WILD SALMON NARROWS

Surge Narrows welcome for Alexandra Morton

The wild salmon narrows are a corridor of constricted waterways in the Inside Passage, between Kelsey Bay and Campbell River on Vancouver Island and the large islands adjacent. A large percentage of the young salmon fry population must travel through here on their way out to the open Pacific. These waters are heavily infested with fish farms
Here is a link to the map showing fish farm locations in the wild Salmon narrows:
http://www.salmonaresacred.org/checkpoint-sayward-quadra-island-wild-salmon-narrows

We decided to take La Sonrisa to join the flotilla of boats meeting Alexandra Morton and her “Get Out” Migration as they came through Surge Narrows. On Alex’s walk from Sointula to Victoria (May 8), the journey from Sayward to Quadra Island was on the water. Here they passed many of the fish farms that are so dangerous to the salmon fry.

Quadra Island open net fish farm

Here’s a link to a video about this part of the journey:
http://www.vimeo.com/11303083?utm_source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_campaign=Alex%27s%20Migration%20in%20Campbell%20River&utm_medium=email

To get ready for this event we decided to paint our stays’l



We invited people to join us on a sail from Whaletown on Cortes Island into Hoskin Channel and up to Surge Narrows, between Quadra and Sonora Islands.

young protesters
Sailing to the narrows

Waiting at the mouth of Surge Narrows, we met boats of every shape and description.

All ages

All sorts

When Alex and crew came through the Narrows, they were accompanied by a filming helicopter.

Filming thru Surge Narrows

One of the goals of this walk for wild salmon is to publicize the story – so that voices can be heard from all people who believe we can live, and EAT, in harmony with nature. What a story this is, from our perspective! We wonder if news media are able to tell it. Or do we, the people, have to tell it ourselves? Did you see us on TV? Hear about this day on CBC radio? Anywhere?

In the midst of all our boats, Alexandra moved from the tour boat, Aboriginal Journeys, to the Columbia III.

Columbia III

The Columbia III was once an Anglican Columbia Coast Mission Boat. Now she is a mother ship to kayakers, and she brought Alexandra Morton to the welcome in Heriot Bay, Quadra Island.

Our boats arrived at Heriot Bay to a grand welcome from local people, including the First Nations. We talked to 14 year old Melita Dawson, an Ogwila'ogwa from Kingcome Village who is walking with Alex all the way to Victoria.

Chief Frank Nelson welcomed us

While we were gathered with the boats at the mouth of Surge, we were given lice tattoos to apply to our faces.

Chief Bob Chamberlain of Gilford Village wears a lice tatoo

At first we wondered about the people with the dirty faces. Then we realized the tattoos made us think about what happens to the salmon fry. When we catch adult salmon there are often a few lice around their anuses. This is a natural occurrence and may even be beneficial to the fish. But when the young fry pass by open net salmon farms, the lice that attach to their small bodies are often fatal. (Many of the farms are positioned in natural “resting” places in the salmon smolts' journey to the sea.)

Here is a flag that reminds us of this side of the story.

That evening the Quadra Community Hall was packed with supporters. There was a long standing ovation for Alex before she began to speak. Chief Bob Chamberlain spoke to us in his own language, and in down to earth terms about the problems and places of hope - the impacts that are within reach. Then he sang and drummed a powerful song he wrote on the day’s journey, a song about salmon and courage.

Alex listens

The organizers thanked us for being a peaceful group as there had been some concern about conflict and people getting out of hand. Alex models a different way of dealing with conflicting interests. Quadra coordinator Leanne Hodges quotes Ghandi “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Here is a quote from an email we received as we headed up to join the flotilla:
"Tomorrow on the water"
"On the road, every morning, we take a pledge. This pledge assures everyone is aware and acts in a safe and appropriate manner. Part of that pledge also includes honour and respect, to refrain from hostility and to walk in harmony and encourage it in others. We also pledge to respect that others may have a different opinion. It is very important to Alex and the core group on the road right now that people understand that this Migration is about how we feel about our wild salmon. It is a platform for communities to have a voice. This Migration facilitates people coming together. In no instance will Alex and the Migrators tolerate hostile or aggressive behaviour, or disrespectful events."

To keep up with the journey follow the postings at http://www.salmonaresacred.org
Don’t forget

Victoria, May 8 - Be there if you can!!