Fraser Salmon Management Council

The Fraser Salmon Management Council is a Tier 1 (First Nations-only) governance body currently in negotiations with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The goal: to secure a role for First Nations in management decision-making processes over Fraser salmon.

FSMC's mandate to negotiate comes via Council Resolution from its member nations.

To date, 69 Fraser watershed and marine approach First Nations have passed Council Resolutions appointing a Member Delegates to the FSMC (April, 2017).

How did we get to FSMC?

The FSMC Constitution and By-laws are the result of four years of “Road Map” workshops by Fraser watershed and approach First Nations; six months of research and work with the First Nations Signatories by governance consultants Guerin-Tetreault; and a legal review by Ratcliff & Co LLP.

Tier 1 “Road Map” Workshops (2009-2013)

First Nations from the watershed and Marine Approach areas participated in the “Road Map” workshops with the goal of building a management agreement with DFO. Increasing First Nations' involvement in Fraser salmon fisheries decision-making is a priority for both First Nations and DFO.

These workshops culminated, on March 20, 2012, with the signing of the Letter of Understanding (LOU) between DFO and 60 First Nations (the “Signatories”). The LOU is a commitment to: work together on a government-to-government basis; and develop processes and agreements for the management and conservation of Fraser salmon.

Following this, the LOU Signatories, on June 29, 2012, approved the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Main Table and appointed the Main Table members.

Worked progressed throughout the year, and, on March 22, 2013, the LOU Signatories approved: the TORs for a Tier 1 governance structure and a Cooperation Protocol; and a draft Negotiation Framework. They also authorized the Main Table to engage with DFO in discussions on the Negotiation Framework.

By November of 2013, First Nation Signatories to the LOU had grown to 76 in number.

“The Path to Consensus” (2013-2014)

During the summer the Main Table conducted a search for governance consultants and, that fall, work began with Guerin-Tetreault and Associates.

Over the course of four Assemblies, and related community engagement and research activities, Michele Guerin and Sheldon Tetreault worked with First Nation Signatories to develop and draft the Constitution and By-Laws of the Fraser Salmon Management Council (FSMC).

At an Assembly March 25, 2014, a quorum of First Nation LOU Signatories reached consensus on the following motion:

“I support the adoption of the Fraser Salmon Management Council constitution and by-laws as our Tier 1 [First Nations-only] governance framework. I agree to bring the constitution and by-laws to my Principals and seek their approval in the form of a Council resolution.”

69 First Nations have since passed Council Resolutions approving the FSMC and appointing a Member Delegate (April, 2017).

For current updates, please see the FSMC Community Report at this link:
http://d1.wikads.net/~frafsca/FSMC_Documents