Aboriginal management of salmon in Canada and the United States: Expanding environmental justice

Traditional aboriginal societies in the Pacific region of Canada and the United States utilized salmon for thousands of years. Native peoples of the area relied heavily upon these fish for their well-being, and assigned value to salmon accordingly. When members of the dominant society began settling in the area, they captured salmon management decisions, separating First Nations from crucial elements of their traditional societies. These decisions inflicted environmental injustice upon aboriginal peoples by placing disproportionate burdens upon Native peoples, while allocating benefits derived from salmon management to members of the dominant society.

During the past several decades, First Nations have intensified their efforts to participate in salmon management. Aboriginal peoples have successfully used group rights to expand the dominant society's recognition of their Native rights to manage salmon. As their access to management of salmon improves. First Nations also improve their access to environmental justice.