Halalt First Nation is inviting Chemainus Valley residents to an Honour Our River day at the Chemainus River on Friday, Sept 14th, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The event will feature river walks as well as information about the food and other resources in the river?s watershed from the estuary to its origins about 50 kms inland on the Island. Chief James Thomas said the event was an opportunity to bring together the many people and groups who make use of the river.
?The Halalt people, along with those from our neighbouring First Nations at Penelakut, Chemainus, Lyackson, Cowichan and Lake
Cowichan, have used this river for many generations,? he said. ?The river has taken care of us and we have done our best to take care of it.
?Hundreds of thousands of pounds of clams are dug from the estuary every year. There is a salmon hatchery on the river. Hundreds of
people get their water from the river and the aquifer that lies beneath it. And our people have hunted and gathered plants for food and medicineall the way to its source near Nanaimo Lakes.?
He said the Chemainus River once rivaled the Cowichan River as a salmon river, but now returns are almost non-existent although Halalt collects eggs and releases juveniles regularly. ?The real threat to the river is from all the development that is going on around Chemainus as well as logging in the watershed. North Cowichan wants to pump millions of litres of water daily to supply
homes. Some people think they can just take, take, take from the river without giving back. But we think its time to listen to and watch the river, to hear what it?s telling us.?
Chief Thomas said Halalt wants a comprehensive watershed management plan in place before any more developments impact the river?s resources.
?I admire the Capital Regional District?s purchase of the Leech River watershed near Sooke which will protect the future water supply. We need to have that kind of foresight here. We all inherit a solemn obligation to protect our land and resources for our future generations of all nations and all cultures.?
Honour Our River day will run from 10 a.m.-3p.m. Featured will be displays on the shellfish industry, the salmon release program and native plants. Information will also be available from the Polis Project
on Ecological Governance at the University of Victoria on water and other issues.
?Because we always feed our guests, there will be a seafood lunch with vegetables from local farms,?Chief Thomas said.

For more information, contact Tracey at 246-4736 or at tracey,,,halalt.org
To arrange interviews or photos or for other info, please contact Mark Kiemele at 250-246-3438 or halalt,,,shaw.ca.