Billboard

Uncensored, free exchanges of ideas regarding the Burntchurch crisis.

Thanks for visiting our billboard.
To add your comment.

I am sorry to interrupt this flow of free exchanges again.

I would just like to point out a few things:

LEGION now manages this site. Gilles prince was ready to close it down. The change will soon be reflected in the rest of the site.
LEGION has contacted the Burntchurch Band Council. Our question was clear: How can this site support your efforts. If any controversy issued from the previous administrator's stance, if any confusion exists, we aim to solve it fast.
LEGION has also contacted Maqtewkpaqtismfor the same reasons.
<http://www.tao.ca/~beinglightbeing/burntchurch/> are the onlyentity accepting donations. Our site does not, and has not requested any donations. This service is provided free of charge to all those wishing to use it. Our site is part of the support mandate of the International Black Coalition of Quebec.
Although it may be tempting, we DO NOT censor here. Their post have been left up on purpose. To break our commitment to non-censorship, even once, is to break our word. We will not be intimidated into that. We cleaned the posts to remove duplicates and make the page faster to load. We removed ONE POST impersonating Gilles Prince - ID Highjacking being an illegal act.
In no way has this site EVER pretended to be the "official" or "sole" Burntchurch web site. The name says it all: it is a 'support" site. We were the only way to access the "real" information while the big media had a negative spin on the issue. The site has been up for a year and a half, with the full knowledge of Burntchurch officials. Only lately has there been any question of its validity.
As for the domain name issue: Note that this is part of the dot-com realm. dot-org, dot-net or dot-ca are still available for the burntchurch name. Why then would anyone put so much pressure to obtain a dot-com, if not to do BUSINESS with it?
LEGION had nothing to do with the aquisition of this domain in the DOT.COM realm. Our opinion is that this is the wrong realm for it. But it is a fact we must deal with.
Others are trying VERY HARD to shut this site down, to shut you up.
If something is worth saying, it should be said in the open. Allegations, made from the shadows and unsubstantiated, and made-up stories, are all that was provided.

Draw your own conclusions.

- LEGION

Don't want to be flamed! Shut your mouth, until you have the balls that God gave you to leave your name at least. I really don't give a shit about what your views on first nation's and job's...cause like I said you have no ball's to even say your name! Just like all of the rest of my enter's I leave by saying. Feel free to e-mail me to talk or just to make a new friend! Arvin P. White Cow Peigan Nation, Blackfoot confederation, Treaty 7
Arvin P. White Cow <peigan_nation@canada.com>
Peigan Nation, AB Canada - Monday, September 25, 2000 at 16:52:44 (EDT)

owned burntchurch.com, but had not created a website for it. Domain names must be paid for each year. When you fail to pay, you loose your domain, and it is up for grabs. Gilles Prince grabbed burntchurch.com before Esgenoôpetitj could re-register the domain.

However, because the name Burnt Church is a community, and the website displays info about that community, and is not endorsed by the community in any way, this means that the site can be take from Gilles Prince by W.I.P.O., and given back to Esgenoôpetitj. Fact is, Gilles Prince made no deals at all with Esgenoôpetitj. Gilles Prince, who is not Aboriginal, created the Wabanaki Co-Op. He came to Esgenoôpetitj, and talked to the Band, and took photographs. But no deals were made at all. The Band said they would think about it, but did not make any agreement. However, Gilles Prince took those photos, made the website, and made it look like Esgenoôpetitj had endorsed his actions. LEGION claims that they have taken over the domain burntchurch.com .

Who is LEGION? Will LEGION respectfully give back the domain name to Esgenoôpetitj? I truely hope so. Tao.ca did not create the official Esgenoôpetitj website ( http://efn.tao.ca/ ). Tao.ca is the WebHost. The Esgenoôpetitj website is created by the community of Esgenoôpetitj. Tao.ca's business is their business, and has nothing to do with the Esgenoôpetitj website, besides hosting it on their servers. burntchurch.com claims they have never said that they are the official Esgenoôpetitj website, but then why do they have the official domain name?

Esgenoôpetitj is thankful to any websites in support of Esgenoôpetitj fishery, but not if that means taking domain names like burntchurch.com

Fact: Lloyd Augustine, hereditary leader of Esgenoôpetitj, spokesperson, and one of two members who drafted the Esgenoôpetitj Fishery Act and Management Plan, had previously contacted Gilles Prince, because Lloyd Augustine wanted all pictures of himself taken off burntchurch.com, because the site is a fraud. Recently, Clifford Larry has asked for his pictures taken off as well, but so far the picture remain on burntchurch.com

Esgenoôpetitj asks that burntchurch.com be given back to the community, as it is their Intellectual Property.

However, if the domain is not volunteerly handed over, they will take legal action through W.I.P.O.

Esgenoôpetitj First Nation
620 Bayview Drive
Esgenoôpetitj First Nation, N.B. E9G 2A8
Canada
Telephone (506)776-1221
Fax (506)776-1242
Email: bctrains@nbnet.nb.ca
Website: http://efn.tao.ca/ Sincerely, Maqtew*kpaqtism

Maqtew*kpaqtism <maqtewekpaqtism@mikmaqmail.com>
W*kopekwitk, Sikepen*katik Míkmáki - Monday, September 25, 2000 at 12:58:24 (EDT)

Bull, bull, bull. The way you criminals talk you want to fight the indian wars all over again. It isn' the 1700's. But as long as you are stuck there, you will continue to be dependent on government handouts. Claims of 95% unnemployment, well what do you expect if all you do is sit around at home doing nothing. Noone has an obligation to bring an industry onto a reserve because you won't go get a job.
left out <don't want to be flamed>
NB Canada - Monday, September 25, 2000 at 01:48:18 (EDT)

To the editor When is the Government in it's intimit wisdom going to relize,it's not about fishing. ITS THE TREATIES .It's all about inherrit rights, We have an inherrit right that has been ours since the first MikMaw was planted hundreds of thousands of years ago .It took the supreme court 200 years to relize that ,. It's time for the Chiefs to relize those agreements they signed are not marshall. They are nothing more then comercial fishing agreements that put our people under the DFO'S thumb not to mention Dhaliwal and his colonial government. They the Government is using Marshall to implament the white paper. That has been their agenda for the last 31 years .The white paper was meant to assimulate us and turn us into white people (a continued genacide on the governments part) It was ment to be the final chapter in an already blood stained history of our people. John Chretien was the engineeer of the white paper back when he was minister of Indian Affairs under the Troudou administration. Bottom line, Its all comming from Chretien.He has been the man calling the shots all along he is the one who is holding Dhaliwal's strings and using him and the DFO as attack dogs to implament his agenda. We as Indian people are here to stay,we didn't die off as planned by Lord Amherst when he handed out small pox infested blankets to our people with the antipation of whipeing out the entire migmaw nation ,we became 95 % extinct .but where back bigger and better then ever,with our treaties in hand ,and the MARSHALL DECISSION .that affirms our treaties that are a part of our INHERRIT RIGHT.That goes back to infinity Its time for everyone to start reading and understanding these treaties.Your future generation is depending on you.It can only come from you .You the Indian. We have to start educating our young on just how important these treaties are to us as a nation.Our schools should be teaching it as part of the educationel process. Joseph A Francis, Big Cove Boxing Club 5 Church St.,Rexton, N.B. Canada, E4W 1Y3
JOSEPH A. FRANCIS <marty@nbnet.nb.ca>
Rexton (Big Cove), N.B. Canada - Monday, September 25, 2000 at 00:10:52 (EDT)

Why are you standing aside while DFO goon squads steal your traps? It is Dhaliwal who should be charged with contempt of court, theft, and crimes against humanity. Protestors are occupying his constituency office in his Vancouver riding condemning his actions. You should bge sending a delegation to Ottawa to arrest Dhaliwal and charge him. BE PROACTIVE. The international media are watching. People around the world support your cause and believe you are right and the Canadian goverment is wrong. Those double-talking hypocrites would secretly love to see you and all your children commit suicide. That would solve their problem. Don't give them that satisfaction. Fight with everything you got and many will come and fight alongside you.
sgwii
Red Lake, ON Canada - Sunday, September 24, 2000 at 09:40:03 (EDT)

I would like to let the community of Burnt Church know that what they are doing for eachother is inspiring to others. It is good to know that people from Burnt Church are standing up for what is rightfully theirs. It is not a time to give in to any pressures from the government or what they threaten to do in the waters. Aboriginal People have always been strong and will continue to be for many generations to come. I am very proud of all of you. Keep your heads held high and walk in bravery. My prayers are with the community of Burnt Church.
a neighbor
Canada - Sunday, September 24, 2000 at 02:41:43 (EDT)

I have been watching the events at burch church unfold from afar. I have said on the phone don't give up. I have help to fund raise and have sent supplys. But I must tell you up until now I have been impressed with your actions but now I am dissappointed. You must not allow them to run you over. They are stealing not confiscating your traps and you are allowing them. You must fight what do you have to lose? nothing. empower your self do not beafraid there is nothing to be a afraid about. You will be fighting something with no spirt you will surely win. bord their boats, take their traps, close the roads, arrest them for interfering with your survival, take charge of the situation. If you dont you will be left with nothing passive resistance only if the majority of the population support the government you are inconflict with will eventually side with you. NEWS FLASH We are not wanted here, as long as we survive their so called country rests uneasy. the majority cannot side with you are because if they do then they will not be able to live the kind of lifestyle they have become accustom too; as they will have to move over for the indigenous peoples of this land. again I urge you fight for you life as this is what you are fighting for. So long as you beleive you are not doing anything wrong then you, you will be in the right. It is wrong to allow them to steal your traps without fighting them. If you fight I will come to help.
a mohawk
Turtle Island - Sunday, September 24, 2000 at 01:30:41 (EDT)

Will everyone just quick bickering and go to the real website for burnt church? judging by some people's comments with spelling errors, caps,cursing and nothing well-written, this is obviously a scam. So, please, I know the people of Burnt Church aren't like this.
Ojibwe from treaty 3
ON Canada - Sunday, September 24, 2000 at 01:11:32 (EDT)

From: "Maqtewekpaqtism " Hi, I'm here in Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church). I wanted to point out that Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church) have changed their website address to: http://efn.tao.ca/ And, an update on the burntchurch.com website scam. Gilles Prince is now denying all charges against him. He claims to have got permission from the Chief and Council to take the domain burntchurch.com, but I have talked to the Chief and Council here at Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church), and they have never given Gilles Prince any permission to take the domain burntchurch.com or to claim to be a contact for Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church). Gilles Prince also claims that he has not recieved funds that are intended for Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church), but, as he is acting like a contact person, I must ask then, where does the funds go? What does he tell people when they contact him? He has nothing to do with Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church) whatsoever. Also, Gilles Prince is trying to make childish claims that the person who contacted him first about his website, Elizabeth Marshall, made death threats on him. This is completly false, and the phone conversation was recorded by Elizabeth Marshall for further proof that Gilles Prince is a lying con-artist. The first entry into Gilles Prince's guestbook is written by himself, about his trip to Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church) during the time of the blockade. What Gilles Prince does not realize is that I, Maqtewekpaqtism, was at the blockade when he tried to get through. What Gilles Prince does not mention is that they did not want to let him through, and because I knew about Gilles Prince and his false website, I told them not to let him through as I left to go to the Training Center. Eventually Gilles Prince sweet talked his way through the blockade, but when he arrived at the Training Center (Main Headquarters for Esgenoopetitj), one guy tried to run him over with a dirt bike, and started yelling at Gilles Prince, saying "Are you here to rip us off again?". I do not know exactly what that was all about, although some have said that Gilles Prince had ripped Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church) off for alot of money. Then, a Councillor came out of the Training Center and told Gilles prince to get the $%^& off the Reserve, which Gilles Prince listened and left. Please visit burntchurch.com and let Gilles Prince know what you think of this type of con-artist. Sincerely, Maqtewekpaqtism
Prairie Warrior
Canada - Saturday, September 23, 2000 at 12:57:27 (EDT)

the native people are not the only people who should be fearful of what has happenen in the last year. we have the highcourt second gussing their dicision on the marshall case. every legal expert in the country knows the government has broken the ruling of the high court. this matter will find it's way back to the courts and the courts will rule once again that the government had no regard for the laws of this country. the concern for the white man and the native in future is what else will the gov. decide it will not follow from the high court, or has the gov, learned from this that they can control the high court. when they the gov. strikes the next time it may be the white may who suffers ,and thats only a short matter of time.
s kallin
montreal, pq Canada - Saturday, September 23, 2000 at 12:50:12 (EDT)

Both sides, Put the gun's down. It's against the law and I personally don't want to see any one losing a Dad, Brother, Uncle etc. on either side! Arvin P. White Cow '2000.
Arvin P. White Cow <peigan_nation@canada.com>
peigan_nation, Ab Canada - Saturday, September 23, 2000 at 12:17:20 (EDT)

Who's shoting at whom out there? Here in the West the new's yesterday was that Natives shot at non Native fisher's? out on the water... Tar and feather them they say... This mean's war... get the red man! But I see today on the net it is reported that three (3) non-native men were arrested! Who want's trouble? Thanks to the world wide web... the world watches on! Where are you going on vacation next summer? ( These veiws are the views of Arvin P. White Cow and not those of the Peigan Nation ) As usaul any question's or comment's are just to make a new friend! E-mail me! Arvin P. White Cow Peigan Nation Blackfoot Confederation Treaty 7 '2000.
Arvin P. White Cow <peigan_nation@hotmail.com>
Lethbridge, Ab Canada - Saturday, September 23, 2000 at 12:08:11 (EDT)

