From: Margaret Tusz-King, spokesperson 
 ARC-A Observer Project 
 902-657-2231 or 506-536-0597 
 September 13, 2000 

 Burnt Church PRESS RELEASE
 
 The Aboriginal Rights Coalition Atlantic (ARC-A) Observer Project reports
 that one of their trained Observers, present in the community of
 Esgenoopetitj First Nation (EFN) Burnt Church, was arrested in a dangerous
 manner yesterday following an RCMP raid on the waters of that community.
 The Observer, Tracy Sinclair, was present along with 3 other people in an
 EFN boat. She was videotaping at the time. 
 
 All of the boats from the EFN were monitoring boats, and none were engaged
 in fishing. She reports that she saw no Department of Fisheries boats and
 only saw RCMP involvement with helicopters and boats. One RCMP boat
 deliberately rammed the side of her boat twice, apparently intending to
 capsize the boat. As tear gas was shot into the back of her boat, the 
 boat was flipped sideways, tossing the four occupants into the water
 toward a second RCMP boat. One of those people was an EFN member who
 was not wearing a life jacket and could not swim. Tracy Sinclair, had to
 swim to him to keep him afloat before they were both picked up by the RCMP
 and immediately handcuffed. Neither of them resisted arrest. 
 
 Sinclair reports that there was clear preferential treatment given to her
 over the EFN men and woman arrested. All were eventually taken to the
 Tracadie RCMP station. Tracy Sinclair has been charged with obstruction,
 and released. 
 
 The videocamera and tape, which documents the incident, were confiscated
 by the RCMP. 
 
 The ARC-A Observer Project is co-sponsored by the Aboriginal Rights
 Coalition - Atlantic and the Tatamagouche Centre. The Observers are
 trained in non-violent observing, and are present, at the request of the
 Esgenoopetitj community, to witness. 
 
 For more information, please contact 
 
 Margaret Tusz-King, spokesperson 
 ARC-A Observer Project 
 902-657-2231 or 506-536-0597