Herring chronicles
(Wán̓aí chronicles)

A curated timeline of news stories, highlighting the Haíɫzaqv’s long struggle to win back their rights to manage the herring fishery, which has sustained them for thousands of years. This timeline chronicles bureaucratic and legal challenges which the Haíɫzaqv have had to face, while also celebrating Indigenous autonomy, perseverance, and the spirit of gvi’las.

10 min interactive

10 min activity

Grade 7-8
Grade 9+

Subjects

Social studies
Indigenous studies

Key Concepts

indigenous rights,
fishing industry,
law

A screenshot from the introduction to the interactive timeline called, "Herring Chronicles," which explores the relationship between the Heiltsuk people and herring.

A screenshot from the "Negotiation and renewal" theme of the interactive timeline called, "Herring Chronicles" showing news stories relating to Heiltsuk fishing rights.

A screenshot from the interactive timeline, "Herring Chronicles" featuring a description of the 1997 legal case, "Delgamuukw v. British Columbia," which resulted in defining "Aboriginal title" in Canadian law.

A screenshot from the interactive timeline, "Herring Chronicles" that describes how the Coastal Guardian Watchman organization formed in 2005 and features a photo of Heiltsuk Guardian Watchman, Jordan Wilson.

Kelly Brown, the Director of the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department, speaks about Indigenous rights and responsibility in fisheries management in a video from interactive timeline, "Herring Chronicles."

A photo featured in the interactive timeline, "Herring Chronicles" where someone is demonstrating the Heiltsuk method of harvesting roe on kelp.

A photo of herring collected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada featured in the interactive timeline called, "Herring Chronicles," which explores the relationship between the Heiltsuk people and herring.

10 min activity

Postcard: Students create a postcard that captures the details of one event in the Wán̓aí (herring) chronicles timeline.

Teaching tip: Indigenous cultures are contemporary cultures. Make sure your classroom resources show the continuity of Indigenous cultures from past to present.

Alert: Approach discussion of residential schools with sensitivity. Counselling support may be appropriate for some learners.