Government of Canada and the A-Tlegay Member Nations Sign Milestone Reconciliation Agreement for Fisheries Resources

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 24, 2026 /CNW/ - The traditional territories of the A-Tlegay Member Nations span the central northeast coast of Vancouver Island and include the northern Strait of Georgia and the Johnstone Strait. These waters support extensive marine activity including commercial, recreational and First Nation Fisheries, commercial aquaculture, marine shipping, recreational boating, and commercial whale-watching.

On February 19, the Government of Canada, represented by the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, and the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minster of Crown-Indigenous Relations, joined A-Tlegay Member Nations to sign a historic 20-year Reconciliation Agreement for Fisheries Resources (RAFR). Representing the A-Tlegay Member Nations were Hegus Nicole Rempel, K'ómoks First Nation; Chief Steven Dick, Kwiakah First Nation; Chief Danial Smith, Tlowitsis Nation; Chief Ronnie Chickite, We Wai Kai Nation; and Chief Christopher Roberts, Wei Wai Kum First Nation.

The RAFR is an agreement aimed at supporting diversification and economic development of the A-Tlegay Member Nations. The RAFR will enable A-Tlegay Member Nations to acquire commercial fishing licences and quotas through an open-market process. The RAFR will also provide support for growth in sustainable shellfish aquaculture, as well as facilitate other opportunities, such as training and business development in commercial fishing. The RAFR also includes a commitment to establish a collaborative fisheries management governance structure with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

In the spirit of reconciliation between the A-Tlegay Member Nations and Canada, the RAFR will enable a more collaborative, coordinated and efficient approach to the governance and management of fisheries resources, including associated economic opportunities.

The Government of Canada is committed to a renewed Nation-to-Nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on rights, respect, co-operation and partnership and to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).

Quotes

"The A-Tlegay Member Nations have been managing these fisheries for a long time. This agreement recognizes that, creates real economic opportunity, and puts a collaborative governance structure in place to support the work going forward."
The Honourable Joanne Thompson
Minister of Fisheries

""This agreement reflects meaningful progress in our work with the A-Tlegay Member Nations. I want to congratulate all Member Nations on reaching this important milestone. This historic agreement not only supports advancing Canada's relationship with the Nations but also creates new opportunities in fisheries grounded in collaboration, partnership, and mutual respect."
The Honourable Rebecca Alty
Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister

Statement

The member Nations of A-Tlegay are proud to have worked together and with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to achieve this milestone. Our fisheries have sustained each of our Nations for generations, and we have endured as our long history of sustainable fisheries management has been disrupted in the last century.  This Agreement will support us in building upon the considerable track record of the A-Tlegay Fisheries Society in fisheries governance and management and to re-establish the important balance between economic opportunities and stewardship. This Agreement will provide us with additional capacity to continue to build our fisheries economies, to diversify, and to bring economic benefits to our Nations and to the region. We are committed to working with our Members, with DFO and with our partners to create sustainable fishing opportunities for present and future generations and to be a long term driver of our regional economies.

Statement from the A-Tlegay Member Nations

Quick Facts

• A-Tlegay Member Nations are the K'ómoks First Nation, Kwiakah First Nation, Tlowitsis Nation, We Wai Kai Nation, and Wei Wai Kum First Nation.
• These five First Nations formed the A-Tlegay Fisheries Society in 1999 with capacity support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) Aboriginal Fishing Strategy (AFS) program.
• The A-Tlegay Member Nations currently manage a fleet of commercial fishing vessels through the A-Tlegay Fisheries Society and are actively involved in fisheries management.
• The RAFR is a direct result from a Framework Agreement signed in 2021 between the Government of Canada and A-Tlegay Member Nations.
• The RAFR will not expand the size of the existing commercial fisheries.

Associated Links

• A-Tlegay Fisheries Society
• K'ómoks First Nation
• Kwiakah First Nation
• Tlowitsis First Nation
• We Wai Kai Nation
• Wei Wai Kum First Nation

Stay Connected

• Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region

Contacts: Ira Khedkar, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, [email protected]; A-Tlegay Member Nations media contact: [email protected]; Alec Wilson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]