Regarding the entry below, why is it that there are 'no matches found' for the website http://efn.tao.ca/ if it's the website for Burnt Church? Who cares about Gilles Prince or whoever he is? Is the website about him or the struggles of Burnt Church residents? As long as the site is used to express opinions and/or support for Burnt Church, who cares how it started - just keep your money in your pocket, or put a check in the mail to their Band Council if you really want to support them financially. Enough about G.Prince already!
someone
Canada - Saturday, September 23, 2000 at 09:21:20 (EDT)

Just because First Nations lands here were overun and stolen by European colonists a long time ago doesn't mean everyone should now simply forget about all that. The evil that men do lives after them. And we are seeing plenty of evil now in the actions of the federal government. Of course the feds have every intention of staying in power above all else and will say or do just about anything to keep it that way. Any talk of de-centralization, or reduced power or ability to fill their coffers with tax dollars is treason or anarchy. O Canada! Our home and native land! We stand on guard for thee! What a load of crap! If the DFO and the RCMP can't control the situation, there's always the military they can count on to do their dirty work. Minister Dhaliwal declares "the rule of law must prevail". Well isn't that hunky-dory! Like the judges that decide the law have a clear understanding who appoints them. It looks like the Supreme Court Marshall decision was a trick, a mistake perhaps, or maybe even a setup. Like make the natives think they've finally won something, real hope after a long struggle... then whack! pull the rug from under them and show 'em who's boss. F*** the Supreme Court! I'd like to see Dhaliwal and prime minister Cretin's face if 10,000 First Nations people from across Canada come to Ottawa and surround parliament hill dressed in traditional costume and start beating the drums! Let them call in the tanks. Like Tiananmen all over again.
sgwii
Dartmouth, NS Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 20:38:16 (EDT)

Hi, I know what you are all going through. But I don't think violence has to be included in this event. Please, wake-up and see by yourself: If you continue to get lobster, the government will have to make a new law about it. You know that. And also, if you continue to trap lobster off-season, that might lead to the instinction of the specie. Please... PLEASE STOP IMMEDIATELY ! Thanks.
Luc-AndrÈ Benoit & Jonathan Breau <lumar@nb.sympatico.ca>
Tracadie-Sheila, NB Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 20:24:23 (EDT)

Be strong all people of burnt church. Go with what your elder's have taught you. Let the Great Spirit guide you and keep you safe. We must all fight for what we believe. We must all Believe in what we fight for. All natives, half breeds believe in you from treaty 3. We will support you and offer our prayers for the people of burnt church.
half breed
fort frances, ont Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 16:46:29 (EDT)

The media coverage of the injustice taking place in Burnt Church is deplorable. On Thursday September 21st CTV late night news seemed to me to be insighting violence. The coverage used words like "militant natives" giving the viewer a impression that the Burnt Church First Nation aim was to instigate violence. As James Ward pointed out this afternoon it is a matter of self-defence. The CTV reporter closed off the the piece claiming the problem stemmed from "ancient treaty rights". I would like her to know that these treaties were only signed a handful of generations ago and still exist in Canadian law. The Marshall decision is far from ancient history!
Emily Watkins <emilywatkins@hotmail.com>
Ottawa, ON Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 13:41:47 (EDT)

Would'nt it be possible for your lawyers to ask the supreme court to pursue the federal government for ´contempt of the courtª, since they neglected to conform to many decisions taken by the court regarding aborigines rights ? Any other level of judiciary court would have the tools to enforce they're decisions; wy not the supreme court ?
Deckard <Deckard@net.com>
montreal, qc Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 13:39:55 (EDT)

as a white nova scotian, I completely support burnt church!
rainlily <rainlily41@hotmail.com>
NS Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 13:11:18 (EDT)

To Legion: Rights - the most over used, abused word in our language. It seems like that is all we talk about - our right to free speech, our right to clean air, our right to clean milk, our right to affortable housing, our right to smoke, our right to not breath smoke, our right to swing our fist, our right to cut our lawns, our right to an income. BS. We are all privilaged to being in a great country and it is up to us to make a life for ourselves, not be handed anything on a platter or be looked after by the government. But that is another whole subject that you don't want to get me on. My "rights" are not being threatened in the least. I know times change. I'm not stuck back in the 1760's or where ever. If I were, then I suppose I would be looking for the English gov't to be looking after me because of what they did to my Scottish ancestors. Your right - this is not a indian issue - it is an issue with some hotheads who are breaking the law by poaching lobster out of season. If you want to try to read something subverseve into that, then you need help. There is no big business here. And the "contract" has been upheld by the courts, which is where the indians, with your tax dollars took it. They just didn't like the whole answer they received - the gov't can still control the fishery. And if we are to uphold that contract, then what about the parts about the indians having a curfew, etc. Seems to me just the parts that we want to use is being held up. And yes, I know that parts of it are not realistic in today's age, that is my point. If some of it isn't workable, then who is to say what we keep and what we don't keep. That is what this is now down to - the gov't thinks one part and the indians another part. By the way, there are 5-7 from this reserve that have lobster licenses, and boats and traps, and fish in the spring along with the rest of the Miramichi fishermen. They are working within the system and doing OK. It's the one's that seem to think this is an opportunity to make a fast buck (12 for $25.00) that is causing this problem now.
who cares <left out, don't need to be flamed>
NB Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 12:47:18 (EDT)

To Who Cares, and others: Your point is not without validity, but you miss the issue. It is about covenants being broken, as it pleased the governments and civil servants under the thumb of large corporations. YOUR rights are also threatened - it is just more subtle. The is not a NATVIVE issue, it's much bigger. It's about real folks versus big money. Be careful not to confuse disease and symptoms. Burntchurch is just a small part of a whole, much larger problem. Rights were agreed upon, were granted. When YOU and I sign contracts, we are held to it. When the government signs contract, they just change it as they will, when they will, retroactively if they want. Why are there two sets of rules?
Legion
Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 11:05:31 (EDT)

This site is as much misinformation as anything else. The so-called picture of the village is a picture of the wharf which isn't even on the Indian reserve, yet has been taken over by hot heads who have nothing else to do but run around in fatigues with handkerchiefs over their faces - playing cowboys and indians. Lobsters are being sold on the Miramichi for a dozen for $25.00! So much for a great living! And the government has offered my tax dollars to buy boats, traps, equipment, and train them, to make a decent living fishing when everyone else does - in the spring. And you can't say that isn't enough time, after all, the other fishermen in the Miramichi are being pointed at by the Indians as an example of what can be accomplished. And this from a band that is getting a million dollars a month in assistance - that's $1,000,000 of your tax dollars, and thru mismanagement, are millions in debt! Not enough money to provide decent housing but can keep buying traps to put illegally in the water. The situation is like a bunch of kids, they keep teasing and poking at someone until action is taken, then it's time to cry "he hit me! waaaa".
who cares <left out, don't need to be flamed>
NB Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 09:53:18 (EDT)

I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE PROBLEMS IN BURNT CHURC FOR SOME TIME , AND I WILL BE HONEST WITH U,I'V ALSO BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MR DALIWAL AND AS A LOBSTER FISHERMAN MYSELF HAVE GOTTEN SICK OF THIS HOLE THING NO ONE SAID U DONT HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE A FOOD FISHERIES BUT THATS WERE THE LINE SHOULD BE DRAWN U DIDN'T FISH LOBSTER WHEN THE TREATY WAS SIGNED SO WHY DO U THINK U CFAN JUST THROW ANY # OF TRAPS IN THE WATER , U ARE CREATING YOUR OWN RACISIM THATS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN U TRY TO TAKE MORE RIGHTS THAN THE REST OF US, THE TRAPS HAVE TO COME OUT AND IN A SHORT TIME U WILL BE MADE TO DO THAT , BUT IT WOULD BE ALOT BETTER IF U DID IT ! BUT I DONT SEE THAT HAPPENING , SO IF DFO COMES IN WE ALL LOSE AND I HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT BUT IT WILL BE ON THE LEADERS OF BURNT CHURCH. I'LL TELL U THE SAME THING I TOLD DFO , IF YOUR TRAPS ARE ALLOWED TO STAY THEN I KNOW WE ARE PUTTING OURS IN AND U KNOW THEY DONT WANT THAT. WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE AND SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT ON THE SAME SIDE , AND YES THE NATIVES HAVE BEEN SCREWED OVER THE DECADES, BUT WE ALL ARE CANADIANS AND HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SAME LAWS, AND WHEN U TRY TO TAKE WHATS NOT YOURS THEN ALL CANADIANS SUFFER . GOOD LUCK TODAY ! HOPE U ALL STAY SAFE ! PS- JUST HEARD ON THE NEWS THAT DFO IS FORCING A CONFERTATION, NO SO U HADE LOTS OF TIME TO OBEY CANADIAN LAW BUT CHOSE NOT TO , THIS MAKES IT YOUR BALLGAME NOT DFO'S. TAKE CARE - DWAYNE !
Dwayne Huskins <BOO.ARMSTRONG@NS.SYMPATICO.CA>
HUNTS POINT, NS Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 08:19:34 (EDT)

A few weeks ago I suggested the ony way to solve this fishing dispute was to come off the water and spend a day in concerned prayer. I am glad to hear that today you are doing that. God bless you and I have been in prayer through the night and will stop at eleven and pray also. God is bigger than any promblem we face .Allow him to take control when we do it works out A-1 without any hitches .
keddy <jkeddyhomefree.com>
middleton, ns Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 07:30:45 (EDT)

I support Burnt Church and anyone that will fight for their rights and freedoms. I hope this site and others help people become more aware of just how fragile our freedoms are and they are worth fighting for to keep.
Autumn
NH USA - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 07:08:08 (EDT)

I support the Burnt Church natives all the way. We need people like the native people in New Brunswick. Uh, I'm confused by what this website REALLY is....with the negativity in it, I don't believe it's the right webpage, or is it???? someone say something here.
Ojibwe
ON Canada - Friday, September 22, 2000 at 00:44:06 (EDT)

The Mohawks of Tyendinaga completly support the natives in Burnt Church. Stay strong and fight for what is YOUR right. Isn't it ironic how the white government is always trying to take away what rightfully belongs to us.
jessi <jeshill@hotmail.com>
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, on Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 20:32:40 (EDT)

Racism... From what I have read today and for the last few day's regardless of who own's this site... is alive and well in Eastern Canada just like it is here in Western Canada. As the world watches and they are, they must think the number 1 place to live on the planet? What a joke! The white man isn't safe, the native's aren't safe, oh Christ the @%$&*@# fish aren't even safe! As for the new free glasses and free education and housing and what ever else some of you think that I get free... Get mad at God, and not Natives, for not allowing you to be born Native! You forgot one important thing I get for free each and every day, SHIT from people like you! I will gladly share my share with you anyday! As usual I am not going to leave you hanging like some... Any question's or comment's or just to make new friend's... Red, Yellow, Black or White, I can be reached at (peigan_nation@canada.com) Arvin P. White Cow '2000. Peigan Nation, Blackfoot Confederation, Treaty 7, Alberta, Canada.
Arvin P. White Cow <peigan_nation@canada.com>
Peigan Nation, Ab Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 19:24:22 (EDT)

Racism... From what I have read today and for the last few day's regardless of who own's this site... is alive and well in Eastern Canada just like it is here in Western Canada. As the world watches and they are, they must think the number 1 place to live on the planet? What a joke! The white man isn't safe, the native's aren't safe, oh Christ the @%$&*@# fish aren't even safe! As for the new free glasses and free education and housing and what ever else some of you think that I get free... Get mad at God, and not Natives, for not allowing you to be born Native! You forgot one important thing I get for free each and every day, SHIT from people like you! I will gladly share my share with you anyday! As usual I am not going to leave you hanging like some... Any question's or comment's or just to make new friend's... Red, Yellow, Black or White, I can be reached at peigan_nation@canada.com Arvin P. White Cow '2000. Peigan Nation, Blackfoot Confederation, Treaty 7, Alberta, Canada.
Arvin P. White Cow <peigan_nation@canada.com>
Peigan Nation, Ab Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 19:23:28 (EDT)

Racism... From what I have read today and for the last few day's regardless of who own's this site... is alive and well in Eastern Canada just like it is here in Western Canada. As the world watches and they are, they must think the number 1 place to live on the planet? What a joke! The white man isn't safe, the native's aren't safe, oh Christ the @%$&*@# fish aren't even safe! As for the new free glasses and free education and housing and what ever else some of you think that I get free... Get mad at God for not allowing you to be born Native! You forgot one important thing I get for free each and every day, SHIT from people like you! I will gladly share my share with you anyday! As usual I am going to leave you hanging like some... Any question's or comment's or just to make new friend's... Red, Yellow, Black or White, Arvin P. White Cow Peigan Nation, Blackfoot Confederation, Treaty 7, Alberta, Canada.
Arvin P. White Cow <peigan_nation@canada.com>
Peigan Nation, Ab Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 19:19:55 (EDT)

Regarding the advice below about scams and where is the correct place to send funds in support of Burnt Church, I would suggest everybody just keep their money in their wallets - money won't solve this problem. Instead I would suggest that anyone who opposes the Canadian government's treatment of Burnt Church residents contact their local MP's in large numbers and refuse to be ignored until Burnt Church's supporters, both native and non-native, ARE HEARD!!
Maxine Dickie <WindSpirit@ns.sympatico.ca>
Maitland, NS Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 16:20:52 (EDT)

Please be aware, as several posts have warned, that this web site appears to be a scam. Read some of the previous posts. It is my understand the Miqmaqs (the real ones) are taking this site to a higher authority in order to shut it down.
peter webster <peterweb@teleport.com>
BEND, OR us - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 13:25:37 (EDT)

