Dip Net Fishing with William Spoonhunter of Indian Candy
Farmers Markets enable access. Access to fresh food, access to humanely raised proteins, access to sustainably harvested fish and seafood. Farmers Markets are the link between hardworking farmers, harvesters, and producers and your kitchen counter. Not only are shoppers granted access, but fishermen like William Spoonhunter of Indian Candy are able to access a robust shopping base without the oversaturation of other salmon vendors.
Previously, William would sell his fresh and smoked salmon at a popular spot, under a bridge, along with four other First Nations salmon vendors. He said it just didn't feel good. He wanted all of his fellow vendors to be successful, but he also wanted to generate income for his family while selling his delicious, sustainably harvested salmon.
William just isn't the type of person to shout and show off his salmon to try to bring in sales, actually, most times at the market he will gently make eye-contact and casually open his cooler to draw you closer. Then he will gladly share the beauty and integrity of his product, but only if you ask! If you've tried his salmon once, you've likely added it to your shopping list nearly every week after. William is one of a kind and here at NFM we feel lucky to have over 200 one-of-a-kind vendors that share their time, energy, and wonderful produce and products with our community.
William knows how hard each fisherman works for their catch. You can see Will in these photos using an early First Nations technique known as dip net fishing. Will is perched on the side of the river canyon walls, often over thirty feet from the surface of the water. One cannot simply enter the world of dip net fishing. The rights to fish on this river are tied to one's ancestry and the technique and tools to do so only arrive after years of watching and learning from others. Will makes and repairs his own poles and nets and shares these fishing waters with others who do the same. Dip net fishing is dangerous work and it becomes apparent when you see Will catch an enormous flailing salmon and then work to pull the net up out of the river and onto the cliffs where he is balanced.
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