Other presentations from National Aboriginal Fisheries Forum II can be found at http://aboriginalaquaculture.com/naf-ii-seize-economic-opportunities

1. Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement
Initiative – What We Heard
Chief Richard Harry
Executive Director
Aboriginal Aquaculture Association

2. Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative
 DFO and AANC partnered with 4
organizations to obtain input from First
Nations regarding opportunities, challenges
and constraints in aquaculture development
• First Nations Fisheries Council (BC)
• Assembly of First Nations (Central)
• Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs
(Atlantic)
• Aboriginal Aquaculture Association of Canada
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3. Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative
 The AAEI was used to gather input to shape
the agenda for NAFF II
• Workshop participants told us what was important
to them
 Input was obtained from First Nations and
Aboriginal groups across the country
• 17 Tier I meetings
• 4 Tier II meetings
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4. Tier 1 & Tier 2 Meetings
Host Organization Tier 1 Meetings Tier 2 Meetings
AAEI – NAFF Meetings
Atlantic Policy Congress of  Charlottetown PE  Moncton NB
First Nations Chiefs  Port Hawkesbury NS
 Fredericton NB
 Listuguj QC
 Conne River NL
First Nations Fisheries Council  Courtenay BC  Vancouver BC (with AAA)
 Kamloops BC
 Masset BC
 Nanaimo BC
 Port Alberni BC
 Port Hardy BC
 Prince Rupert BC
Aboriginal Aquaculture Assoc’n  Nanaimo BC  Vancouver BC (with FNFC)
Assembly of First Nations  Montreal QC  Saskatoon SK
Other Meetings
Aboriginal Aquaculture Assoc’n  Nanaimo BC (Dec 2011)
Strategic Planning Sessions
Waubetek Business  Sudbury ON (Mar 2012)
Development Corporation  Sudbury ON (Sept 2012)
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5. What We Heard
 Considerable interest in sustainable
aquaculture development as a prospective
area for employment and economic activity
• Requires access to information, resources and
expertise
• Capacity building is a key requirement
• Community buy-in is essential to successful
economic development
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6. What We Heard
 Development of a national strategy for aboriginal
aquaculture development
• Must be a collaborative and cooperative exercise between
Aboriginal groups, governments and industry
• Different issues in Atlantic, Pacific and inland regions must
be recognized, respected and accommodated
• There appears to be more issues in-common to all First
Nations
• Incorporate appropriate First Nations culture into
development plans
 e.g. “Mimajuaqn" - making a living from natural resources with
conservation in mind
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7. Guiding Principles for
Aboriginal Aquaculture Development
 Respect for each First Nation’s autonomy
 Enhance economic development opportunities for each
First Nation
 Implement shared decision-making and co-operative
management of resources between each First Nation and
government
 Ensure that First Nations realize the benefits from a
sustainable aquaculture industry
 Promote both socioeconomic and environmental
sustainability
Source: First Nations submission to NASAPI 7

8. Opportunities Awareness
 First Nations are interested in aquaculture for
business development, stock enhancement,
youth opportunities and to complement
traditional values
 Consideration should be given to both band-
owned projects and to private businesses
owned by Aboriginal groups or individuals
 First Nations would benefit from aquaculture
backgrounders that describe opportunities in
each region of the country
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9. Planning Leadership & Governance
 First Nations require increased involvement in all
aspects of planning, policy and management of
aquaculture in traditional territories
 Protocol and Impact Benefit Agreements with
aquaculture corporations can provide a platform for
First Nations to assume a more substantive co-
management role in the aquaculture industry
 Stable systems of corporate governance will
enhance investor confidence, prospective
partnerships and market access
 Greater cooperation between First Nations can
stimulate successful economic development
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10. Access to Sites
 It can be difficult to gain access to
aquaculture production sites in traditional
territories for First Nation ventures
 First Nations have insufficient autonomy
regarding resource access
 In many cases, the best sites are already
occupied
 The site application process is cumbersome
and expensive (red tape)
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11. Training & Skills Development
 The best approach seems to be via on-site training
initiatives
• reduced costs and complications associated with travel
• ensures participants gain practical work experience
 Training must coincide with immediate employment
opportunities
 Learn from other First Nations that have already
developed aquaculture businesses
• Critical success factors
• Key pitfalls to avoid
 Management training is as important as technical
training
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12. Partnerships
 Explore partnership agreements with
aquaculture corporations and with other First
Nations
 First Nations should define proper
consultation and engagement processes so
the lack of consultation is not an obstacle
 Develop a partnership guidebook and deliver
regional partnership workshops
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13. Access to Capital
 Equity Gap – the comparative inability for a
First Nation community or individual to
attract investment capital for a commercial
venture
• Inability to pledge real and personal property on-
reserve as collateral
• Risk is widely perceived to be greater for First
Nations ventures
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14. Access to Capital
 "Asset Mapping" will help to identify First
Nations’ capital that can be leveraged for
economic development; e.g.
• Aquatic and land-based natural resources
• Human resources
• Existing infrastructure
• Supporting ventures and institutions (e.g. services
ventures, training facilities, etc.)
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15. Environmental Monitoring & Management
 Lack of confidence within First Nations communities
regarding the environmental performance of the
aquaculture sector
 First Nations involvement in delivery of
environmental monitoring and reporting would
improve confidence
• Need to develop capacity to conduct environmental
monitoring & reporting
• Opportunity to participate in non-production side of
aquaculture
• Creation of employment opportunities in remote First
Nations communities
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16. Aboriginal Principles for Sustainable Aquaculture
 Elements of the APSA:
• Third party certification program
developed by AAA
• Transparency and First Nation
(Aboriginal) Inclusiveness
• Social Responsibility
• Environmental Responsibility
• Economic Responsibility
 Ahousaht First Nation &
Mainstream Canada
• First to receive certification

17. Looking Ahead
 These issues will be further explored and
discussed in the Aquaculture Session tomorrow
• Many case studies will be presented
• Ideas will be shared amongst First Nations
 Your participation and ideas are important
• They will help to shape a national strategy for
aboriginal aquaculture development
• They will identify specific areas for resource
investment
• They will help to define the scope of a successful
economic development plan
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18.  Thank you for your attention
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