From: "Maqtewekpaqtism" If anyone has visted www.burntchurch.com, please be aware that this website is a scam, and is not endorsed by Burnt Church in any way. The webmaster of www.burntchurch.com is Gilles Prince of Quebec, who has stolen the domain, and is believed to be collection funds that are suppose to help Burnt Church, but instead he is pocketing it. Gilles Prince has tried to sell the domain to Burnt Church for a large sum of money, but, Burnt Church will instead be suing Gilles Prince and taking the domain through the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) ( www.wipo.org ). Please warn people not to send money to Gilles Prince. You may contact Gilles Prince at gmanager@simplcom.ca and demand that he take down the website, or contact his WebHost ( www.contact.net ), at info@contact.net and demand that they take down the website. The real Burnt Church support site, created by the People of Burnt Church, is: http://www.tao.ca/~beinglightbeing/burntchurch/ This website will give you the correct information for sending funds to help the cause. Wel·lin, Thank You! Sincerely, MaqtewÈkpaqtism Registrant: Simplcom Inc (BURNTCHURCH-DOM) 2104 chartier dorval, quebec H9P 1H2 CA Domain Name: BURNTCHURCH.COM Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Zone Contact, Billing Contact: prince, gilles (GP8064) gprince@SIMPLCOM.CA simplcom inc 2104 Chartier Dorval, Quebec H9P 1H2 CA 514 631 3768 (FAX) 514 631 4286 Record last updated on 13-Oct-1999. Record expires on 13-Oct-2001. Record created on 13-Oct-1999. Database last updated on 21-Sep-2000 06:10:33 EDT. Domain servers in listed order: BLANC.CONTACT.NET 209.41.145.2 NOIR.CONTACT.NET 209.41.145.1
xxxx <xxxx>
xxxx, xxxx Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 12:58:25 (EDT)

If anyone has visted www.burntchurch.com, please be aware that this website is a scam, and is not endorsed by Burnt Church in any way. The webmaster of www.burntchurch.com is Gilles Prince of Quebec, who has stolen the domain, and is believed to be collection funds that are suppose to help Burnt Church, but instead he is pocketing it. Gilles Prince has tried to sell the domain to Burnt Church for a large sum of money, but, Burnt Church will instead be suing Gilles Prince and taking the domain through the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) ( www.wipo.org ). Please warn people not to send money to Gilles Prince. You may contact Gilles Prince at gmanager@simplcom.ca and demand that he take down the website, or contact his WebHost ( www.contact.net ), at info@contact.net and demand that they take down the website. The real Burnt Church support site, created by the People of Burnt Church,is: http://www.tao.ca/~beinglightbeing/burntchurch/ This website will give you the correct information for sending funds to help the cause.
Prairie Warrior
Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 12:30:55 (EDT)

I have been a supporter of aboriginal causes all of my life, however the actions of the Burnt Church aboriginals is beginning to change that attitude.Your behavior in regards the lobster stocks, your lies in regards the number of traps in the water, and your total disregard for the rights of others would seem to indicate that you have become that which you despise.
J Doucette <jodouce@ibm.net>
Manotick, Ont Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 12:02:25 (EDT)

SEEMS A LITTLE ODD THAT THERE IS SO MUCH DISINFORMATION BETWEEN WHAT THE NATIVES GET AND WHAT THE NON-NATIVES THINK THEY HAVE OR GET. AND WHILE THE NATIVES AND NON -NATIVES FIGHT OVER THE FISHERY THE ELECTED PEOPLE SIT ON THEIR LITTLE ASSES IN OTTAWA AND HIDE. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SETTLEMENT OF THESE TREATY ISSUES AT SOME TIME & I THINK THE COURTS ARE NOT THE PLACE. DOES ANYONE NATIVE OR NON-NATIVE HAVE ANY FAITH IN THESE PEOPLE AT ALL. IF THEY DON;T GET OFF THEIR ASS AND DO WHAT WE PAY THEM TO DO, THE COUNTRY WILL BE IN MORE MESS THAN IT IS NOW , AND IT WILL BE ABOUT MORE THAN FISHING. BUT THAN AGAIN HOW LONG HAVE WE PUT UP WITH RICH PEOPLE IN GOV. DOING NOTHING. MAYBE OUR PM COULD SHOW A LITTLE LIFE AND GET AS INTERESTED AS HE WAS IN KEEPING THE WORLD FROM SEEING STUDENTS PROTEST.AND ORDER THESE PEOPLE TO SETTLE SOMTHING.
J PEROE
HALIFAX, NS Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 11:53:41 (EDT)

TO MR.CASEY... To be honnest they dont have to set traps next year or the year after or ever because all their needs are provided for including dental care,eye care and it goes on... the only Necessity for them to set traps is to provide that magic little white powder because gasoline sniffing is kinda outta style if the profits of this fishery was going towards usefull means it would be a diffrent story. But it is due time for the people of this country to be informed of what goes on on these freeBee reservations Screw that deal where the goverment of Canada buys and distributes fishing gear,boats and licences to NativePeople and send them out there on the water to distroy whatever ressource conservation that has been the objective of Non-Native fishermen for the last 40years. as for the 10 to 12 thousan dollars that would not even cover fuel and bait for commercial fishermen,oh but,Natives woulnt realize that because they dont have to pay for anything! It's all on the house... Sorry fellas But the house is about to CLOSE *confused*
MIRAMICHIER
close to burntchurch, nb Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 11:29:55 (EDT)

HAVE COURAGE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF BURNTCHURCH. YOU ARE DOING NOTHING WRONG, YOUR JUST NOT DOING IT THE WAY THE WHITEMAN WANTS YOU TO. WE ARE A NATION ACROSS CANADA AND WE WILL COME TOGATHER AS ONE. WE HAVE FOR TOO LONG TRYED TO REASON WITH THE GOVERNMENT AS SMALL BANDS. THE TIME IS PAST , WE NEED TO GET TO BAND TOGATHER AND FROM COAST TO COAST SETTLE AT LEAST SOME OF OUR TREATY RIGHTS. IF ANY OTHER NATION WERE TO BE TREATED FIRST NATIONS THE NATION WOULD CALL IT WAR. AT SOME POINT THE NATION OF CANADA WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE COURTS AND AS TIME GOES ON THERE ARE MORE OF US NOT LESS.
T EAGLESTONE
SYDNEY, NS Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 10:57:13 (EDT)

I;D LIKE TO INFORM THIS POOR CREATURE WHO THINKS LIVING ON A RESERVE IS LIKE WINNING THE LOTO, THAT SHE OR HE HAD BETTER GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND TRY TO GET THEIR GRADE 1 EDUCATION. SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN STUPID. THIS PERSON MUST HAVE MISSED THE FACT THAT THE WHITE FISHERMAN WERE OFFERED 10,000 TO 12,000 DOLLARS TO LEAVE NATIVE TRAPS ALONE. MAYBE THAY SHOULD GIVE TO THE PEOPLE OF BURNTCHURCH AND THEY WON;T HAVE TO SET TRAPS UNTIL NEXT YEAR. IS IT ANY WONDER NATIVES AND NON NATIVES MISTRUST THE GOV.
MR. CASEY
HALIFAX, NS Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 10:30:07 (EDT)

With all due respect for Native people and with Heart felt feelings for all other Races of this planet. I find it unthinkable that certain people f a certain race has not yet evoluted beyond 1762 Now thatís when they talk about treatyís Yet I havenít seen many lately fishing out of a canoe with a harpon, tepees are pretty well gone and horses have turned into 4x4 Life on on the reserve is like winning at the lotto, You get to live free in beautiful homes, your food is paid for, all utilities are covered With tax payers money Yours&Mine All this because they were here first. I forgot to tell you that as an Acadian my ancestors have been traced back to Adam&Eve which dates back way before 1762 My God! I do believe They were the first people on this planet. Therefore we must all be related I say welcome to the year 2000 Were everybody must work for a living. The time has come to burn those treaties We donít have to pay for century old mistakes forever Time to sit down rewrite the book of law and have it apply to Every Canadian citizen Have these people pay for tax. They might just have a little bit more Respect for the Country if they invested into it With all that said One question answered by you all would make me feel normal again because right now I can only sign my name as Confused (QuestionîShould those treaties be abolished YES OR NO
miramichier
Canada - Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 10:14:34 (EDT)

I have always though that if you retorted a bad comment with another bad comment you will hurt the people who made the bad comment in the first place. Now I believe this statement to be somewhat true, and while this may hurt someones feelings for a day or so you do no permanant damage. Now you here all sorts of big words coming from both sides of this conflict, such as "I am willing to die for my rights." or "If the natives do not get out of the water we will take actions into our own hands, and there will be bloodshed.". Now these are pretty strong words and there is no doubt that a few individuals in this dispute are crazy enough to put these statements into practice, I for one am not one of these people I was always told that if someone is killed over lobster than lobster just became to expensive. Nobody wants to loss their lives over a fish especially me. I have a wife and kid at home and were would they be without me and I know there are plenty of other fishermen out there in the same position. Not to say this conflict does not burn me deep in my heart and my hatred for the way my people are being treated has not made me think crazy thoughts, but as long as I do not act on these feelings nobody is hurt by them. So in regards to the conflict in Burnt Church we natives are hopelessly outnumbered by our Non-native oppressors, and as you may have noticed I did not catagorize our oppressors by any type of race or creed, for they come from many a different background.

They all work for the biggest mafia organization in the world, the Canadian Government. The people that work in this organization are not only white but black, east indian, chinese, etc... They all work for the collective. Now if you were looking at this from a numbers point of view there are more of them, they have more resources, more boats, more traps, More to lose, and in our case nothing to lose but everything to gain from this situation. So instead of fighting a physical battle with these people, a battle we will not win, we fight a battle we can win. We will fight these people by hitting them were it hurts the most, in their pocketbooks. I say that if any traps are cut in Burnt Church or in any other native community we shut down the lobster fishery for the whole of the Eastern coast. How do we do this, we make sure no body has a chance to fish their traps. We destroy the Non-native fishery by adopting their way of warfare. We cut and disable traps. No lobster to sell, no food on the table. No money coming in, banks come calling threatening to foreclose. No way to support their families they have to sell their gear. We, of course are no worse for the wear because they never gave us anything in the first place. So lets not make idle threats about killing each other over a few traps in the water because we all know there are not enough there to hurt anyone in the grand scheme of things. what is 1000 traps now compared to 100000 in the commercial season. I am no genius but we definately have less to loss than our Non-native counterparts.
Moses Barlow
Indian Island, NB Canada - Wednesday, September 20, 2000 at 01:20:21 (EDT)

First of all let me state that I am a None Native. And confident of it but losing pride fast in my fellow white people. Secondly I am an ex employee of the federal Government. The Government of Canada has treated all individuals of this country unfairly but the native people of Canada are the only ones to stand up to the Government and say Enough is Enough. Look back in history you stupid apathetic white man "We will not take the GST standing," so we lay down with it instead. This is just one case. Now it is hi Gas prices instead of telling our so called democratic government to cram it up their ass and fighting back the tax we again except it. We as white people and I say white people including all people that rationalize white in this comment. When Christopher Colobus came to Canada he said there was enough fish to feed the world. So the white Man and other people of non native back ground decide to manage the stock (including Dingwall) and now the stocks are depleted. I ask you one thing think of who managed then before Colobus and his group. Then ask who should we blamed. I say every fisherman Native or Non Native that has ever brushed eggs off a Lobster, anyone that has ever thrown garbage into a ditch, Any one that has ever cut a trap and left it sit full at the bottom of the ocean. It is not a native problem this Government is a Canadian concern. Open your eyes and stop letting the Government persuade you that it is the First Nations to blame. Our Government has had this in the works for years but only we can say stop. If all Canadians and Canadian First Nations people band together we could control our government instead of our government controlling us. Just have the backbone to think before we act against our brothers and sisters in this Truly Canadian problem (our Government).
Snipe <Snipers@mondata.com>
Richibucto, NB Canada - Tuesday, September 19, 2000 at 23:38:26 (EDT)

The problems that we first nation's have to put up with each and every day is just sickening! The harasment that I go thru daily from 1) the general public, 2)The police 3)The three level's of government is just that sickening! They don't, can't, and will never ever be able to understand us the back bone of this country. I support Burnt Church and what your nation is doing! One day the people of Canada will learn that treaty right are treaty right's as long as the sun set's and the river's run! My Nation support's you and you support us in our fight against the Government of Canada and Alberta! Long Live first nation's! feel free to e-mail me with any question's or comment's, or just to make new friend's! Arvin P. White Cow Peigan Nation '2000.
Arvin P. White Cow <peigan_nation@canada.com>
Peigan Nation, Blackfoot Confederation, Treaty 7., AB Canada - Tuesday, September 19, 2000 at 22:12:19 (EDT)

Hi I am Studying this in school and i think the government should mind their own buisness because Come on The Natives are on frikin welfare your taking away their homes and the only way they can live. You got the government trying to but in. SO ALL I GOT TO SAY ISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NATIVES
Kevin Morrow
Canada - Tuesday, September 19, 2000 at 13:14:21 (EDT)

A lot of people are asking why native fishermen think they have the right to fish lobster out of season.
As Eco asks, "...why do you, as a nation, have a greater right to an industry that your neighbours have?"
Well Eco, doesn't every nation have the right to make its own rules? The government of Canada needs to re-think its puffed-up, colonial, power-grabbing, central authority mentality when negotiating in good faith with First Nations people.
Canada needs to begin a healing process process that includes real power-sharing with native communities.
We need to see the withdrawal of DFO and the concurrent creation of a native-run organization responsible for lobster quotas, fishing seasons, and issuing lobster tags and licenses. The feds could give them the money to do this that presently goes to DFO in those jurisdictions.

