Xeni Gwet’in Chilko Roundtable Watershed Plan

The Xeni Gwet’in Chilko River Watershed Roundtable brings together leadership and residents of the Xeni Gwet’in Caretaker Area with government representatives to discuss watershed issues that affect salmon runs in their area. In September 2009 the Roundtable prioritized concerns, reviewed their Mission and Vision drafted in 2008. In October 2009 guest speaker, Jamie Doyle a PhD Candidate, Environmental & Chemical Toxicology Program was invited to present information on “Assessing Soil Ingestion in People following Traditional Lifestyles”. In November 2009 the Roundtable met to define fishing policy and study glacier and water issues. During December 2009 at the Roundtable, Rick Holmes, RPBio presented an update on H20 Sampling underway within the Xeni Gwet’in Caretaker area as well as a comparative policy review among other jurisdictions regarding Ecosystem-based planning and it’s potential benefits to Fish. The forums are a useful tool in providing a venue hosted by First Nation leadership and attended by government and citizens to discuss options that will maintain, protect and enhance important salmon runs in the Caretaker Area.

Roundtable provided the participants a final report on meeting outcomes and provided some analysis on what an ecosystem based management plan may mean to the fishery resource in the Xeni Gwet’in Caretaker Area (XGCA), and to provide a summary of the Chilko River Roundtable meetings in 2009 and the group’s intent to be actively managing the XGCA for fishery values. We’re looking forward to continuing the work of the Roundtable in 2010/2011.