PORT ALBERNI - Lawyers for the the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council are carefully reviewing the more than 300-page decision handed down yesterday in BC Supreme Court.
It is a landmark ruling. The court has ruled that the Nuu-Chah-Nulth First Nations have the right to commercially harvest and sell fish caught within their traditional territories. The decision marked the end of a long legal battle as well as beginning. It's the start of a lengthy negotiation process between the Nuu-Chah-Nulth, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Province.
"The decision that came down yesterday was absolutely positive," NTC vice president Priscilla Sabbas-Watts said. "It's a great thing for our people. But it's a step in numerous ones - it obviously wasn't the first step, but it's definitely not the last one either, there's a lot of work ahead of us."
It's unlikely First Nations fish will start appearing in local seafood shops anytime soon. The court has given the Nuu-Chah-Nulth, DFO and Province two years to sort through the details.