Why should Canada do this? Because as far as I know the Mik'maq never agreed to surrender their rights to the land and its resources. They never had a referendum to join Canada.
That's why they still are a separate nation. And that's why Canada needs to start respecting them as a separate nation.
Steve d'Apollonia <stevedap@accesscable.net>
Dartmouth, NS Canada - Tuesday, September 19, 2000 at 09:47:31 (EDT)

This is not a note of support or condemnation. I understand there exists a basic right of self government or independant government and I support that idea but is this idea not being decided on the back of a more fragile issue or industry - fishing and fish stocks? Tell me, what would you do or say if Ottawa simply responded by allowing all fishermen the same 'rights' as you demand - open season, or extended season to match your own. I would presume this would ruin the industry for all involved. You would win and we all would loose - and who would look tarnished at the end? I would love to have a response from you and I will be happy to spread a convincing argument, but please spare me the millitaristic posturing we see on the news as well argument of the right to feed your own good selves as from what I understand, this is industry - plain and simple. So please tell me - why do you, as a nation, have a greater right to an industry that your neighbours have? i.e. you can fish as you like but non native can not. Please excuse me if this is an old question for you but I never hear it posited on the news and it seems that so obvious a question should be discussed if only to gauge an idiological standpoint. Please resopnd if you have a chance as I would like to be put staight on this question.
eco <eco@globalserve.net>
toronto, on Canada - Tuesday, September 19, 2000 at 00:33:12 (EDT)

C_dedam: OH Please? I don't know my facts??? about native people working/getting welfare? PLease I am from Burnt-Church i've been living here for over 10years now so what you mean get my facts straight!! more like you better take up canadian history befor trying to talk like you do to your elders.. it's because of shallow minded people of the reservations like you that we elderly people are afraid to speak out against what is wrong for our community *gosh*
ohplease
miramichi, Canada - Monday, September 18, 2000 at 22:30:31 (EDT)

I am writing this letter in respond to one of the letters I read while reading these support letters. My reponse is to one letter that stated that the people from Burnt Church work and get welfare at the same time. Well, I am from Burnt Church, and WE don't get welfare plus a pay cheque, so wherever you get your information from, he or she are definately wrong. The situation in Burnt Church has nothing to do with getting what cheque you get, it's about preserving out inherit rights. We are fighting to keep our rights for our children, because when they get older they are going to need a livelihood. I support the men and women from my homeland in OUR fight for our rights. I am now attending University, and some people support our fight also. So, to all the men and women in Burnt Church, KEEP FIGHTING. And to that person who wrote about the pay cheque and Welfare Cheque, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU INFORM OTHERS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON!!!!!
shy <cdedam@hotmail.com>
Fredericton, NB Canada - Monday, September 18, 2000 at 09:06:18 (EDT)

It makes one wonder how a country, voted by the UN as the greatest country in the world to live ten times in a row, can treat their aboriginal community so shabbily. It wasn't so long ago that natives were being brutally abused in residential schools, was it not? There is a disproportionately high number of natives in prisons around the world, everywhere from Canada to Australia---a mistake? I think not. There are also a great many misconceptions about the aboriginal community--a grave concern that needs to be addressed sooner than later. It is sad to note that in years of horror inflicted upon our original peoples, the government has not learned anything. Despite their half-hearted apologies of mistakes in the past (in terms of the residential schools), they are saying one thing and doing another. This fact alone makes me ashamed to be Canadian. We pride ourselves on having a set of Human Rights that are just and fair, yet where do we use them? Do we really see them in practise? I didn't think so. Unless you happen to be of white origin, you are excluded from the same rights and privileges that other WASPS are granted. Canada is predicated on the notion of justice and equality for all. I scoff at the idea. It is obvious from the blatant disregard for our nation's indigenous people how ridiculous that notion is. Our natives are surrounded by disease, poverty, and despair. They are the unfortunate inhabitants of cruel circumstances beyond their control---they are caught in a Third World trap---a state that the Canadian Human Rights Commission has identified as a national tragedy for every year for the past decade. Today, there are over 380,000 inhabitants living in deplorable conditions including overcrowded homes and in grinding poverty. The situation in Burnt Church is about allowing them the chance to better their living conditions. They have a right to a livelihood. They have a right to a life complete with their inalienable right for justice, peace and equality...so how dare we stand by and watch these needs not be met? We need to speak out against the injustice they are receiving at the hands of our corrupt government officials! After all, the residents of Burnt Church and other communities are just struggling to survive, they haven't been given a chance to live! Thus, together, we must strive to make sure no further pain is inflicted on our original peoples. Only in that way can a new beginning be made for a very different future. That future must include creating a Canada free from discrimination, we as a country need to listen to their cries for dignity and respect and to pursue justice for our first settlers, our fellow man that deserve to be treated as equals. We must work to build a relationship, as the Manitoba leader Thomas Prince encouraged the government to do in 1947, that will bind Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people "so that they can trust each other andÖcan walk together side by side and face this world having faith and confidence in one another."
Cynthia Stone <cynthiaa@home.com>
Toronto, ON Canada - Sunday, September 17, 2000 at 15:56:48 (EDT)

What is happening out there right now (and what has been happening to Aboriginal people on Turtle Island since European contact) truly disgusts me. The arrogance that the Canadian government has to try and tell Aboriginal people how they should be conducting their traditional activities; it is quite ridiculous. These people have been trying to control the way in which things are done here for too long. We know what is best for our Mother, we were given those teachings. Here we have a people who have abused this land since they got here, trying to tell us how to take care of her. Continue doing what you know is right. I am so happy that you are not going to back down and let them dictate to you. It is good that we are starting to stand up for our rights and what we know to be true. Do not back down! Let things get serious if they need to be, you will not be alone. All nations of Aboriginal peoples need to stick together and support each other. We have all had similar relationships with the Canadian government and we have the ability to help each other. If we stick together we can accomplish anything that they send our way. Many people are willing to help if they are needed, they are just waiting and watching. Know that you are not alone. People are leaving messages about the capabilities of the government in terms of violence, but remember what you are fighting for in the big picture. It is worth fighting for and it is worth any consequences that could arise. Fighting for what we believe in is worth dying if it comes to that because if we do not fight for our rights to live how we need to (to survive as distinct nations), if we let them take that away from us, then we are not really living. Our spirits will die. Let's support each other in keeping our ways alive. I feel proud to see another Aboriginal nation showing their fighting spirit and not being pushed around. I wish that I could be there in body to help in whatever way I could, but I am there in spirit. Don't back down, stay strong! From an Anishinaabe sister,
Gdagaagoons Kwe <bineshiinh@sympatico.ca>
Alderville First Nation, ON Canada - Sunday, September 17, 2000 at 09:41:17 (EDT)

The situation between the Canadian government and the First Nations people at Burnt Church is very analagous to a situation of spousal abuse. The Canadian government is like an abusive spouse who claims to want a relationship of equality but in reality only wants the appearance of equality while insisting that any interaction must start with the assumption that they have absolute control and authority. All it does is set the stage for more abuse. What needs to happen between the Canadian government and the First Nations people is what also needs to happen in abusive marriages: the one who claims authority is responsible to set the example for reconciliation, first by examining their own past behaviour and apologizing for past abuse, then make restitution for the damage done, and then committing to change their behaviour in the future. Then the abused spouse feels safe enough to begin trusting, and not until then. The problems between Canada and the First Nations people need to begin with a formal apology from the government of Canada for their sins of the past against our First Nations people. They are the grandparents of this multicultural family called Canada, who deserve honour and recognition as the family heritage and respect for their knowledge. Instead they are treated like the family dog, kicked around and used as a scapegoat for people to whom the only meaningful thing in life is money.
Maxine Dickie <WindSpirit@ns.sympatico.ca>
Maitland, NS Canada - Friday, September 15, 2000 at 10:30:00 (EDT)

First of all I would like to say that all people should be treated equal. I feel no need that this should even be taking place. In my statement I would like to include two sides to this tale. First I will start with the residents of Burnt Church and all other native fishermen. As I said before everyone should be treated equal and should obide by the same rules as everyone else. It may be hard to have to change some of the tradition passed down to the natives of Burnt Church fisher's, but all of this could be settled in a matter of weeks. And what is happening as you continue to disobey, DFO and Government rules and regulations, will only make them need to use even more drastic measures that may result in death of a party member. Rules are obeyed by all other races such as Whites and Blacks and nothing has ever come from doing the right thing and we have all learned to live with these rules and to this day continue to live normal and worry free lives. What everyone needs to accomplish is a treaty with one another that will satisfy everyone by SITTING AT A TABLE not taking this to battles in the sea. As for the government violence is not the way, it never will be. As for the whites coming into Canada taking away land from the natives, this happened a long time ago and by now this should be over. Blacks had the hardest times with white people, slavery, and pure torture should be the ones complaining if anyone. Reasons for the DFO performing fishing laws is because THERE WON'T BE ANY FISH LEFT! In conclusion to this I hope that this letter is taken into consideration and I wish for the time that you will E-Mail me back for more updates on this issue. Sicerly Matt Ligon
Matt Ligon <mattligon@hotmail.com>
Halifax, N.S. Canada - Wednesday, September 13, 2000 at 22:54:29 (EDT)

I want to wish you greetings and to say i think most Canadians feel some shame , to see our Government in the name of the people unleash the Navy, RCMP, Dept of Fisheries and the RCMP Secret Service. on so few poorly equipted people. It seems the high court made a ruling that the Government has the power to overturn by law or by warfare. You are a poor band of natives and no match for such power. the PM's office who ordered the RCMP to peper spray students with less than sixty seconds warning, is more than capable of ordering the NAVY to wipe out your people with the same time table. Sounds like somthing that could only happen overseas, but I don't think a lot of Canadians would be too suprised. press on with what you believe.
jim thibeau <wsiddsll@ns.ca>
yarmouth, ns Canada - Wednesday, September 13, 2000 at 13:28:18 (EDT)

WE DONT WANT YA'LL TO GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS WE WANT YOU TO FISH SAME TIME AS NON NATIVE MAY/JUNE IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD...FISH LOBSTER IN MAY AND JUNE AND FISH SOMETHING ELSE IN THE OTHER MONTHS... LIKEOYSTERS/MAKCREL/ ETC...I MEAN C'MON NOW WHY 2 SEASONS FOR YOU ALL WHEN WE CAN ONLY HAVE ONE? WE ARE "ACADIAN/CANADIAN" YOU CLAIM "CANADA IS YOUR LAND" AND ONE OF YOU POSTED THAT YOU WERENT CANADIAN? WHAT THE HELL IS REALLY GOING ON?
CONCERNED <ran_nye@hotmail.com>
miramichi, Canada - Wednesday, September 13, 2000 at 09:04:36 (EDT)

I sent this letter to University of Calgary professor Tom Flanagan.

BIO: Tom Flanagan

As a researcher, I am probably best known for my books on Louis Riel and the Metis, including Louis 'David' Riel: 'Prophet of the New World' and Metis Lands in Manitoba. I still study aboriginal issues and am working on a book tentatively entitled First Nations, Second Thoughts?

In the early 1990s, I was director of research for the Reform Party of Canada. This experience led to my book Waiting for the Wave: The Reform Party and Preston Manning. I continue to do media commentary on topics involving the Reform Party.

Another of my interests is game theory and rational-choice analysis. My book, Game Theory and Canadian Politics is slated for publication in November 1998 by the University of Toronto Press.

I teach a variety of elective courses in political theory, including topics such as millenarianism, rational choice, biopolitics, and John Stuart Mill. Because I will be on sabbatical during the academic year 1998-99 and will be Seagram's Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies at McGill in fall 1999, I will not be offering courses at the University of Calgary until the winter term 2000.

Some graduate students of mine who have gone on to pursue academic careers are Martha Lee, now teaching at the University of Windsor; Kate Chiste (University of Lethbridge); and John Hiemstra (King's University, Edmonton).

-------

Dear Tom Flanagan,

I just heard your sanctimonious commentary on CBC radio regarding treaties, native land claims and the Marshal Supreme Court decision, in which you predict dire consequences if Canada doesn't nip this 'problem' in the bud.

Why can't you just be honest and call a spade a spade instead of trying to hide and rationalize the collective guilt of the settlement of North America and the subjecation of its indigenous peoples by our Europeans ancestors. Look, when the first settlers came to Canada they discovered indigenous tribes that had been living here for thousands of years. Treaties were needed before conquest could take its orderly course and settlement be achieved. Do you think for a second that the European settlers would have got back on their ships and gone back to Europe if the Indian tribes didn't sign those so-called treaties that you think are so sacred? Do you think the native tribes had any choice in the significant terms. It was simply take it or leave it. The settlers we're here to stay.

The honest fact to report is that when the Europeans arrived here in the 1500's they found a land populated by tribes of stone-age "savages". The natives were easily defeated by a technologically advanced culture and military --not to mention the diseases brought by the Euopeans to which the indiginous Noth Americans had no immunity.

Fast forward to the Canada we have today with its vast areas of almost unpopulated forests and tundra. Imagine another theoretical culture looking upon all this unused land with envy, and a desire to "settle" here with their own culture and their own people. Imagine this invading culture landing here having advanced weapon systems that could quickly overrun the existing population if they were non-compliant. Imagine them bent on occupying and settling this land no matter what. Isn't that how the Europeans behaved hen they arrived in North America? Is it all competition? Survival of the fittest?

Say it Mr. Flanagan: "The smarter thing for Canada to have done back when they had the chance would have been to exterminate all those pissed off native tribes whose lands were overran and taken from them." You don't hear anything about native land claims in Newfoundland do you?

