Unlocking First Nations Salmon Science Access Through Indigenous Innovation
Genetic testing helps identify where salmon come from and how different populations are doing. This information supports decisions about fisheries, hatcheries and conservation. Despite all of this importance, all genetic testing in Canada happens in a single federal laboratory, which means First Nations often have limited access to timely information about salmon in their own territories.
Bringing the tools closer to communities
To change this, the Ha’oom Fisheries Society received multi-year funding support from the Indigenous Stewardship Fund (ISF) to lead the ‘Decentralizing salmonid genetic stock identification with First Nations-led technological innovation and collaboration’ project. The project is developing and testing a portable tool to analyze Chinook and Coho salmon samples. Over three years, the work will explore both a shared First Nations–led laboratory and a portable “lab-in-a-box” that can be used locally or in remote communities, including on the west coast of Vancouver Island and at the Vancouver Island University campus.
Supporting local fieldwork and new tools that help bring salmon research closer to First Nations communities. (Photo credit: Ha’oom Fisheries Society)
Stronger data, stronger decision-making
By reducing reliance on a single centralized system, this project strengthens First Nations’ control over fisheries data and supports independent decision-making. Faster access to genetic information helps communities plan harvests, manage hatcheries and respond to changing environmental conditions with greater confidence.
ISF is proud to enable this important work, that combines innovation with Indigenous priorities and knowledge. By bringing critical tools closer to communities, the project helps ensure salmon stewardship decisions are guided by those most connected to the land, waters and future of these fisheries.
“ISF’s belief in the long-term potential of this project has been critical. Support from ISF made it possible to pursue a Nation-led, decentralized approach that was difficult to convey to other funders. ISF recognized the importance of Indigenous leadership and self-determination in fisheries science and supported work that enables First Nations to carry out this analysis themselves, rather than relying solely on external institutions that choose analysis priority and with lengthy wait times for results.”
— Candace Picco, Biologist III (ISF Grantee), Ha’oom Fisheries Society
Learn more about this project in the media
The Ha’oom Fisheries Society Portable Lab Project was also recently featured in an article by The Tyee and a joint press release from Genome British Columbia. Read the full features below to learn more about the project and its impact.
The Indigenous Stewardship Fund (ISF) works in close partnership with the First Nations Fisheries Council (FNFC), which serves as a frontline organization for collaboration with First Nations across British Columbia. FNFC leads relationship-building and engagement with more than 200 First Nations across the province, listening to and identifying Nations’ interests, priorities and perspectives. ISF complements this work by serving as the funding mechanism that helps turn those relationships and priorities into action. Together, FNFC and ISF ensure that the leadership, needs and priorities of BC First Nations are met with flexible and accessible resources that support Indigenous-led stewardship, habitat protection and long-term environmental resilience.
