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Center for World
Indigenous Studies
USA 1(360)586-0656
PMB 214-1001 Cooper Pt. Rd. SW
Suite 140
Olympia, WA 98501
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the story
of the Oolichan
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The Oolichan
fish once flourished along the Pacific Northwest from Alaska to British Columbia and as far south as Northern California.
Their disappearance from our coastal streams during the last fifteen years has become an important topic among First Nations in Canada.
In June the Nuxalk
First Nation hosted
the 'Eulachon Gathering 2007' in Bella Coola. Many
neighboring First Nations attended
this event which was organized to address the crisis of culture signified by the disappearing oolichan.
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Discover the benefits of Oolichan, its healing oil (grease) by watching the story of this historic gathering of local Indigenous nations. 716 kbs.
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| Northwest
Pacific Food Chain |
| Humans,
bears, seals, sea birds |
Dietary
Supplement |
| Salmon,
Hake |
^
DHA, EPA |
| Oolichan,
herring, squid |
^
DHA,
EPA |
| Phytoplankton |
^
Source
of DHA, EPA |
| If
the chain is broken the benefits
of DHA and EPA are
lost. |
The Oolichan's effect on the
land
The Oolichan swim up stream and become food for wildlife when it is consumed and fertilizer for the surrounding areas when it dies.
The
Land's effect on Oolichan
The loss of trees and the forest habitat has contributed to warmer waters of the Pacific northward. the oolichan migrate farther north to the colder waters or find no waters in which to flourish and are thus disappearing from the coastline of the United States and Canada. The predator fish that normally live off other species farther south have been forced northward due to climate change and now feed off the oolichan fish further depleting the population.
Other
effects leading to the Oolichan
population decline
include the Shrimp vessels which often catch oolichan in their nets and throw them away, wasting this precious resource to Native
peoples and to all who rely on the sea for their food and nutrition including human beings, bear, whales, seal, and sea birds.
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