February 24, 2003                                                                                            Volume IX

                                                                                                                                 Issue 07

In the Feb. 10^th issue of the Watershed Talk, Marcel Shepert gave a brief overview of follow-up work done to Bob Brown’s report of the Fraser River Aboriginal Fisheries Secretariat. One of the follow-up actions that took place was the creation of the "Interim Executive Committee" or IEC.

So, what is the IEC and what does it do?

The IEC is comprised of both DFO and Fraser First Nations representatives, and its main duty is to oversee the operations of the Fraser River Aboriginal Fisheries Secretariat. Currently, membership sits at 6 First Nations representatives, with an ex-officio liaison position and two DFO representatives (one from the lower Fraser, and one from the BC Interior Area).

Specifically, the IEC develops budgets for the Fraser River Aboriginal Fisheries Secretariat, considers and approves policy issues related to secretariat employees and contractors, oversees publications and reporting by the Secretariat and develops strategies to address other issues that are brought forward by members. The IEC can strike sub-committees to deal with specific issues. For examples, the Ad hoc Fraser River Technical Committee (previously known as the Stock Management Committee) was confirmed through this process.

At the current time, a key priority of the IEC is to follow through on recommendations from Bob Brown’s report and to work on the future of the Secretariat and the Fraser Forum process. Some of the key questions that the IEC will be working to answer are:

Perhaps one of the most immediate questions is the future location of the Secretariat. Since June 1994, the Secretariat has been housed in the Secwepemc Fisheries Commission offices (formerly the Shuswap Nation Fisheries Commission). The IEC will be reviewing this location in the new fiscal year. Details of this selection process will be published shortly.

IEC members plan to use the Watershed Talk as a forum for communication on their latest activities, but people are always welcome to contact IEC members via the Secretariat at (250) 828-2178 or [email protected].

Feb. 24, 2003 - Ad Hoc Fraser River Technical Workshop in Prince George, BC at the Native Friendship Centre from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 26, 2003 – Ad Hoc Fraser River Technical Workshop in Kamloops, BC at the Secwepemc Fisheries Commission office from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Feb. 27, 2003 – Fraser Watershed Aboriginal Fisheries Forum meeting in Kamloops, BC at the Secwepemc Fisheries Commission office from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00.p.m.

Feb 28, 2003 – Ad Hock Fraser River Technical Workshop in Chilliwack, BC at the Best Western Rainbow Country Inn from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

March 4, 2003 – Visions 2003 Planning Committee Conference Call at 10:00 a.m.

March 5, 2003 – UFFCA meeting at the Sandman Inn in Quesnel at 10:00 a.m.

March 17, 2003 – IEC Conference Call – More information to follow.

March 25, 2003 – IEC Conference Call – More information to follow.

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