KITSUMKALUM GIVES GREEN LIGHT ON ANNUAL SALMON BBQ FUNDRAISER
For Immediate Release
(Kitsumkalum BC—July 31/2019) —- Last minute preparations are being made by volunteers at Kitsumkalum for this weekend’s Annual Salmon BBQ Fundraiser which will take place on August 3rd, 2019 at 12:00 PM on Kitsumkalum field.
“We had to cancel last year’s event and we were about to cancel the event last week as a result of low fish returns indicated by the Tyee test. Our volunteers had already started making other plans for the weekend, until a community member, who had set a net last week prior to the closure on Food, Social and Ceremonial Fishery, passed away suddenly in the morning, which resulted in a quantity of fish that needed to be salvaged and processed immediately to avoid it spoiling,” says Heather Bohn, Kitsumkalum Communications Lead.
“The net was supposed to be pulled in the morning; however with the community member passing away, the Kalum fisheries department did not discover it until the afternoon; resulting in a large quantity of fish. The decision was a tough one, in light of a death in the community and the fishing bans put in place, we had to decide quickly. We are grateful that our volunteers mobilized promptly and were able to process the remainder of the fish, once immediate family of the deceased received their distribution of the fish, a decision was made to proceed with the Annual Salmon BBQ Fundraiser with the remainder of the catch. We are mindful of low fish counts and the decision to proceed was purely based on circumstantial events and the fact that our traditional laws and culture prohibit the waste of fish and resources. With the unlikely series of events that occurred, we are able to give the green light on this weekend’s BBQ which will help raise funds for our elders and youth. We give our condolences to the grieving family and are appreciative of the fish received and being able to proceed,” says Christina Stanley, Kitsumkalum Events Committee Lead.
-30-
For Media Interview Coordination Contact:
Heather Bohn
Communications Coordinator
Phone: 250-635-6177 ext. 106
Email hbohn@kitsumkalum.bc.ca