First Nation Fishing
...We believe that all of the creatures, all creations, were given original instructions. And so we believe that the fish also have original instructions that they carry out, and a part of that, is to take care of the relations in the water and on the land..." Kaaren Dannenmann, NamekosipiiwAnishinaaoeKwe.
 1940s. Mary Perrault, Elizabeth Owen and Family
First Nations people have lived in this region and on the land since long before Red Lake became a town. Fishing and hunting were important skills when living in the bush and these traditions were taught to children by their grandparents, parents or elders of the community. Teaching children the traditional ways of hunting and fishing continues today. Children go fishing with their parents and grandparents and learn the skills, such as setting nets and the best places to fish during each season. Fishing for First Nations people is not a sport, but done to feed a family or the community. The medium sized fish are kept to eat, while the trophy sized fish are often released. The most common fishing techniques used by the First Nations communities in this area are setting gill nets, using dip nets or catching by hand. In the spawning season, fish are so plentiful that dip nets (a pole with a net at the end) can be used or fish are even easily caught by hand. The male fish are often kept during the spawning season, while the female fish are usually released. |
In winter and spring, the process of setting gill nets can take several hours or even an entire day, depending on the thickness of the ice where the holes are cut. After the first hole is made, a jigger is put into the water attached to a line under the ice. The line is marked to indicate the length of the net. When the line reaches the appropriate length, another hole is punched through the ice to retrieve the line and the jigger. A net is attached to the line and spreads out in the water between the holes. A rock is tied to the bottom of both ends and sunk to keep the net in place. Above the ice, the net is secured by tying the line to a stick or pole driven into a snow or ice pile near the hole. |
Gill nets can be set all year round. A gill net can be 50 feet to 300 feet in length and about 8 feet wide. The net is made of different size mesh, most commonly 4 inches, into which the fish swim and are caught by the gills. The net is put into the water, anywhere from 6 to 70 feet deep, and held in place with weights, usually rocks, and floats on a long piece of rope on each end of the net. Traditional floats were made of wood, but today they can be purchased or even use empty plastic jugs.
Several fish can be caught in a gill net, which may seem like a lot at one time, but the food is consumed quickly as the fish provide for many people. Sometimes fish are caught for a family meal, for feast and celebrations, for preserving, or for sharing with friends, family and the elders of the community. Fish are not a commodity, but a gift that should be shared.
Several fish can be caught in a gill net, which may seem like a lot at one time, but the food is consumed quickly as the fish provide for many people. Sometimes fish are caught for a family meal, for feast and celebrations, for preserving, or for sharing with friends, family and the elders of the community. Fish are not a commodity, but a gift that should be shared.
Fish are a traditional food, which are served during feasts, memorials and birthdays. Most of the fish is eaten: the head, gills, air sac (swim bladder), stomach, heart, liver, fish eggs, sperm sac, fins, and skin. Some parts of the fish are a delicacy or a treat. For example, fish eggs are a special treat and sometimes are carefully mixed into bannock, and then fried or baked.
Fish are gifts that provide for First Nations people in many different ways. While the most common use is to provide food, fish can be used can be used for other purposes, such as medicine and jewellery.