Indigenous leaders call Fraser River slide ‘extreme crisis’
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BIG BAR, B.C. — Indigenous leaders in B-C say a rock slide that has created an almost impassable blockage in the Fraser River near Clinton amounts to an “extreme crisis” and must be addressed.
A news release from the Union of B-C Indian Chiefs says the blockage has caused a five-metre waterfall at one of the narrowest sections of the Fraser River, creating the possibility of significant losses to critical salmon runs.
First Nations Summit spokeswoman Cheryl Casimer says the blockage impacts upstream First Nations’ access to food and could severely impair future cycles of salmon, leading to huge losses to First Nations, commercial and sport fisheries.
The slide is obstructing potentially millions of chinook, steelhead, coho and sockeye salmon from reaching upstream spawning grounds and Fisheries and Oceans officials have already said it is the top priority for the department.
