Bonaparte First Nation fish camp preserves tradition and fish

CACHE CREEK, B.C. — For the past two weeks, Keith Zabotel has been camped down on the bank of the Thompson River. He’s spent his days tending these nets, catching some of the sockeye salmon that are coming up the river to spawn.

“This spot has been used by our people for hundreds of years,” Zaobtel says. “For us to come back here and revitalize this area – our people who have come down to visit are just astonished by what we have here.”

Finding the right spot was crucial. Zabotel needed enough space so that community members, including elders and youth, could make the trip to the camp, to help process the fish in different ways.

“We were able to like I said, find this spot,” Keith explains. “It’s nice and hot, a little bit of wind. That’s what it takes to dry fish. While we’re waiting for fish drying, we’re also canning and smoking fish.”

The last time Bonaparte members dried fish was World War II. Back then the fish was sent to Europe to help feed allied troops. That’s why they’ve decided to include as many community members as possible, to help keep the knowledge alive.

Fish drying on racks at the Bonaparte First Nation fish camp. Image Credit: CFJC Today

‘This is good because we had some young people down here and they were awesome,” Elder Julie C. Antoine explains. “They were really good at doing the dry salmon, so they were able to show people who had never done it before how to get this done.”

Back when Elder Dave Antoine was a kid, they used more traditional methods to catch fish.

“Either spear or gaff hook,” Dave explains. “In those days, maybe you’d get 10 [fish] in six or seven hours. Now with the nets, we can get 30 or 40.”

Chief Frank Antoine says the days spent along the river bank are important to building and maintaining community amongst his members. The fish will help sustain the St’uxwtews – the traditional name for the Bonaparte people – throughout the winter.

“This is a place that brings back a lot of childhood memories,” Chief Antoine recalls. “It reminds me of times when I used to go fishing with my Dad and my Mom, my family members and my Granny. Just coming together, gathering food for the year, and processing it. Making sure it was given equally to our family, but also to our community members.”

Some elders remember when they could use what they harvested to trade with folks in town.

“It was a lot of work, but it paid off in the wintertime, right?” Flora Morgan says. “Berry picking was a big part of our lives, too. We traded stuff to people in town for vegetables and fruit – so we gave them deer meat and salmon.”

The band plans to keep the camp around for another couple of weeks, to catch the early part of the Adams River sockeye run, and make sure they have what they need for winter. Chief Antoine says any locals who want to learn more to contact the band office to arrange a visit to the camp.

“This is an opportunity for non-indigenous community members to come and learn,” Frank says. “Schools are coming down, we want them to come down and participate so that they understand the process, but they also understand the meaning of what we do what we do.”