People just want the simple truth - no matter how bitter it is. Then and only then can society have an intellectually honest discussion about what to do about it.
Steve d'Apollonia <stevedap@accesscable.net>
Canada - Wednesday, September 13, 2000 at 08:53:12 (EDT)

I presonal support actions of the natives at Burnt Church. We as natives and as a nation have been silent for too long on violations of our treaty rights. Our situation in Canada is compareable to the aparti in Africa and consentration camps in Germany (WWI, WWII). We are segregated onto reserves and striped of our rights, specificaly our teaty rights. I'm sure we are all tired of the government over-ruling our treaty rights, and we all need to stand up to them like the poeple of Burnt Church. But they are just one voice we all need to join together in a united voice, because it will louder and stronger.
F. Day Rider <dayfl01@raptor.lethbrigec.ab.ca>
lethbrige, ab Canada - Tuesday, September 12, 2000 at 21:31:31 (EDT)

We the people should have all the rights to hunt and fish.That hows the natives feed their families.I support the rights of the natives and may the spirit be with them at all times......
Mary <mary_augustine@hotmail.com>
Listuguj, PQ Canada - Tuesday, September 12, 2000 at 18:16:32 (EDT)

I don't know how many more times I have to say this but We are not I repeat NOT Canadian> We have our own nations our own Government. It is not illegal for us to fish or hunt when it is time for us to fish or hunt. This is the governments attempt to maintain the status que for all our people in how they deal with us.Hey heres an idea why don't non-natives fish the same time as we do well because you are affaid of standing up for yourselves thats why. To the Mikmaq people you are not alone over there we are support of your actions I pray you all well. plus some of our people that out there are going to be needed here in BC some time soon. Take care of the "Generals" men out there for the time being. They will know who I'm talking about
mother goose <the_only_ronin@hotmail.com>
penticton, BC Canada - Tuesday, September 12, 2000 at 18:07:15 (EDT)

If the D.F.O. rammed and sunk 2 Native owned fishing boats, what is stopping them from other things?? Because TThey are 'upholding the law' as they say. Herb Dhaliwal (who is not even an aboriginal) is quoted as saying that 'The D.F.O. are just out there doing there job and will continue to do so. Also that he will condemn anyone who brings the law into their own hands. Who is upholding the law for us? Certainly not Herb Dhaliwal, he is just a puppet for the government. We have no choice but to do what we have to do. If we don't stand up for ourselves and our rights as the people of this land who will? So hell yeah take this into our own hands, fight for our rights! We are not being greedy, like so many white people say we are, far from it, we are trying to preserve our heritage and save our Mother Earth for our children. Herb Dhaliwal is supposed to be on our side, looking after our best interests. All he really is doing is telling us to sell out. To give up what is ours. Well i say bullsh*t, don't listen to him, he's not even from our country and yet they give him a job looking after the best interests of our PEOPLE the true and original inhabitants of this land. I say Native people of Canada stand up for yourselves! Shake off the oppression of this white supremacist order! They try to keep us down and fighting amongst ourselves because they know that together, UNITED, we will take back what is rightfully ours as the original inhabitants of this land! When The Marshall decision was made Natives across Canada rejoiced, we were happy that for ONCE the Government was upholding its part of the bargain it made when we signed the treaties. In reality they say that they honor the treaty but, when we started excersing our rights as we should, we were told that it was too much that we should stop and that we should quit exhausting the resources! HAH that is the pot calling the kettle black! What have they been doing on this earth since they evolved? Exhausting the resources! Well excuse me while i laugh. The Native people were historically the most environmentally aware culture to ever roam this world, we took care of the Earth and never did we exhaust the resources, we respected and loved the earth. jsut a few thought, on a big subject and i did not even scratch the surface on how i feel yet.
Xhopakelxhit <ndnqueen69@yahoo.com>
everywhere, my land - Tuesday, September 12, 2000 at 16:45:23 (EDT)

The following is a letter that I sent to the Prime Minister. I have not yet received the courtesy of a response from him. However, I have forwarded it to several people who have signed it with their own name and sent it to the PM. Dear Prime Minister: I am very disappointed by your lack of involvement in the lobster fishing conflict. The Department of Fishery has ignored the Supreme Court ruling confirming the right of aboriginal peoples to manage their fishery and has thus perpetuated our country's shameful history of ignoring our own laws and treaties in matters pertaining to First Peoples. As a former minister of Indian Affairs, and a Prime Minister who has repeatedly stated his commitment to equitable settlement of Aboriginal claims, I would have expected you to take a proactive role in honouring the treaties that the Canadian government has forged. I hope that you don't imagine for a second that your silence has prevented the people of Canada from implicating you in the recent injustices at Burnt Church. As Prime Minister, we hold you completely responsible for the actions of your agents. Since you have failed to respond to your responsibilities to uphold treaties and the law, perhaps a political reality will motivate you to act: you will be forced to call an election within the next few months. With your record of such liberticidal acts as OPEC and significant funding cuts to the CBC, Canadians are forced to question whether you have any interest in social justice at all. You will understand if we explore other options for governance. I urge you to act and protect your already damaged reputation before it is too late. Yours truly, Rishi Trikha
Rishi Trikha <rishitrikha@hotmail.com>
Toronto, on Canada - Saturday, September 09, 2000 at 14:01:41 (EDT)

I am truthfully ashamed of all this... The first nation people *DO* have a right to fish..Why NOT (in the legal season) at the same time as the non native fishermen.. I was reading a news paper the other day I came accross something that said *NON NATIVE FISHERMEN OVER 1MILLION TRAPS NATIVE FISHERMEN ONLY WANT 5000) The problem is *NON NATIVE FISHERMEN" Pay their own boats,house,taxes,fishing licence etc Native people in "Burnt-Church" Don't pay for anything What they make is theires... Why is it that native people can WORK and GET WELFARE? I know for a FACT:That non native people cannot do that..so why are they complaning they have *Everything and still want more* (I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST NATIVE PEOPLE CULTURE IS WONDERFULL/BEAUTYFULL AND **MOST** OF THE PEOPLE OF BURNT CHURCH ARE GREAT.... *IT'S THE HANDFULL IN BURNT-CHURCH WHO ARE ROBBING THEIR COMMUNITY OF WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM!!!!
Very Concerned but *not racist* <ran_nye@hotmail.com>
Miramichi area, nb Canada - Saturday, September 09, 2000 at 10:08:31 (EDT)

While the Burnt Church fishermen are being presented to the media as lawbreakers which the government needs to deal with promptly, it should be known that the non-native fishermen have been breaking the law for years while the government looks the other way, which is why the situation is so unjust. Every year these fishermen on both sides of Miramichi Bay can confine their fishing to a dictated fishing season because the government ensures they receive large unemployment checks the rest of the year even though Employment Officials know full well they don't qualify in many cases because they aren't actively looking for work during this time which is a requirement of receiving employment insurance. It would be interesting to look into how many non-native fishermen are actively looking for work while they receive these large employment benefit checks year after year, and if not, it would be interesting to know whether or not Employment and Immigration officials are aware of this and looking the other way. In which case we should expect the government to treat the non-natives in the same way as the natives. The money being doled out for employment insurance is also a precious resource which is being exploited, namely taxpayers' money. Something to look into maybe?
Maxine Dickie <WindSpirit@ns.sympatico.ca>
Maitland, NS Canada - Wednesday, September 06, 2000 at 09:22:30 (EDT)

am remebering what happened to the people of aficville when city officials came with briefcases od dollar bills, and bulldozers. can see the similarity in the "deals" offered to other bands in atlantic canada. i didnt do any thing to help back then, i'd like to support you now. hang on in there, you are right, but it will take time. if i can help, tell me best regards to all don landry
don landry <don.landry@pei.sympatico.ca>
tignish, pei Canada - Tuesday, September 05, 2000 at 11:08:19 (EDT)

Sept 4/2000 I feel the ony way to solve this promblem is to take a day for everyone to come off the water and spend it in serious prayer and asking God to give direction.By faith the walls of Jerico came down in the bible.By faith God can remove the walls of discrimnation.It's time to put our trust in God as it is plain to see man has failed big time.
Shirley Kedy <jkeddy@homefreeweb.com>
middleton, n.s. Canada - Monday, September 04, 2000 at 18:45:35 (EDT)

Over fishing???? I think NOT. Take the time to look at things as a whole before you rush to judgement. We are all living on north american soil.... or should I be more specific... native north american soil ... snap out of it people ... honour your ancestors doings !
Terri Bartibogue <zoomzoomfx@yahoo.com>
Burnt Church, nb Canada - Monday, September 04, 2000 at 16:11:11 (EDT)

When Mike Harris wanted a dead indian at Camp Ipperwash, The cops were happy to do the deed. I hope you people will be very careful.
Peter Seville <peter10001@hotmail.com>
ont Canada - Monday, September 04, 2000 at 10:22:43 (EDT)

It is truly awful your band does not abide by the Canadian laws and cannot forsee that overfishing will deplete the fishing stock. Why should Canadians put up with your crap. You deserve what is happening.
Anonymous Canadian <lisalovely15@hotmail.com>
Canada - Sunday, September 03, 2000 at 21:45:36 (EDT)

People of the Dawn, Your vailient efforts to keep your rights as a nation and as a people are to be commended. We praise your determination and brave actions towards the Canadian Government and those who condomn your people to exercise your inherit rights to earn a modest living and to keep your nation as one and not to be assimulated into the "white" society. Be Strong.
Sadie <sadiedee@yahoo.com>
Pheonix, AZ USA - Sunday, September 03, 2000 at 20:25:13 (EDT)

So, I've been reading and keeping up with the situation in Burnt Church, New Brunswick .. and I gotta say that I'm glad you all have a web page .. so, here are my thoughts on the situation ..... you go NATIVES! .. Splendid job .. keep up the strength muh brothers n sisters!! well not really I'm non-native.. but I strongly support your efforts .. this is only the stepping stone for you!! BEST WISHES!! -- GILDA
Gilda
Prince George , BC Canada - Sunday, September 03, 2000 at 20:17:55 (EDT)

The views expressed on your "billboard" clearly show that the people around the country and the world are one sided, or, should I say, on your side.
S Munns <spmunns@hotmail.com>
toronto, on Canada - Sunday, September 03, 2000 at 09:06:23 (EDT)

As one of the few tribal leaders who stood up and challenged the US police down here, and Won, I wholeheartedly encourage the Burnt Church people to protect what is yours. If you listen to those who say "Don't do anything rash" those in power take this as a sign of weaknes, timidity and a lack of commitment on your part. If you truly believe you are sovereign, have a valid treaty, and you are acting in self-defense, go at it in the way of a warrior, like Tecumseh or Crazy Horse did long ago down here. I witnessed a fight like yours in the late 1970s on the Klamath River in Northern California when the FBI swat teams tried to destroy native's fishing nets. A boatload of native men took them on physically in protection of their treaty rights. So if you are truly sovereign, you must act like it. Words are cheap. It's action that will prevail. Mobilize your army and your navy, then let the DFO know that you mean business and are ready to defend yourselves. The Great Spirit is with you. Elmer Savilla, Quechan Indian Nation of California, now living in Virginia.
Elmer Savilla <ems@elmersavilla.com>
Burke, VA US - Saturday, September 02, 2000 at 15:47:40 (EDT)

I have been following the "crisis" taking place in and around your traditional territory. Aboriginal people all over Turtle Island are keeping an eye on the situation. You can bet that if things get worse there will be more people to stand beside you. That which is taking place around your waters could happen in any one of our communities. It's too bad Canada is using you as a scapegoat. I personally am glad that you are standing up for your rights. Don't let them take away what is inherently yours. My spirit stands beside you!!!!!
E. King <twobraidz@hotmail.com>
Chimnissing, Ont Canada - Friday, September 01, 2000 at 20:53:19 (EDT)

I am writing this letter today because I am disgusted with the actions of the Canadian so-called government. My heart goes out to and is with the people of Burnt Church. Twenty years ago, as a former resident of NB, I can remember sitting on the NB side of the Restigouche river and watching the Quebec Provincial Police commit the same types of crimes on the people of the Restigouche MicMac community. My friends and I sat and watched in horror as police and fisheries officers beat native people, chased them into the river with guns and rounded them up like animals. I couldn't believe in that day and age, something like that could happen but it did. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was not proud to be Canadian then and I am disgusted to be a Canadian now. I fully support the Burnt Church community in it's call for the resignation of Herb Dhaliwal. I also think they should be calling for the resignation of his boss Jean Chretien for allowing this to happen. Both these individuals are showing truly oppressive tendencies and they can say what they want but they are still committing oppression and must be stopped. I searched for the email addresses of both these individuals and I think eveybody who supports the Burnt Church people should write and let them know what you think. Due to the fact that they no longer listen to the people of this country, they may not even read your letters but plugging their server will show your support. The addresses are as follows: Herb Dhaliwal DhaliH@parl.gc.ca and Jean Chretien pm@pm.gc.ca I would like the people of Burnt Church to know that if I was still living in NB, I would be in your community doing whatever I could to help you in your fight for freedom. It looks like you're starting to gain ground so don't give up and don't do anything irrational. From hearing what people around me are saying, it looks like support is growing strong and fast. We are with you.
Allen Gilbert <albow@home.com>
Edmonton, ab Canada - Friday, September 01, 2000 at 15:42:09 (EDT)

Dear Brothers I was totally upset by what I saw on the news the other night, as to what the DFO did to your people.I have been studying what the Canadian Government has been doing to al the First Nations people of this country . Please stand up for your rights and be careful how you deal with the government as they are trying to get all of the First Nations people to sign away all their God given rights and become slaves of the Canadian Government. Can you not put your First Nation flag on all your lobster traps and on all your boats and then use admiralty law to defend your traps and boats as it is on ships when a ship pulls into port it puts up its flag to notify everyone that comes on board that the laws of the captain apply to everyone that comes to the ship also can your people not four corner their land with their First Nations flag as do all foreighn embessays in countrys so that their law applies in that embasy and for that reason if someone comes to that embasey they are protected from the laws of the country that the foreighn embasy is lokated in . If you would like more information on this subject I would be more than willing to share it with you people so contact me thank you and me spirit is with you in your struggle for fredom tony
Tony Pohorecki <anton@houseofsas.org>
Langley, BBCDeaBC Canada - Friday, September 01, 2000 at 01:54:54 (EDT)

Steve d'Apollonia <stevedap@accesscable.net>
Canada - Thursday, August 31, 2000 at 10:15:04 (EDT)

During the 1970's and 80's the Canadian government and DFO looked the other way while foreign fishing fleets cleaned out the cod stocks from the once highly productive Grand Banks.

