You're a berk, Captain Kirk

First Nations that rely on salmon farming for income and jobs have demanded an apology from Canadian actors William Shatner and Ryan Reynolds for their roles in making an expletive-laden video demanding the immediate closure of the industry in British Columbia.

Shatner, most famous for his role as Captain James T Kirk in the groundbreaking sci-fi series Star Trek, went where probably no Star Fleet officer has been before by telling salmon farming to “f*ck off” in the video made by Maximum Effort, the production company started by Reynolds.

The video was made for anti-salmon farming NGO Pacific Wild, following last Wednesday’s announcement by the federal government that it will grant five-year licences to existing open net-pen farms in British Columbia to give the sector time to transition to land-based or floating closed containment systems.

Pacific Wild wants net pens removed immediately, and says it has to be un-Canadian – in other words, rude – about it in order to get its message across to the government.

'The Canadian way'

In the video, 93-year-old Shatner shuffles into camera shot on the shore of a body of water, chuckles to himself and says: “You know, for almost a century, I’ve been a kind, decent Canadian. It’s the Canadian way. But when I see what open net salmon farming is doing to the environment, and wildlife, I just can’t be Canadian about it any longer. So, repeat after me: “F*ck off open net pen salmon farms. Your asshole salmon farms are f*cking up our wild salmon population. It’s a shit stain on our nation.”

The video then features other people saying “f*ck off” to salmon farming, including a baby supposedly showing its middle finger to the sector.

The video is designed to be funny, and Shatner hams up his part as only he can, but understandably the Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship (FNFFS), which represents First Nations who allow salmon farming in their traditional territories, isn’t laughing. The FNFFS said the video was “a classic example of a rich, elite, removed, urban white men overriding the wishes of vulnerable Indigenous communities”.

“There are nearly 700 Indigenous peoples working directly and indirectly in salmon farming, a sector that brings $133 million a year to First Nations annually. To repeatedly say ‘f*ck off’ to a sector that is woven into the social and economic fabrics of a dozen First Nations along BC’s coast implies that you do not care about the human well being of our remote communities that do not have a lot of options to turn to economically. These jobs, this sector, cannot be replaced.

“We have been the stewards of our lands, waters, and elements for over 10,000 years, including wild Pacific salmon, the life blood of our people. Due to the impact of colonisation on wild salmon stocks, we have had to include salmon farming alongside salmon stewardship to fill the economic gap caused by the decline of wild salmon.

“Mr Shatner’s generation specifically has caused irreversible harm and damage to wild Pacific salmon stocks, leaving future generations of our people scrambling to reverse this unimaginable harm.

Hurtful, shameful words

“We are most disappointed in Mr Reynolds part in this. The caring image he has built for himself, in our eyes, apparently could not be further from the truth after this video was released insulting our people. He, being a British Columbian, should have realised how hurtful, shameful, and impactful these words and this video would land on impoverished, struggling Indigenous communities that are striving to achieve the fraction of the wealth Mr Reynolds and Mr Shatner have amassed.

“It is beyond disappointing and insulting that we have to issue this statement today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, when we are supposed to be celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and stewardship of Indigenous peoples. Instead, we are faced with publicly responding to this atrocious attack on our principles, protocols, and our people.

“We expect an apology in the coming days.”