Mi’kmaq Receives Affirmation From Ottawa Regarding The Ongoing Lobster Conflict
A Mi’kmaq chief has shown dissatisfaction with the federal government’s reply in the ongoing conflict between Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishermen in the Southwestern Nova Scotia.
In an interview on Tuesday, Chief Michael Sack of the Sipekne’katik First Nation has stated that he wishes the federal government to uphold the treaty rights that would thereby protect Mi’kmaq fishermen and also prevent the Non-Indigenous fishers from interfering with their harvest.
The long-ongoing dispute emerged over the weekend after about 350 lobster traps were reportedly removed by the non-Indigenous fishermen in St. Marys Bay, which is about 250 kilometers west of Halifax. Moreover, the fishers with the Sipekne’katik First Nation have reported that the non-Indigenous fishermen have vandalized their vessels and equipment.
Sack stated in an interview that he is not very pleased with the weekend’s incident and said that there were chances of losing lives as it was quite rough out there. He also said that the federal government hasn’t done enough to protect the Mi’kmaq fishers as nothing has been made official yet.
As it goes that the Mi’kmaq are now trying to assert their treaty right to fish for having a moderate livelihood around St. Mary’s Bay during the offseason which runs from late May until late November. During the off-season, the non-Indigenous fishermen allow the crustaceans to molt and reproduce.
Furthermore, Sack has said that there is approval for commercial fishing year-round across Nova Scotia and Indigenous fishermen have the right to fish when and where they want. He also added that the Mi’kmaq fishermen are now planning to roll out a buyer’s license system on Thursday that would open up avenues to sell their catch.
Sack who attended a meeting with Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, and with other chiefs on Monday has discussed the ongoing dispute. After the meeting, the two ministers have released a statement which affirmed that the Mi’kmaq have a constitutionally protected treaty right in pursuit of a moderate livelihood. According to the statement, officers from the Fisheries and Oceans Department, the RCMP, the Coast guard, and others from public safety are now being deployed to help with any kind of dangerous situation.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson with the fisheries department sent out an email that said that a conservation and protection team is now monitoring activities in Southwest Nova Scotia. N future, if charges are warranted based on the findings of the investigation; the matter shall thereby be referred to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
To address the situation, Sack stated that the government needs to step up and keep the non-Indigenous fishers from disrupting their work. He said that the government could now uphold the treaty and respect the moderate livelihood management plan and also keep the commercial fishermen from interfering with whatever they’ve been doing.
According to a 1999 Supreme Court decision, the Mi’kmaq people own the treaty rights to fish for a moderate livelihood. Sack added that the Mi’kmaq is now collecting information to determine the monetary value linked with that term.
On Facebook, Sack had put out a call for fishing gear to replace the equipment that was taken by the non-Indigenous over the weekend and said that the community has received taps and other gear from First Nations fishermen in the Atlantic region.
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