If DFO had any courage back then to stand up to the real environmental threat by foreign over-fishing, as little Iceland did with the British, the east coast cod fishery would prpbably have never collapsed.

So know it looks like DFO wants to look relevant as the protector of the environment by picking on a small group of impoverished First Nations people. DFO thinks it has picked a weak target that will quickly cave to DFO goon squads.

I guess DFO figures if their thugs are not able to put down the "insurrection", the Canadian government will be ready to call in the big guns.
Steve d'Apollonia <stevedap@accesscable.net>
Canada - Thursday, August 31, 2000 at 09:52:05 (EDT)

All I have to say is that the actions of the DFO officers is un called for. They were risking the lives of the Indian fisherman. Trying to kill is not reasonable force to stop fishing. Before the white man came the indians could fish all they want. Now they have rules and regulations on the land that was taken from them unwillingly. The indians should be able to fish all of the fish they want, as a small bit of justice for the land that they were forced into giving up to the white man. The reserves are poor, the fishermen are just trying to put food on the tables for there family. And for the warriors, try and stay calm we dont need another oka, it makes our people look bad, and we will get no respect.
Tom <griper@sympatico.ca>
Toronto, Ontario Canada - Wednesday, August 30, 2000 at 23:21:46 (EDT)

To the people of the community of Burnt Church. It is with very much saddness and horror what the Government is doing to your community. My wife, Maxine watch in total astonishment at the dictatorial disregard of human life that was carried out by the DOF, against the people of Burnt Church. This is totally unacceptable to anyone in Canada. It is not acceptable to us and you have our total support. We are not of first nation descent but these brutal tactics should strike fear of the extremes this government will go to trample on our Rights and Freedoms, ie., APEC. I hope you will consider in your discussions, that all the members of the Brunt Church community file an application of the violations under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that have been committed against you, file one individually, as a community, as against First Nations people. Even under 'cruel and unusal punishment' as well as many areas of the Charter can be shown to have been trampled on. As a Canadian citizen I am appalled that our country could stoop so low. Douglas E Hudson
Douglas E Hudson <hudart@nbnet.nb.ca>
Saint John, NB Canada - Wednesday, August 30, 2000 at 17:04:27 (EDT)

I am writing to express my extreme anger and frustration with the way the Federal Government is handling this crisis. Over the last few weeks I have watched with growing concern how the DFO officers have increased their use of violent 'stormtrooper' tactics in the name of a few large crustaceans. Last night I watched in horror as a DFO vessel deliberately rammed and sank a native fishing boat, nearly killing the occupants. As a taxpaying citizen of this country, I must protest this profound disregard for human life, indeed attempted murder. Why couldn't the boat simply pull up at slow speed, read rights, and arrest? I was once proud to be a citizen of this country. Now I feel myself trapped in a police state sinking into Nazi barbarism. I may as well go live in the states. They at least have lower taxes and higher pay. Gavin Joth, Computer Consulting Professional.
Gavin Joth <ul550@freenet.victoria.bc.ca>
Victoria, BC Canada - Wednesday, August 30, 2000 at 16:01:25 (EDT)

Hi, I want to post a copy of a letter I wrote to various newspapers including the Globe and Mail. Here it is: During a recent trip to my hometown of Miramichi New Brunswick I decided to visit the Burnt Church reserve to witness first-hand their struggle with DFO. Any other year I would have opted for Escuminac, a fishing village on the opposite side of the bay, to enjoy their fine beach and discuss with relatives the obscene opulence of a mansion overlooking the beach, home to the owner of the local lobster processing plant. The entire area is obviously well-off financially with beautiful homes, prominent wharves and and impressive fishing fleet, maintained in part by hefty employment insurance checks during the off-season. By contrast the most impressive thing about Burnt Church is its view of Miramichi Bay. Driving through the reserve on August 21 I saw one small wharf, very modest housing and a prominent sign reading "drive slowly, we love our children". I also saw the remnants of what had been blockade on the highway but what spoke to me the loudest was the native woman who stopped to help when I parked my car near the reserve and lost my keys. Despite the illusion that the native fishermen are the perpetrators in this dispute, by visiting both sides of Miramichi Bay one can clearly see who's a threat to whom. It's obvious the non-native fishermen enjoy the lion's share of the industry and the Burnt Church fishery is about as threatening to them as a mouse to a cat. How much lobster would have to be caught to maintain the Escuminac mansion alone, compared with that needed for the 'moderate livelihood' currently being denie the native fishermen as they struggle to get by? How much pressure on DFO to crack down on Burnt Church is coming from across the bay? The truth is that Burnt Church is being used as a scapegoat and the real issue is not fishing rights but racial intolerance in people who are misusing the media to camouflage their own arrogance, greed and hatred. If the non-native fishermen aren't satisfied with their fishery their problem is not with Burnt Church but those people who make so much profit from the industry they can live like royalty in a castle. While the children of Burnt Church bear the brunt of this injustice, their parents have no choice but to fight against overwhelming odds on their behalf, and everything to lose if they don't. They desperately need compassion and support, not our indifference. Maxine Dickie, Maitland Nova Scotia
Maxine Dickie <WindSpirit@ns.sympatico.ca>
Maitland, NS Canada - Wednesday, August 30, 2000 at 12:40:50 (EDT)

Hello, I am really happy to see there is a website up explaining what's happening in that community. While a lot of people may take another, more conservative approach and say that perhaps the natives should give in to demands in order to negotiate, I myself think that it should not be necessary. The Supreme Court decision almost a year ago, does not state that the fisheries ministry has the explicit right to dictate how the new fishing rights are to be determined. I think it is not uncommon for this type of confrontation to happen, even in this day and age. Sadly, I think if things do not get resolved one way or the other, someone is going to get killed. Even more sadly, if the victim is native, nothing will be done. We are living in a dangerous time, things happen and things are said about natives that make me not want to be a part of this country any longer. However, it is my resolve that no matter what it takes or how long, our inherent rights will be recognized, if not in my generation perhaps in my childrens. Thanks very much.
Gish Moore <gishgokwe@home.com>
Nepean, ON Canada - Wednesday, August 30, 2000 at 11:01:02 (EDT)

I wrote this letter to the DFO minister today, but couldn't find anywhere to "cc" it to except my own MP, who is Libby Davies. So here is the letter -- I just want people back there to know that not all white people support what Ottawa is doing. Thanks, Colleen Fuller Here's the letter Dear Minister, Ü I am writing to demand that the Government of Canada's response to the native fishers in Burnt Church change from the current overkill to something more civil. I also want to say that the tactics being used to stop these people from exercising what in their view is a right doesn't represent me, and I reject that this is being done in my name. Ü It seems to me that the federal government has completely changed how it resonds to people who are protesting against what that same government is doing. When the young people were protesting against Canada's open armed welcome of brutal dictators like Suharto at APEC, the RCMP were ordered by the Prime Minister's office to use unnecessary force against them. This now seems to be the policy of Canada -- to use pepper spray and batons against people expressing their views or fighting for their rights Ü It's not as if the MikMaq people are doing some outrageous act. It looks to me that they are fishing in part to demonstrate that they have this right. How can your government respond to them as if they were just mindless thugs? On the CBC tonight there was a represent from Ottawa describing how much the government wants to "work with" the MikMaq. But actions speak louder than words, and from the West Coast it looks like you want to beat them all up. Ü It's outrageous, and I really feel strongly that Ottawa has to stop responding in this manner to Canadians and to First Nations people. Ü Colleen Fuller 2576 Pandora Street Vancouver, BC V5K 1V8Ü
Colleen Fuller` <cfuller@telus.net>
Vancouver, BC Canada - Tuesday, August 29, 2000 at 22:04:53 (EDT)

It's obvious that DFO is on the side of non-native fishermen in this dispute and are even willing to put Mi'kmaq lives at risk to win the fight. Judging from their recent strong-arm tactics during which a couple of native boats were sunk, I think DFO is getting desperate and are afraid of triggering another Oka. That would be a huge public relations disaster for DFO. I hope the following letter I wrote to a Halifax newspaper sways a few hearts and mind: PS. That Dahwliwal jerk deserves a pie in the face! Letter to editor: The Daily News, Aug 29 DFO's goal is Control To the editor: Re: Government's Fishery Line Hooks Media in the Aug. 27 Daily News. DFO wants everyone to believe that the lobster dispute with the Mi'kmaq Burnt Church band is all about conservation - and who knows more about conservation than DFO? In fact, what this really seems to be about is control over who is allowed to make a reasonable living from the lobster fishery in Miramichi Bay. Anyone who has any doubts about the answer to this should be reminded that non-native fisherman can legally set 216,000 lobster traps in Miramichi Bay with DFO's permission, versus the 6,000 traps the Mi'kmaq have been trying to set without DFO's permission. What the Mi'kmaq of Burnt Church seem to be trying to do is alter just a little bit the status quo of government-sponsored welfare and their 90-per-cent unemployment rate. Steve d'Apollonia Dartmouth
Steve d'Apollonia <stevedap@accesscable.net>
Dartmouth, NS Canada - Tuesday, August 29, 2000 at 19:16:34 (EDT)

Beautiful work that the web master has been done now I want to find out how it work so will do what ever to do to find out : By the way i just came back from Burnt Church Yes visit our brother up at the front line what is in the news surely dont project the real issue of the matter and slowly will take time to bring some light on the issue I am certain that there is some intellectual and wise and inform people in there who will bring there comment with out being worry to be cast out the reserve or beat up what ever is the shortest way to have unanimous vote of confidence you know what I mean so stay the will check the system and will be back with some more .bye for now ,I will like the mail to be able to read as a letter head??
gprince <gmanager@simplcom.ca>
Dorval, Canada - Monday, August 21, 2000 at 17:21:30 (EDT)

Maritime Fishermen's Union Presentation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Fisheries & Oceans Moncton, New Brunswick November 25, 1999 Introduction First, let me express my thanks to the Fisheries Committee for the opportunity to go on the record regarding the historic Marshall decision and its implications for our members, their families and their communities. I also wish to commend the Committee for recognizing the importance of coming to Atlantic Canada to meet with fishermen, their organizations and Native communities to discuss the Supreme Court's decision. The Maritime Fishermen's Union represents approximately 2,000 Bonafide type fishing operations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Scotia Fundy regions.

Our fishermen have vessels less than 45 feet in length and most of them hold class A lobster licenses. Our membership in the lobster zones of Eastern New Brunswick (LFA 23 and 25) is particularly strong because the Maritime Fishermen's Union has been duly recognized under the New Brunswick Inshore Fisheries Representation Act as the representative of 1350 bonafide fishermen in Eastern N.B. and fishermen pay mandatory dues. Despite our high identification with the Acadians of New Brunswick, the Maritime Fishermen's Union also has three active Locals in Nova Scotia and individual members in Prince Edward Island. We have longstanding Locals in the Sydney Bight area of Cape Breton (LFA 27), the Bay of Fundy waters of Southwest Nova Scotia (part of LFA 34 and 35), and along the North shore of the Province(Pictou/Antigonish). There has been no comparable fishermen's organization act in Nova Scotia by which we can seek certification and mandatory dues. In total there are six thousand fishermen on the boats we represent. While lobster is the principal species for our members, we rely on several other species to make a fishing year. An organization like the MFU never has enough resources to capture in a professional document all of the experience and knowledge of our members with respect to the fishery but we need to stress right at the start a few important features of our experience in lobster in particular : First, there exists a broad basic consensus among Canadian lobster fishermen that should not be overshadowed by inevitable differences and conflict.

The consensus is not always explicit but it derives, we believe, from the professionalization of the fishery over the past 20 years and a general egalitarianism in the lobster fishing areas. While there are some exceptional areas and circumstances, fishermen tend to have similar opportunities and results within lobster fishing areas of the Maritime Provinces. For the most part, the regulatory regime in the lobster fishery is widely supported by fishermen; this is both a result and a cause of the egalitarianism and is what we mean by consensus. Maritime Fishermen's Union and Native Bands We want to make special note that the MFU has Locals of the Union in every fishing area of the Maritimes where you find significant populations of coastal M'ikmaq Bands : The Bay of Chaleurs : you find two Bands on the Quebec Gaspe Coast and two on New Brunswick.

The total populations of these bands is approximately 2,269 (Eel River - 534, Papineau - 205, Gaspe - 467, Gesgapegiag - 1063). The Miramichi Bay : the immediately adjacent Band is Burnt Church whose registered Indian population is close to 1304. Richibuctou estuary /Northumberland Strait off Richibouctou : is based New Brunswick's largest reserve, Big Cove, with a registered Indian population of approximately 2348 as well as Indian Island 145 and Buctouche Reserve 88. In Nova Scotia, still in Northumberland Strait , Pictou/Antigonish : our Local 4 has operated since 1978 and there are two Bands, Pictou Landing and Afton, with a registered Indian population respectively of 493 and 455. The Sydney Bight in Cape Breton : is home to our Local 6. None of the Bands, save Membertou (pop. 922), are actually adjacent to the Bight but along the inland waters of the Bras D'Or lakes you find Eskasoni, the largest Band with an estimated 3300 registered Indians, Whycocomagh, Chapel Island and Wagmatcook with respective registered Indian population of 698, 513, & 598.

