The Daily News (Truro)
Thursday, February 22, 2001
Subject: Atlantic First Nations Strategy
Chiefs want universal dealAtlantic First Nations Chiefs are hammering out a ''template'' to protect Native rights during negotiations of interim fishing deals with the Federal
government.
Millbrook Chief Lawrence Paul said yesterday that the 35 Atlantic
Chiefs have agreed to work together so none of the Region's First
Nations sign a deal that might adversely affect them in the future.
''What we decided yesterday, the Chiefs, is that we'll come up with
one fisheries agreement that all bands will use,'' said Paul from an
All Chiefs meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
''What we can do is come up with a ''template'' that is worded in
such a way that everything is protected and they cannot use it
against us for the implementation of a treaty right in the future.''
Herb Dhaliwal (Federal Fisheries Minister) has sent his chief
negotiator, James MacKenzie, to sign new fishing deals with
Mi'kmaq and Maliseet Bands in Atlantic Canada.
There are reports the Federal government will spend nearly $500
million over three years to purchase new Native fishery licences
and provide equipment and training to Bands.
Last year the Federal government signed short-term agreements
with all but two of the Region's Bands following the Supreme
Court of Canada Marshall decision allowing Mi'Kmaq,
Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy Natives to obtain a moderate living through fishing, hunting, and gathering.
Burnt Church in New Brunswick had a series of confrontations
with Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) officials over
fishing. In Nova Scotia, Indian Brook was the sole Band not
to sign interim agreements.
Now the co-chairman of the Indian Brook Fisheries Association
is pleading with other Nova Scotian Bands not to sign away
their treaty rights.
In a letter circulated in Millbrook last weekend, Alex MacDonald
pleaded with Band members not to undermine their right to self-
management of the fishery by signing interim deals now.
''If Bands sign agreements it leaves us in a difficult position alone
before the courts and looks like we accept their control and
that our treaties mean nothing,'' reads the letter.
Indian Brook has taken the government to court to show DFO
cannot over-rule their own management system.
''Don't abandon your brothers and sisters in Indian Brook,'' the
letter closes. ''Don't abandon your children's rights.''
But Paul said Millbrook has done nothing to endanger the rights of
Natives to fish.
''The only reason the Millbrook First Nation signed the agreement
last year was (for) peaceful access to the waters to train our
people... and for employment,'' said Paul. ''That's all we
signed it for.''
Paul said the clarification of Marshall gives the Federal government
the right to regulate the fishery, just as the original SCOC
decision gave Natives the right to fish.
''We all have children, we have grandchildren, some of us have great
grandchildren,'' said Paul. ''There's no way we're going to sign
anything that's going to deteriorate a treaty right for the
Millbrook Band.''
Chief Reg Maloney and Alex MacDonald didn't return phone calls.
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