Who we are

In the Thompson-Shuswap, 10 salmonid populations have been assessed as at-risk (endangered, threatened, or of special concern) by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). The TSSC was formed in 2021 to coordinate urgent and strategic actions to stem declines of these salmonid populations and to conserve and restore their habitat.

The TSSC is not a consultative table, nor a government-to-government co-management initiative. Our partnership is focused at the technical and operational level. We aim to support coordination and collaboration across our jurisdictions to enable collective progress on salmon habitat conservation and restoration actions. Our Terms of Reference outlines expectations and responsibilities of each TSSC party, with clear objectives for the work that we do together.

The Parties

Secwépemc Fisheries Commission (SFC)

SFC is a department of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council providing administrative, technical, and policy support to Secwépemc Chiefs and community members on fisheries matters. SFC has the mandate to lead and engage in salmonid conservation and restoration initiatives within the homeland of the Secwépemc people.

Province of BC - Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS)

The Province of BC has lead responsibility for the stewardship and management of natural resources, including lands, waters, provincial fisheries, and wildlife. WLRS is also responsible for integrated land and natural resource management, including setting objectives for land and marine environments, effectively managing cumulative effects, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

DFO is the federal government’s lead agency for safeguarding Canadian waters and managing Canada’s fisheries, oceans, and freshwater resources. DFO’s Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) helps restore, conserve, and protect fisheries and aquatic ecosystems for future generations. FFHPP’s Integrated Planning for Salmon Ecosystems (IPSE) Unit, an initiative under DFO’s Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), is undertaking planning for salmon and steelhead ecosystems within several regions in BC and Yukon. This work is advancing reconciliation described in the Government of Canada’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) implementation plan by planning in partnership with Indigenous groups and First Nations, the Province of BC, and others working for the benefit of Pacific salmon and their habitats.

Who we work with

We partner with:

• Local Secwépemc Communities and their affiliate organizations
• Environmental Non-Government Organizations (ENGOs)
• Academia
• Independent consultants
• Local governments
• Other BC ministries

The TSSC acknowledges that no single partner holds all knowledge or data relating to salmon habitat or ecosystems in the Thompson-Shuswap. The TSSC collaborates with many organizations and individuals who have diverse subject matter expertise, knowledge, and professional or lived experiences relating to salmon and their ecosystems.

If you are interested in working with the TSSC or participating in upcoming engagement opportunities, please see the Community Engagement tab or Contact tab.

Funding

TSSC partners have been supported by funding from DFO’s Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Ocean Management (AAROM) program and Pacific Salmon Conservation and Stewardship Partnership Program (PSCSPP) and the Province of British Columbia. These funding agreements support activities such as capacity building, meetings, and research, which advance TSSC goals by engaging Secwépemc communities with TSSC processes and workshops.

Our Vision

Work urgently, collaboratively, and strategically to achieve immediate and long-term benefits for salmon ecosystems in a changing climate, for present and future generations.

This shared vision statement was crafted by the TSSC, and brings together the interests, goals, and vision for the watershed that we heard from TSSC Parties and our partners during meetings and workshops in 2023. We need to act now while we plan for the future, conserve and restore natural ecosystem processes and functions, and bring together innovative and creative solutions to support salmonid health and resiliency, particularly in the face of climate change.

Objective and Scope of Work

The TSSC strives to facilitate communication and coordination between the TSSC Parties and support our partners on matters that relate to the conservation and restoration of salmon ecosystems in the Thompson-Shuswap watershed.

The following actions ground us in our work and will help us achieve our long-term vision and key objectives:

• Work with partners to identify priorities for salmon and steelhead trout habitat conservation and restoration and support implementation through identifying funding or hands on work;
• Recognize and support existing conservation and restoration efforts taking place in the Thompson-Shuswap watershed to better coordinate with other groups and avoid duplicating efforts; and
• Build relationships between the TSSC Parties and with our partners, and act as an example for how salmon habitat restoration and conservation can be done collaboratively in other watersheds.