Following Canada’s decision not to list the American eel under the Species at Risk Act, First Nations members, including Charles Doucette from Potlotek First Nation, express concern over declining eel populations, which hold cultural significance. Doucette recalls the abundance of eels in the past and highlights their importance to Mi’kmaw identity. In Kitigan Zibi, Kristi Leora Gansworth emphasizes the drastic population decline in the Ottawa River and its implications for cultural practices. The decision has sparked discussions among Indigenous groups about protecting the species while balancing community fishing rights.
