Ainu group holds first salmon harvest after court ruling
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The Ainu Raporo Nation in Urahoro, Hokkaido, Japan, held a salmon harvest ritual called “Ashirichepnomi” on October 13th, marking the first special harvest since a court ruling on Ainu rights.
The group conducted the ceremony with over 50 people in attendance, praying to the fire god for a plentiful salmon run. The Raporo Ainu Nation filed a lawsuit in 2020, seeking the right to freely fish salmon in local rivers as an inherent right of the Indigenous Ainu people.
While courts acknowledged the Ainu’s right to practice their culture, they did not confirm the group’s request for fishing rights. The Ainu decided not to appeal the July second-instance ruling, fearing a Supreme Court decision could hinder similar lawsuits in other regions. Following the ruling, the group received permission from the Hokkaido government to conduct a special salmon harvest, limited to 80 fish this year. On the day of the ritual, they caught four salmon, two males and two females.
Members of the Raporo Ainu Nation expressed their commitment to continue advocating for their rights, believing that sustained effort will eventually lead to their full restoration.