These bands are not coastal in the sense of our oceans fisheries but have access to the Bight through Big Bras D'Or Channel. Saint Mary's Bay / Bay of Fundy is the fishery area for our Local 9 members in Meteghan / Digby Neck : Adjacent to the area are found the Acadia and Bear River Bands with respective registered Indian populations of approximately 890 & 255. We should note that the second and third largest Bands in Nova Scotia are Shubenacadie (Indian Brook) and Truro, both of these are inland. Malpeque Bay : is one exception where we have no presently operating Local. The Lennox Island reserve is home to approximately 677 registered Indians . Context Prior to Marshall It is natural then that our members would have a long history of association with M'ikmaq peoples. Equally, it was not surprising that the MFU would have been front and center of the controversies since the Marshall decision of September 17. Despite our history of relations with the M'ikmaq, we found it more than a a little curious that the public relations firm that was apparently acting on behalf of the Atlantic Chiefs, William Alexander & Associates Ltd. never has made an effort to meet with the MFU Maritime Executive, although it did include MFU Locals in Nova Scotia in their meetings with a whole host of fisheries organizations in Nova Scotia. Although there are not many M'ikmaq commercial fishermen, there have nonetheless been individuals who have been members of the MFU.

However, it was the Sparrow decision in 1990 that brought us into more formal contact with the Bands. It is safe to say that we had given very little attention to Sparrow until the BC Fishermen's Survival Coalition began making contacts in the Maritimes, especially with a populist group in Yarmouth and Antigonish calling themselves the Inshore Fishermen's Bonafide Fund. You may recall that the fishing population of Southwest Nova Scotia had been going through a series of upheavals, especially since 1989 when the system of Individual Transferable Quotas was introduced to the specialist mobile groundfish sector.

Without getting into the period and its sociology, we can say that in Shelburne and Yarmouth counties there was great disaffection with the Fisheries Management Regimes and the West Coast Survival Coalition fed anxieties, that inshore fishermen had, that they were being eliminated from the fishery. In actual fact there is very little native population in that region and reactions to the fallout from Sparrow seemed to be way out of proportion to any factual threat to inshore fishermen, save for one essential point : the unwillingness or inability of the DFO in the region to bring definition to the Sparrow decision, to accommodate the right to fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes within a fishing plan that was measurable and enforceable. To our knowledge, there was no effective steps taken in the area around this food fishing right to abate the fears of the unknown and undefined that developed. The MFU throughout this period of the early 1990s made every effort to keep the food fishery in perspective and to avoid inflaming fishermen's fears. Nevertheless, we were running into some real problems in the Burnt Church and Big Cove areas in particular, where fishing for food was developing into a significant out of season Native commercial fishery.

In one instance, we had Ottawa people from the MaryAntonette Flumien Shop come to New Brunswick with little or no consultation with DFO in Moncton making a deal with Burnt Church Reserve which by DFO's own admission led to some 750,000 lbs of lobster being fished in one out of season period, all under the rubric of a food fishery. For seven straight years now we have had an exhausting yearly struggle with DFO officials to bring this food fishery under some reasonable and identifiable controls and limits. Our fishing families have witnessed Native individuals patrolling a public beach armed with rifles. There have been reports of armed warriors from Montreal in other areas.

We had three very tense summers in a row off of Big Cove in the Richibuctou area where Native persons fished during the closed July season. There have been some isolated but very tense individual situations in the Bay of Chaleur. The fact is there has been a disguised out of season commercial lobster fishery by Natives in Eastern New Brunswick for the past seven years and it has had a direct and real impact on our commercial fishermen, who among other things have been displaced on the inside grounds. Especially in the early years, enforcement was sporadic and often non-existent; not only were significant numbers of lobster being caught, they sometimes included undersized and berried females. We believe the total impact on our lobster fishery if you take into account all of the different forms of out of season lobster fishing would amount to as much as 10% of our commercial landings in Eastern New Brunswick. This impact has never been acknowledged in a formal way, but you can appreciate that our members might be just a little out of sorts to have had to absorb this kind of impact while the Fisheries Managers actually proceeded to implement a five year deal with a handful of snow crab license holders that excluded sharing of snow crab allocations (a resource that is in our inshore waters), unless the license holders landed $500,000 worth of snow crab per license, per year. This same co-management deal also excluded aboriginals by using this same $500,000 threshold formula. But we would be remiss not to acknowledge efforts of DFO Managers in Moncton to bring some kind of rational order to the food fishery.

They agreed with us that the best way to contain the food fishery was to bring the Native peoples into the commercial fishery. This was done to some extent by the negotiation of communal fishing licenses from Band to Band. Part of the approach was to buy up licenses from retiring commercial fishermen and to allocate them to the Bands in exchange for agreement on the reduction of the food fishery. In Burnt Church, for example, we had finally reached a point in 1999 where the food fishery had been limited to 125,000 lbs, fished by 585 traps, and was generally enforced. Ironically, this particular food fishery had wrapped up only days before the Marshall decision. No fisherman is happy with any lobster food fishery that is done outside the normal season and we'll come back to this. Still, we acknowledge that after seven years the food fishery was finally getting definition, limits, and enforcement. All fishermen, whether in Yarmouth or Neguac, have been enormously frustrated by the way Sparrow was handled. Sparrow gave the right to fish for food as an inherent right that had priority over commercial fishermen but was second to conservation. But, DFO and its lawyers could never bring themselves to see closed seasons on lobster as a conservation measure.

This has been and continues to be a source of great consternation to our members. We have found that there is no abstract or even legal solution to the issues. Our fishermen cannot, and rightly so, tolerate a situation where all of a sudden a food fishery right becomes a kind of black hole where no regulation is imposed on Native lobster fishing and where in some instances the Native rights are used as a screen for elaborate white dominated poaching rings. We have sought limits and definitions and enforcement of the food fishery combined with improved entry opportunities for Native peoples into the Commercial fishery. This appears to have worked well for the Pictou Landing area where there was already a tradition of M'ikmaq fishermen fishing in the Commercial lobster fishery. We were also very optimistic that we were working out practical solutions with the Big Cove, Indian Island reserves on the Richibutou, and Burnt Church on the Miramichi. In 1994, some Native people from Big Cove began fishing for lobsters in June (the commercial season begins in August).

Our fishermen were extremely angered, especially since the reserve had benefitted from the purchase with Government funds of six commercial licenses to be fished under commercial rules. DFO moved to stop the Native fishing even for food and ceremonial purposes by closing the fishery in July for conservation reasons. Big Cove fishermen continued fishing, arguing that there was no conservation reason for closing, including by reason of it being molting season. They maintained that molting in LFA 25 also takes place in August when the commercial fishery is prosecuted. We believe this question of conservation was one of the reasons Minister Tobin referred lobster to the FRCC. In any case, even though progress was made, make no mistake, we believe very strongly that the food fishery should not be fished in July or any other time out of season. Most of our fishermen were open to a limited idea of a food fishery but when it became integrated with assertion of the right to sell commercially and when it was prosecuted by some natives for private gain and by white and native poachers for profit, and when the Government found no mechanisms of enforcement, our fishermen lost a lot of their initial openness.

Lobster Fishery Understanding the lobster fishery is central to understanding the events following the Marshall decision and is essential to any long term fishing agreement. We are not confident that senior DFO officials in Ottawa even understand the lobster fishery. Lobster management has evolved over a long period of time mainly by trial and error and interaction between DFO as the regulator and enforcer and the commercial fishermen. Since the 1970s poaching has been dramatically reduced. Bringing it under control caused much stress and hardship in communities and even divided families. But, what we have done over 25 years is build up a lobster management regime that is widely supported by the fishermen license holders. There are a whole body of restrictions that amount to a lobster management plan; they include zoning - 41 different lobster zones , restricted seasons, trap limits, a freeze on the number of licenses, trap specifications including escape mechanisms, minimum legal size, prohibition on retention of berried females and so on. In effect, DFO has built up a kind of social contract with lobster fishermen that has clearly been sustainable; landings have remained higher than the average for the 20th century for at least the past 15 years.

The resource itself is widely distributed in the inshore waters of the Maritimes and is very localized tending to stay within a 25 km range of its habitat. Just as a contrast, the herring, mackerel, cod, tuna are only in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence part of the year. Lobster stays at home all year. The wide dispersion of lobster is reflected in the large number of inshore fishing communities that characterize the Maritime Provinces. There are 8,000 lobster operations and 25,000 fishermen who depend on it. No scientist is able to tell us precisely how much of the adult lobster is taken every year but all the estimates are over 70%. It is clearly a fully utilized species. Yet, we recently had a DFO official in Ottawa tell us that because lobster is not on quota it somehow becomes more difficult to restrain out of season lobster fishing by Natives. This is the kind of conservation obscurity that DFO has been in since Sparrow. When Mr. Tobin was Minister of Fisheries in 1984, he asked the FRCC to provide him with a definition of conservation. The best FRCC could do was state : All removals from a resource are important and must be properly monitored and controlled. Consequently, the Council believes that all fisheries should take place within the same conservation framework. (FRCC 1995) Still, DFO cannot bring itself to conclude that seasons are conservation measures even though lobstermen everywhere in Canada see them as integral to sustainability. In the real world, however, fishing out of season is a fundamental threat to conservation because every fishermen will demand equal treatment to fish at anytime in the year.

We believe that the elimination of seasons would eventually break down the whole Canadian lobster management system and we would be left with the U.S. model that will probably preserve the species - but not conserve it at the level that the Canadian system has been able to under similar ecological conditions. Marshall Decision The decision of the Supreme Court of November 17 denying the application of the West Nova Fishermen's Coalition for a rehearing and stay was no surprise. What is a little surprising is the reaction of some of the media and apparently Native leaders suggesting that somehow the Supreme Court had altered its decision of September 17. Whatever the MFU thinks about the basis of the September decision (even the Judges were divided on that) we always read it as a recognition of a Treaty Right of M'ikmaq to fish and trade, but a right that was subject to limits and that could be regulated.

We had a difficult time finding anything substantively new with respect to fish in the November clarification that was not already in the September decision. In other words, we always believed the Government of Canada had the powers to limit and indeed infringe upon a right, subject to the Badger test. Furthermore, the Judges made it explicit in September that the treaty right could be accommodated within a regulatory system and catch limits could reasonably be imposed. We have really only had one quarrel with the Supreme Court; we believe they should have provided for an implementation period even if the Crown had not explicitly requested one. We have been put through a great deal of grief since September 17 and in our judgement it was not necessary. In fact, the clarifications of November 17 only serve to underscore what our legal advisor was counseling from the outset : the Government has the powers to accommodate the Treaty Rights in an orderly fashion and we are holding them responsible for the resulting deterioration of the situation in the Miramichi Bay.

The Ottawa senior officials looked like Medieval Scholastics trying to determine how many angels were on the head of a pin' while the situation in the Miramichi was building towards explosion. Whoever was calling the shots' in Ottawa was either woefully ignorant of the nature of the lobster fishery and the history of Sparrow or was cynically Machiavellian and was willing to use a Native/commercial fishermen confrontation as a small price to pay for some larger political objective. We are left with communities that are torn apart, where tension remains high, where commercial fishermen's attitudes have hardened, where Native people feel aggressed, and where no one looks good. We should equally recognize the high pressure position that many Band leaders have been in as a result of native peoples' desire to exercise their rights.

The fact is that the Burnt Church Band along with many other Bands had no trouble interpreting the Supreme Court decision as an endorsement of a right to fish when, where and how they wished, subject to conservation. Traps were already going in the water on September 18. A week later there were as many as 6,000 traps in the Miramichi Bay (Mr. Alex Dedham of the Burnt Church Reserve uses the number 5,000). This is the equivalent of 20 full scale commercial operations and represents 10% of the number of operations during the legal season. But fishermen have always said that fishing in the closed season at the mouth of the Miramichi is 10 times more effective than during the commercial season not only because there are less fishermen but also because the lobster at this time of year is in a feeding frenzy' having gone through its molting period and preparing for the long winter hibernation. Longtime, experienced lobster fishermen in the area tell us that where a trap might successfully average a pound a day in the legal season, the same traps were catching as high as 10 and 20 lbs a day in late September. We must remember that two weeks prior to the Marshall decision, the Burnt Church Reserve had just finished three weeks of a food fishery with 585 traps catching a total of 125,000 lbs. Everything leads us to believe that the 5,000 to 6,000 traps fishing in the Bay since the Marshall decision had similar catch rates as in the food fishery. This means that another 600,000 to 800,000 lbs were caught in that area of the closed zone 23 since September 17. Therefore, since the end of the commercial season, there has been between 700,000 and 900,000 lbs of lobster taken out of the water (including the food fishery).

The direct impact on next year's catch is not difficult to estimate since almost no growth is anticipated during the winter period. Using the same calculation, the impact on fishermen in that area would be between 3,500 and 4,500 lbs in lost catch. This represents an important share of the catch for any fishermen on the East coast of New Brunswick. The Miramichi area has 193 licensed commercial lobster fishermen using 325 traps. The fishermen are based in the communities of Baie-Ste-Anne, Pointe-Sapin, Neguac and Tabusintac. Their fishery opens May 1 and is finished by June 30. They have every reason to believe that the adult lobster in the Miramichi in October is exactly the same adults that will be there in May, save for a few who die from predation and other natural factors. So, if 700,000 lobsters are landed by the Natives, it is 700,000 not available in May. We should note that our figures are at odds with those of DFO but after a meeting in Baie-Ste-Anne where fishermen strongly opposed the DFO estimate they have begun a review. If our figures approximate the catch then they represent a potential loss of income per license holder of $20,000. One is asking a lot, indeed, to have those fishermen stand idly by as their next year's catch is being taken in front of their eyes. The Supreme Court is a distant institution; Donald Marshall was unknown to our fishermen, and seven years of Sparrow were in their system. The DFO apparatus was largely invisible and in paralysis during the build up period. In fact, the Regional DFO's hands had been tied. There was some monitoring by two small crafts at sea but no monitoring at the wharf. In the meantime, around September 22 our fishermen were reporting that Native vessels from Big Cove and Indian Island had moved their gear into the Miramichi. These 10 native vessels had been fishing in Northumberland Strait where the Lobster Area 25 was open to commercial fishing and where the Natives had been allocated commercial licenses in return for the restrictions on the food fishery. The season in Area 25 was winding down ; catches in the Big Cove / Richibuctou area had been reasonable and the Native fishermen authorized to fish can reasonably be assumed to have earned a moderate livelihood. Nevertheless, they moved into the Miramichi where catch rates were 10 times better ; they moved in with impunity. In fairness to Burnt Church people, we should note that their vessels who had commercial licenses were not operating in this closed season fishery. It was the effort coming from Big Cove / Indian Island that created the fatal mix. Fishermen saw no movement from the Minister, from the Senior Officials, or from the Local politicians ; they felt abandoned to their own defense or lose their next year's fishery. To this day, most fishermen who proceeded to disable three to four thousand traps in the Miramichi area will say they did the Government's job. From the point of view of the MFU we will not shoulder responsibility for the Sunday morning actions. Fishermen were driven to it and Government had all kinds of advance warning of this inevitable outcome.

