Before sunrise on July 11, community members began arriving at the Papermill Dam along the Somass River for Tseshaht Fish Days, a long-standing tradition that brings families, Elders, harvesters, and volunteers together through the annual salmon harvest.
FNHA Communications attended the event at the invitation of Tliniihak Johnson, a Tseshaht First Nation member and Governance and Engagement Manager. Tliniihak also participated as one of the Community Helpers, a dedicated group of volunteers responsible for assisting with the drag seine fishery. This included helping to pull the seine net ashore, bringing fish onto the island, and transferring the catch into designated totes for distribution to community members.
By 4 a.m., the shoreline was already bustling with activity. Families arrived carrying tents, lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, and propane fire pits, settling in hours before the first fish reached shore. As people gathered, coolers were lined up in an orderly queue, marking each member’s place for the fish distribution later that morning. The beach was lined with totes filled with fish while community members shared coffee, visited with family and friends, and watched the harvest preparations unfold.
Fish Days is an important community event that supports food sharing while continuing harvesting practices that have connected Tseshaht people to the water for generations. Held over three days, the event is organized to ensure all members have an opportunity to participate. Friday is dedicated to Elders and members living with permanent disabilities, Saturday to community members, and Sunday to off-reserve members. Volunteers who assist with the harvest, known as helpers, receive additional fish in recognition of their contribution.
Out on the Somass River, a Community Helper guided salmon toward a pooled area from a small boat, drawing on generations of harvesting knowledge. Once the fish were gathered in a concentrated area, a second boat deployed a drag seine net, carefully circling the school.
Back on shore, the helpers prepared to bring the net in. Working together, they steadily hauled the drag seine net toward the island, closing the bottom as it tightened around the fish. The process required strength, teamwork, and coordination, offering a powerful demonstration of traditional harvesting practices being actively maintained and shared across generations.
For Tliniihak Johnson, the work of Community Helpers reflects the values that continue to sustain Fish Days year after year.
“Fish Day helpers don’t do this work just for the fish; we do it from the heart, for our community,” said Johnson. “And yes, it often means early mornings, long hours, and hard work, tiring work, but we show up because we care for one another. Community, to me, is about coming together and supporting one another. It’s about holding each other up, making sure everyone has equal access and opportunity, and recognizing that every person has a role to play. When we work together, everyone benefits. That’s the strength of community.”
As the morning progressed, the shoreline became more than a harvesting site. It transformed into a gathering place where stories were shared, laughter carried across the beach, and families spent time together while waiting for distribution. Children watched the activity with curiosity while experienced harvesters guided volunteers through each stage of the process.
One particularly memorable moment came after the fish had been sorted. Fish that could not be distributed because of tears, bite marks, or other damage were respectfully returned to the ecosystem. An Elder carefully cut the fish into smaller pieces and shared them with birds gathered along the shoreline. A bald eagle swooped down to join the feast, creating a striking reminder of the interconnected relationship between salmon, wildlife, the environment, and the people who depend on them.
For FNHA staff in attendance, the day offered an opportunity to witness traditional harvesting practices firsthand and experience the strong sense of community that surrounds them. Beyond the harvest itself, Tseshaht Fish Days highlighted the importance of food sovereignty, cultural continuity, and relationships grounded in reciprocity, responsibility, and care.
More than a fish distribution, Tseshaht Fish Days is a celebration of community. From the arrival of families in the early morning darkness to the final sharing of the harvest, the day reflected generations of knowledge, cooperation, and connection to the water. It served as a powerful reminder that traditions continue to thrive when communities come together to share, support one another, and carry their teachings forward.