Edited by Haggan, N., Brignall, C., Peacock, B., and Daniel, R.

ABSTRACT

Fisheries are of paramount economic, social and cultural importance to First Nations in British Columbia (BC), yet Aboriginal people are severely under-represented in fisheries policy, science,technical, enforcement, education and other employment. The report is an attempt to ascertain why this is and how it might be addressed. Two Aboriginal graduate students, one in fisheries, one in education, surveyed fisheries programs offered by BC colleges and universities and conducted interviews on the experience of First Nation members who have pursued, are pursuing, or want to pursue a career in fisheries.

A March 2001 workshop convened by UBC Fisheries Centre, UBC First Nations House of Learning and the BC Aboriginal Fisheries Commission reviewed these findings and provided additional perspective from First Nation leaders and educators, government and other organizations and employees. Breakout groups summarized input on constraints for adult and young students, and recommended ways to smooth the transition from community and school to higher education.

Problems identified include lack of transition or laddering mechanisms for transfer of course credits, lack of funding, and lack of social support for the many adult learners seeking further education. However, the main disincentive appears to be systemic, and to stem from failure to validate and incorporate First Nations values and knowledge at all levels of fisheries training and education. The importance of fisheries, the number of potential students and the level of interest strongly suggest the value of developing several pilot programmes throughout BC that bring Aboriginal and western scholarship together, enable laddering from school to college to university, and acquaint students with and prepare them for the range of employment in policy, science, management, education and industry.

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