To this point, we have largely dealt on the past and we should come to future considerations. But first, one comment on the politics of the fishery. The fishing community of Southwest Nova Scotia has been very public and variously militant throughout the 1990s; it is an area with the highest concentration of fishermen and a wonderfully blessed natural marine resource from offshore scallop to fast growing haddock to the largest and most productive lobster fishery. The area carries a lot of weight in the fishery of the Maritimes and particularly in Halifax. Their issues are often generalized to apply to the whole region but they are normally different for reasons of ecology and sociology, and proximity to the U.S. live market trade. Their public manifestations can usually be characterized as populist where many discontents are usually merged into the one most visible issue. The fishermen do not adhere to one organization, although a majority supported the MFU in the middle of the 1980s. Our present MFU local is based north of Yarmouth in St. Mary's Bay. They collaborate closely with the Bay of Fundy Fishermen's Association. Throughout the events following Marshall we remained in touch with our members there. Actually, their largest concern was the food fishery that was being prosecuted by off-reserve Native groups, and their situation actually improved after Marshall because the beneficiaries of Marshall were defined as status M'ikmaq / Maliseet and Passamaquody First Nation.

Those still food fishing were quickly cleared out by DFO. The approach of our members in that area was to commence discussions with Native leaders and to indicate their rights would be accommodated. Our leadership in the area did not encourage the spontaneous protest in Yarmouth and felt they could resolve the small amount of out of season fishing in a fair manner. The five hundred vessels in Yarmouth harbour seemed a little out of proportion to the immediate threat but it is consistent with expression of a strong fisheries populism that has prevailed throughout the 1990s in the area. The populism is fueled by a sense that Government is out to eliminate fishermen, and a strong sense of alienation and disenfranchisement, even though many fishermen continue to enjoy levels of gross income much higher than the Maritime average. The populist approach is unpredictable because of its spontaneity and tendency to mix issues ; in contrast our MFU Local members and the Bay of Fundy Fishermen's Association have experience working in a structured organization and with good local leadership. We cannot get into the subtle ways the populist train has affected our MFU work on the Marshall decision but you may recall that a large gathering in Yarmouth issued ultimatums of trap cutting prior to any such action was contemplated in the Miramichi. The M'ikmaq themselves tended to focus on Nova Scotia where there was actually very little out of season fishing ; there was less attention on New Brunswick where Native leadership support was desperately needed. Also, in Nova Scotia buyer / processor interests quickly merge into the populist movement and the issues get defined in a different way.

We had the curious specter of the newly appointed Federal Negotiator rushing down to Southwest Nova Scotia in the heat of the protest as if he had been hired as a fisheries trouble shooter rather than a Federal Representative to work out an agreement to accommodate the new Treaty Rights. We had the Halifax based DFO Communications Officer attempting to downplay the Native fishing by saying it represented less than 1% of the lobster fishery ; this response may have had some aspect of truth in Southwest Nova but none in the Miramichi. At times, we had the Minister himself telling us things that had no applicability in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. There were many honest concerns and fears in the Yarmouth area especially since there was no reassurances coming from Ottawa as to how Marshall was going to be accommodated, and so our interest is not to blame fishermen who over-reacted but only to highlight how populist reaction can take away from a real situation that needed attention. In any case, we have carefully considered the Alliance group that has formed in part of Nova Scotia and have decided along with our Nova Scotia locals to take a different approach to working towards acceptable solutions to the accommodation of Marshall. Accommodation of Marshall To date we have had only one preliminary meeting with the Chief Federal Representative, James McKenzie, and Assistant Gilles Theriault. We are satisfied with the initial process that they have outlined and have confidence in their competencies. However, it would be naive of anyone to believe there will be easy outcomes given the complexities and inherent problems in the fishery itself let alone the high expectations among Native peoples with respect to their newly won Treaty Rights. Nevertheless, it is essential that the Government achieve an interim fisheries agreement for the year 2000 that allows for the orderly exercise of the Treaty Right within the context of a regulated commercial fishery. The Supreme Court has made it amply clear in its two decisions of September 17 and November 17 that the Treaty Rights are communal in nature even if exercised by individuals.

This is clearly the approach DFO is taking and, to our knowledge, had been taking in accommodating the food fishery right. The Court is also clear that they have not written a blank cheque, that it is a right to fish for a moderate livelihood, that the acquittal cannot be generalized to a declaration that licensing restrictions or closed seasons can never be imposed as part of the government's regulation of the M'ikmaq limited commercial right to fish. They have also spelled out what is meant in Badger that the regulatory authority extends to other compelling and substantial public objectives like recognition of the historical reliance upon, and participation in, the fishery by non-aboriginal groups. So, the interpretive framework is there to allow for the development of interim and longer term fisheries agreements that accommodate the Treaty Rights. We know the Crown has a fiduciary responsibility to First Nation peoples but we also must stress that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has clear obligations towards our inshore fishermen. Fishermen have every right to view their own relations with DFO through the licensing regime and the management plans as a collective agreement, an unstated covenant. The Outline of a Plan : A Society Responsibility The first principle guiding any accommodation of the Native Treaty Right should be that Canadian society as a whole should bear the cost of the accommodation not the fishery alone. Inevitably, this can only be done through a substantial financial allocation that provides for : an extensive voluntary buy-back or buy-out program, compensation to Native Bands where exercise of rights have been delayed, economic development funds for the Bands, appropriate capacity building both in terms of fishing and co-management.

The Bonafide approach The inshore fishery is based on the owner/operator principle. That is to say, the person to which a license is issued must be the one using the license. Fishing belongs to fishermen. The present core license is derivative of the successful bonafide licensing system in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. This system froze the number of owner/operator fishermen back in 1982. To enter the fishery you had to replace a bonafide. The system was also based on a multi-species strategy where the individual fisherman holds licenses in several fisheries in order to make a fishing year. Only Bonafide Fishermen are eligible for license transfers within this system. To use the language of the Supreme Court Judges, the Bonafide system is designed to provide for a moderate livelihood for individual fishermen/women and their families. The point has fundamental implications for the development of a plan to accommodate native treaty rights in the commercial fishery.

The objective of such a plan would be the integration of native people as bonafide fishermen enjoying the benefits of a moderate livelihood and subject to the same conditions as other bonafides or their equivalents in the interests of conservation and other proper objectives related to the management of the fishery. We are convinced that over time this plan will best reflect the modern reality of the original treaty rights of the M'kmaq peoples. It will require the Federal government to buy-back the licenses of fishermen voluntarily leaving the fishery and the reassignment of the licenses to the appropriate native communities. In the implementation of such an approach both the Government and the fishing industry can assist the aspiring native fishermen to master tasks of the professional fisherman and the Government can compensate native fishermen while they await allocation of a license from the Band.

This kind of planned approach to implementing native treaty rights will ensure access by natives to a moderate livelihood from the fishery , respect for the existing participants, and orderly management of the fishery. Local Impact We believe one of the objectives of Native communities is to develop a significant complement of skilled and dedicated fishermen who can earn a living fishing. In reality such individuals will tend to come from Bands adjacent to the marine resources, although there will certainly be individuals from inland reserves who will want the opportunity to fish for a living. But, the strongest demand to go fishing for a living will come from the coastal bands. Inevitably, most new Native entrants will want to fish inshore and adjacent to their communities.

This means that the exercise of Treaty Rights will have local impacts; so the impacts on the commercial fishery will inevitably be uneven. For example, if you exclude the M'ikmaq that live on the inland Bras D'Or lakes who are a special case, there are really only some 2,400 M'ikmaq families living in coastal areas of the Maritimes where there is significant commercial fishing. Approximately, fifty percent of these families are found in the two communities of Big Cove and Burnt Church alone. It is little wonder that our fishermen in New Brunswick are so anxious to see a settlement. It is the inshore fishermen that have had seven years of the Sparrow impact and it is inshore fishermen in specific locales that will experience the largest impact from Marshall.

The reality is that the emerging Native fleet will be concentrated in the Richibuctou area and Miramichi Bay and then, to a lesser extent off Pictou, Lennox Island and the Bay of Chaleur, and to a lesser extent still in Southwest Nova Scotia. The sheer numbers of M'ikmaq in the Bras D'Or lakes ensure there will be significant impacts on Sydney Bight inshore fishermen, although in terms of percentages of the Native population their participation will be low. We believe that some of the local impact can be accommodated by an enlightened buy-back or buy-out program that keeps the number of fishing enterprises stable in the local fishing area. But, in the areas with large coastal native populations, we will see an impact beyond the individual license holder to the community, the crew members and in some instances the plant workers. In such areas we believe that the local impact must also be mitigated by providing for more opportunities in the inshore fishery. In Eastern New Brunswick we know at least three significant ways of expanding : re-adjustment of future cod quotas toward the inshore, allocation of the snow crab on inshore grounds to the inshore (who are presently excluded) and enhancement of the scallop resource that we have already commenced. Local impacts will also be mitigated by providing for multi-year entry plans.

If Native peoples are being asked to stagger their entry in some areas over time, they will have to have interim compensation or provision of other opportunities. No New Effort The newly won Treaty rights are a complicating factor in the East Coast fishery that is already an extremely complicated system of privilege and allocation. For example, the system of limited entry licensing has resulted in some gross inequalities. We have situations where fishermen have become millionaires with little or no personal investment; we have other situations where young fishermen are paying enormous entry costs and carrying unbearable debt burdens. We have other situations where profits from fishing are accruing back to companies and individuals who don't do the fishing. So, we cannot assert too many generalizations that apply across the board. However, it is clear for example that some fisheries like most lobster fishing areas are fully subscribed to, and are yielding on average only a moderate livelihood per license holder. In such fisheries we must proceed from the principle of no new effort as we accommodate the Native Treaty right. We would be duplicit however, if we claimed the snow crab fishery could not accommodate more fishermen since we have claimed for some years that there should be an inshore zone off Eastern New Brunswick and Quebec and the resource off Cape Breton is grossly under-allocated.

Similarly, by all accounts there is considerable room for sharing offshore scallop and northern shrimp without impacting on anyone's moderate livelihood. We should add that whether or not there were M'ikmaq treaty rights to be accommodated, we have always held the position that the concept of a moderate livelihood should be used to guide overall DFO allocation policy ; it should be a normal outcome of licensing and allocation systems. Closed Seasons Native fishing in closed seasons has been the source of most of the conflict this fall and has also been a source of much tensions since the Sparrow decision recognized an aboriginal right to fish for food and ceremonial purposes. It is imperative that closed seasons in fisheries like lobster be viewed as integral to management plans that have been worked out between fishermen and the DFO authority over a long period of time, and which in essence constitute a social contract. Marshall is generally viewed as an advance on the Sparrow decision and we believe that the food fishery should really disappear or be stringently negotiated into the interim fishing agreements so that what marginal amounts of true food fishing are retained are done in season and on the principle that lobster alone ought not to carry the food fishing load.

Scope of Agreements Interim fishing agreements will have to explicitly show how rights are to be accommodated in every fishery. Naturally, this will require extensive consultation with all Bands but especially coastal Bands who will know where their specific fishing interests are : for example, rock crab may interest one Band more than another which might have a special interest in herring and so on. The objective should be to cover off fisheries in a way that there are no surprises for a few fishermen in a given fishery, however obscure. The Fisheries Authority The ultimate authority for the regulation and enforcement of the fishery is the Government of Canada through the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

This may seem self-evident but given various ideas bandied with respect to self-government it is important to emphasize that any cooperative management agreements that are reached are still subject to the ultimate authority. It follows from the above that an individual that fishes under a communal fishing right should be subject to a set of conditions that are similar to those applicable to the commercial fishermen; for example, the lobster is not only limited by seasons and all the other measures of conservation but also by zones; mobility between zones is not permitted. Conclusion We have no illusions that the Treaty Right recognized by the Marshall decision is not extensive. The only real guide provided by the Supreme Court is that the right is limited to that of a moderate livelihood for individuals and their families. In theory that would extend to all M'ikmaq families. In practice, the vast majority of M'ikmaq could not be expected to chose fishing as a living; so in practice we can make some projections of the number that will enter a fishery that is subject to similar conditions as commercial fishermen. However, since the right is recognized to be communal, Native leaders will presumably claim a piece of the fishery far in excess of the numbers of individuals who want to fish for a living. We are not certain as to why the Native leaders would actually want a share of the fishery beyond what their members would be fishing except as a source of revenue for the Band. Such revenues might be better secured by the establishment of a fund by the Federal Government.

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Canada - Monday, September 18, 2000 at 22:35:54 (EDT)

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