UFFCA
Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance
The UFFCA is an Indigenous watershed-based technical organization that supports the advancement of Upper Fraser First Nations collective interests related to fish, habitat, and fisheries.
The Upper Fraser Watershed
The Upper Fraser watershed, located in the central interior of British Columbia, is a vast area that spans all portions of the Fraser River from Deadman Creek to the headwaters of the Fraser, including all tributaries.
The region is home to nursery grounds for many populations of Chinook, sockeye, coho, and pink salmon — including some of the largest Fraser salmon populations, as well as many highly vulnerable populations designated as Threatened or Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
The Upper Fraser also includes the territories of approximately 23 distinct First Nations communities who have stewarded the watershed since time immemorial. Among them are communities from the Southwestern Sekani, Southwestern Dakelh (Carrier), Wet’suwet’en, Tŝilhqot’in, and Northern Shuswap territories.
Fishing is a way of life for our member communities, and they have inherent rights and responsibilities as caretakers of the lands, waters, and fish populations within their territories.
Our work is driven by our member communities.
The Work We Do
The UFFCA supports Upper Fraser First Nations voices
and leadership in key areas including:
Advocating for Upper Fraser First Nations priorities in decision making
Expanding First Nations-led fisheries stock assessment and research
Supporting stewardship / habitat priorities
Supporting emergency response and recovery planning
We achieve this through:
Facilitating First Nations collaboration
Providing technical expertise and analysis
Advancing skill building and capacity transfer to First Nations organizations
Developing innovative relationships and partnerships across sectors
One of the first watershed level Indigenous fisheries organizations in Canada, the UFFCA has grown immensely since Upper Fraser First Nations first began meeting together in the early 2000s to address their collective fisheries-related concerns and interests. As we and our member communities continue to expand our work and leadership in fisheries in exciting, innovative ways, we wish to recognize all who have worked with and supported us through more than 2 decades of stewardship, collaboration, and partnership.
