" eh?
Where are all the salmon going the elites often scream?
Well here is at least 30,000 lbs of it,
So fear not, if any salmon runs are closed, depleted, entitled out...you will still get fed.
...and in the most traditional way too, funding from an alleged foreign government...an evil and oppressive one too even...so we are told near daily.
Up 9 Down 27
Nathan Living on Sep 24, 2020 at 11:05 pm
Nothing wrong with this and please enjoy the generosity.
Sure its race based but whatever.
Based on land claims agreements and many other examples our First Nations are very generous, the salt of the earth when they are lucky enough to continue with their culture in resource rich areas.
Up 38 Down 12
Dabe on Sep 24, 2020 at 2:17 pm
@KVB- Well, unfortunately all Yukoners did not get a shot at getting some. This food was handed out solely based on a persons race, wrong race and you didn’t qualify.
Up 6 Down 26
Duya Getzmi on Sep 24, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Well Guncache - As a member of a lower class Nation you will get what you get when you get it... Maybe. The hierarchy is resetting and the 2nd, 3rd or lower classes will finally take their place in line.
Up 32 Down 12
iBrian on Sep 24, 2020 at 1:07 pm
True culture is not race based, but this current government keeps making points to show how we are not all equal.
Their using Wildlife to separate Natives and non natives.
As a non native, I want to know what I did wrong to not get any fish.
Even Jesus Christ shared his fish with everyone.
Up 13 Down 9
Bandit on Sep 24, 2020 at 10:05 am
I've caught quite a few Salmon in my life in freshwater and saltwater, by the looks of that one pictured it was caught (netted) in freshwater because I've never seen a Chum Salmon start turning colour until it enters freshwater. IMO just saying.
Up 22 Down 0
Keith VanBibber on Sep 23, 2020 at 9:06 pm
KVB - Well I’ve got to say if you see how many fishing boats on the American side of Alaska with nets the salmon don’t have a chance ... this has been going on way to long - 5-years now low salmon counts every year and we pay for it ... Now at least some good people sent salmon to Yukon. It is like Wow big thanks. Lots of people like me don’t have any and yes I missed the give away. I hope all Yukoners got some. As for all fish there needs to be more done to save our future for the next generation. Heads up people think !!!!!
Up 28 Down 10
Guncache on Sep 23, 2020 at 8:10 pm
"to provide urban based First Nations families with salmon". I'm not First Nations but would have loved to get some of this.
Up 29 Down 13
My Opinion on Sep 23, 2020 at 4:28 pm
I guess we now know why no salmon are coming up the rivers anymore. That is A LOT OF FISH for a small number of people. Imagine the equivalent numbers for BC and Alaska. It's insane.
Up 31 Down 22
JC on Sep 22, 2020 at 8:34 pm
Let me see, does this come off the tax payers budget?