The Ainu Indigenous people in Japan lost a court battle to reclaim rights over river fishing for salmon, a key source of livelihood for their ancestors. The Ainu, who lived in what is now northern Japan, faced decades of discrimination and were not legally recognized as Indigenous people until 2019. Despite their argument that traditions in parts of a river in Hokkaido should exempt them from the fishing ban, a Sapporo district court dismissed their claim. As it stands, Ainu people can only fish for salmon with approval from the governor of Hokkaido for cultural heritage purposes.
The lawsuit, filed in 2020, highlighted global trends in favor of recognizing Indigenous rights following a UN declaration in 2007. However, the presiding judge ruled that river fishing was not an “inherent” right for the Ainu people. This decision was seen as a setback in the ongoing battle to restore rights taken away from the Ainu ancestors. The historical relationship between the Ainu and the Japanese people saw the annexation of Ainu lands by the imperial government in 1869, leading to forced assimilation and the suppression of Ainu traditions.
The Ainu ancestors relied on fishing for their livelihood, but the government crackdown in the 19th century changed their way of life. The legal battle to reinstate fishing rights for the Ainu community has been met with resistance from authorities citing the need to protect important resources like salmon. The existing fishery resources protection law in Japan prohibits salmon fishing in rivers regardless of ethnicity. This has led to Ainu people having to seek special permission from the governor of Hokkaido to fish for salmon, further limiting their rights to engage in traditional practices.
The struggle for Ainu rights continues as the community works to reclaim their cultural heritage and uphold their identity as Indigenous people in Japan. The court decision reflects the ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous communities seeking recognition and the restoration of rights that were taken away from them. The Ainu people’s fight for fishing rights symbolizes a broader movement towards acknowledging and respecting Indigenous rights globally. Despite facing legal obstacles and historical discrimination, the Ainu community remains resilient in their pursuit of justice and the restoration of their cultural practices that have been integral to their way of life for generations.
