The Stuart River salmon population has been a staple in the diet and culture of Nak鈥檃zdli Whut鈥檈n for generations, but their stock has declined in recent years. What was once an abundance of salmon, was now a battle to conserve the population while feeding and sustaining a whole village.

Last year, Coastal GasLink partnered with Nak鈥檃zdli Whut鈥檈n to support the community with a legacy project which .

鈥淣ow we have the ability to make an impact and feed the community again the way we used to,鈥� said Pete Erickson, Nak鈥檃zdli Whut鈥檈n Hatchery Manager. 鈥淭o tell the elders that we鈥檒l be okay is going to be really important.鈥�

Fast forward to June 2022, exactly one year since the hatcheries were delivered to the Stuart River waterfront, Nak鈥檃zdli Whut鈥檈n released their first 60,000 sockeye salmon fry into a creek connecting to the Stuart River system.

Along the busy stretch of the Stuart Lake Highway, the salmon were released into a small creek with prayers and drumming to send them along their way. Elders, Nak鈥檃zdli leadership, community members, invited guests and consultants each had the opportunity to release salmon down a chute or at the creek edge.

鈥淲e have always recognized the importance of watershed ecosystems and the significance of waterways to Indigenous communities across the project route. Supporting Nak鈥檃zdli in their efforts to restore salmon numbers in the north has been an honour,鈥� said Joan Isac, Indigenous Engagement Lead.

The salmon will make their way to Stuart Lake for the next year and then travel down through river systems that ultimately reach the Pacific Ocean. Every year thousands of salmon make their way back from the ocean to the river they started from to spawn their eggs, which is a four-year trek.

Collaboration with Indigenous groups is a core component of our project in alignment with our commitment to creating an extraordinary legacy of safety and respect for all people, communities and the environment.