Press Statement
For immediate releaseWednesday, May 17, 2000
Contact:: Marc Spence, Tantramar Environmental Alliance, (506) 538-2933
Leslie Bruce, Blue-Green Society, (506) 634-1299
Resolution for Rights: Co-operation or Conflict?
Mi’Kmaq people have been fishing the Miramichi Bay from time immemorial. Currently, they seek to continue to manage that ecosystem in a sustainable manner and, at the same time, provide for their families from that resource. Despite a recent Supreme Court decision affirming their Treaty Rights to make a moderate living from fishing, they are threatened by constant Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) interference and harassment in their fishery. On the bay, tensions and divisions between the Mi’Kmaq, Acadian and English communities and lack of leadership from the Government of Canada and DFO in building a co-operative solution could lead to a breakdown of the situation and violence, such as was experienced in the area last fall.
We, the undersigned 29 groups, represent a range of New Brunswick, Canadian and International organizations concerned about environmental issues and social justice.
We call on the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to address the current situation immediately and are issuing to him the following resolution.
Resolution in support of First Nations' Right to
Community-based Fishery Management
Hon. Herb Dhaliwal
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Phone: (613) 995-7052
Fax: (613) 995-2962Hon. Jean Chretien
Prime Minister
Phone: (613) 992-4211
Fax: (613) 941-6900
Hon. Minister Dhaliwal and Hon. Prime Minister Chretien,
Whereas Aboriginal people and Aboriginal societies have an inherent right to use the resources of the land and sea;
Whereas the recent Marshall Decision of the Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed Treaty Rights to make a moderate livelihood from fishing, hunting and gathering;
Whereas the Canadian Constitution entrenches Aboriginal and Treaty Rights within Canadian law;
Be it resolved that we call upon the Government of Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to co-operate with the Mi'Kmaq First Nation community in Burnt Church.
Whereas the community in Burnt Church has determined to operate their fishery in a responsible manner and have developed a fisheries management plan with conservation as a basic tenet;
Whereas the community of Burnt Church will be monitoring the fishery and ensuring the protection and conservation of the lobster stock through a variety of measures including the regulation of the fishing effort by issuing lobster trap tags, the same mechanism used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans;
Be it resolved that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans recognize the legitimacy of tags issues by the Burnt Church Band.
Signatories;
Aboriginal Rights Coalition Atlantic (ARC)
Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen's Association, Nova Scotia
Black Business Development Agency, Kentville, Nova Scotia
Blue-Green Society, Mount Allison University, Sackville
Christian Peacemaker Teams, Toronto
Clearinghouse Group, Glassville
Comité de l'environnement de L'École aux Quatre Vents, Dalhousie
Eel Ground Community Development Centre
Environment Liaison Centre International, Kenya
Falls Brook Centre, Knowlesville
First Nations Environmental Network
Fondation Médias Verts, Moncton
Fredericton Oxfam Local Committee
Fundy Environmental Action Group, Alma
GPI Atlantic, Nova Scotia
Kikahan Committee, Tobique
People Against Nuclear Energy, Moncton
Raging Grannies, Fredericton
Sacred Mountain Society, Eskasoni
Sierra Club of Canada, Eastern Atlantic Group
Sierra Youth Coalition Dalhousie, Halifax
St. Thomas University /UNB Student Environmental Society, Fredericton
Sussex Society in the Public Interest, Sussex
Tantramar Environmental Alliance, Sackville
Terre-à-Terre (Down-to-Earth), Moncton
Toronto Catholic Worker Community
Viverte, Moncton
Winterwood Environmental Committee, Sussex
World Wildlife Fund, Perú- 30 -