Ainu group Sued for confirmation of indigenous rights First nationwide August 17, 19:01
An Ainu group in Uraboro-cho, Hokkaido has filed an appeal in the Sapporo District Court to confirm that salmon in the river is recognized by the rights and indigenous rights of indigenous people and is not regulated by law. According to the lawyer of the agent, the Ainu people are the first in the country to sue for confirmation of their indigenous rights.
It was Alapion Ainu Nation, an Ainu group in Urahoro Town, who filed a lawsuit with the Sapporo District Court. It is prohibited by the Fisheries Resource Conservation Law and Hokkaido regulations to fish salmon on the river without having the right to fishery, but the complaint suggests that the plaintiffs have the right to get salmon on the local river. We are requesting the country and the road to confirm that it is not regulated by law for 4 km from the mouth of the Uraboro Tokachi River as being recognized by indigenous rights.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the Ainu fished by traditional methods in each village until the Meiji government banned fishing, ``The legal basis for prohibiting Ainu salmon fishing has been completely clear until now. Not".
According to the lawyer of the agent, the Ainu people are the first in the country to sue for confirmation of their indigenous rights.
At the press conference, Hiroki Nagane, chairman of "Lapollo Ainu Nation," said, "This is a trial to regain the rights that we Ainu originally had. We want to do our best to earn a living with our own salmon." I said.
Regarding the complaint, the defendant's country and Michiba stated that "the complaint has not arrived and we cannot comment at this time."
Currently requires government approval
Salmon is an important food for Ainu people because it can be taken in large quantities, and at the same time it is said to be so special that it is called Kamychep = “fish of god” in the Ainu language.
However, after the Meiji era, the government banned salmon fishing in rivers in various places, and this greatly affected the lives of the Ainu, including the hunger of some people.
We now use salmon in rivers traditionally for ceremonial use, but we must do so without the permission of the government in accordance with the law and road rules.
Last year, the Ainu Measures Promotion Law, which stipulated Ainu as “Indigenous Peoples,” came into effect. Special consideration was given for the inheritance of traditional fishing methods, and the procedure was relaxed, but permission is still required. The situation has not changed.
Ainu people have criticized this situation, and last year there was a case where an Ainu man in Monbetsu City dared to fish without permission in order to sue for indigenous rights.
After that, the man was sent documents and was dismissed. Probably prosecuted.
The international community has also pointed out. The United Nations Commission on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Treaty, which was held in Geneva, Switzerland, issued a recommendation to the Japanese government for the improvement of its rights regarding natural resources and land, and issued a recommendation for improvement. Against this backdrop, it is likely that there will be controversy regarding how to secure the rights of indigenous peoples in this trial.