CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAMS - Canada Office
1562 Danforth Ave, Box 72063, Toronto ON M4J 5C1 
ph. 416-421-7079, fax 416-467-1508, cptcan@web.ca 
Néguac NB - 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
August 31, 2000 

NO MI'KMAQ TRANSLATOR FOR FISHERIES TRIAL

Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) member William Payne appeared
in Neguac court today on behalf of CPTer Fr. Robert Holmes and himself who
have both been charged with "obstructing a fishery officer who was carrying
out his duties under the Fisheries Act (section 62)." Payne asked the
court to have the proceedings translated into Mi'kmaq as the matter is
related to the Mi'kmaq fishery and there were many people in attendance in
the court who speak Mi'kmaq as their first language.

Judge Lordon said that he would ask the Justice Department if they can
provide a Mi'kmaq translator. The matter was held over until September 7,
2000, at which time a date will be set for trial.

Holmes, 64, is a Basilian priest and retired secondary school principal
from Toronto ON. He was in esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church NB) earlier this
year and is presently part of the CPT team in the Middle East.

Payne, 36, a secondary school teacher from Toronto on leave of absence, is
a full-time member of the CPT team in esgenoôpetitj. Payne has also been
part of the CPT team in Chiapas, Mexico.

The CPT New Brunswick team currently includes Joel Klassen (Kitchener ON),
William Payne (Toronto ON), Janet Shoemaker (Goshen IN) and Lena Siegers
(Blyth ON). CPT was invited by the people of esgenoôpetitj to accompany
them as they struggle for respect and recognition of their aboriginal
right to fish. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is a violence reduction
initiative of the Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, and Quakers.
-30-

For more information contact
William Payne
Christian Peacemaker Teams
506-779-5886 or 506-779-6012