Mi’kmaq Warrior Peacekeepers have been called to Nova Scotia to help settle a dispute over their rights. Under the law they are allowed to hunt and fish throughout the year. They aren’t required to observe fishing or hunting seasons like the colonists are. This is upsetting to a lot of people, who for some reason don’t have the ability to understand the law.
A fire destroyed a lobster pound in Middle West Pubnico, N.S., early Saturday morning. The police are calling the fire suspicious. Mi’kmaw fishermen were storing their catch there. Due to the escalating violence towards them it isn’t so hard to guess who the culprits might be.
Indigenous people and the RCMP fall under federal jurisdiction. Nova Scotia Premier Steven McNeil said he didn’t understand why the federal government wasn’t doing more about this issue. It’s debatable whether McNeil’s hands are tied or not. In Alberta, the United Conservative government passed Bill 10, the Public Health Emergency Powers Amendment Act. That means any cabinet minister can make legislative changes without the approval of the legislature. A similar bill, passed quickly in Nova Scotia, and the premier wouldn’t have to blame federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan for bungling the situation by not establishing a definition of moderate livelihood fishery.
Sipekne’katik First Nation chief Michael Sack made this statement:
“Today we are announcing that Sipekne’katik intends to seek civil remedies against individuals and entities that have infringed against our constitutionally protected rights and who are attempting to prevent and frustrate the legal exercise of our rights – all for what the country and First Nations have watched play out in disbelief.
“The wilful inaction by our law enforcement in the face of criminal actions against our people, and any person is unacceptable. We need to ask, do we find ourselves in a place where we need to protect ourselves? We need to know how can property be damaged, families be threatened, a community’s livelihood be sabotaged in front of us – in front of the world –and the institution that is charged with protecting all people – in their own words simply ‘observing and monitoring’ it all happening?”
The police may not be able to negotiate with the Sipekne’katik, now that the Warriors have been called in. If they feel the police are acting in “bad faith” they may decide to communicate with the Canadian Military instead. In New Brunswick in 2013 First Nations demanded the military as they felt the police had become an “objective.” If they feel the RCMP only represent the interests of the Colonists, they will be dismissed.
For a recap of how this could happen, see Miles Howe’s article in the Rabble.
Taiaiake Alfred, Ph.D., and Lana Lowe, M.A., wrote a paper for the government of Ontario, which aims to “provide factual information on the development and current reality of warrior societies in indigenous communities.” They are a means by which indigenous peoples take direct action against colonization and the history of their dispossession. These tend to be peaceful negotiations unless otherwise provoked. It’s safe to say that no one wants to see anymore violent conflicts. Especially so when one considers firearms could be present.
The abuse of First Nations people and the destruction of their communities is nothing new in Canada. Is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the man for the job? His father wanted to abolish reserves and turn them into private property. He produced a white paper on the topic but it was later scrapped. It’s possible Trudeau would benefit by calling in Charlie Angus of the NDP. He has worked extensively on community development projects with Canada’s First Nations, working as a negotiator and consultant for the Algonquin Nation of Quebec. He also played a prominent role in calling national attention to the Kashechewan crisis of 2005. Angus has more experience working on indigenous matters and could offer some valuable insight if consulted.
With the Warriors here, this could turn into a national incident if it isn’t handled properly. First Nation’s rights are being exploited by the colonists who won’t honour their own laws or the treaties which spell out indigenous rights. Hopefully both sides will be able to negotiate in good faith.
See Brent Patterson’s wonderful article on the Peace Brigades International website. He has links there on how you can support the Mi’kmaq and their treaty rights and a letter template to email the relevant government officials.
More information here
There’s a few entries on the forum if you would like to read a little but more about what is going on with this issue in Nova Scotia. There’s a comment on this article I posted as well. Just scroll down to see it.
Not a Police Issue
Sargent Andrew Joyce, Public Information Officer with the RCMP said protecting First Nation’s fishermen was not a police issue, including the vandalism and destruction of property. The police actually stood by some incidents and watched.
I would have thought all Canadians had to play by the same rules. Unfortunately this isn’t the case.
This is Police Issue
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs released a statement condemning the RCMP’s tactics of “intimidation, harassment and ongoing threats of forceful intervention and removal of the Wet’suwet’en land defenders from Wet’suwet’en unceded territory.”
So, protecting First Nations fishermen is not a police issue, but stealing land from the indigenous and forcing them to have a pipeline running through their property, is a police issue.
If nothing else, it proves how much more work we have to do to make Canada a country that treats all citizens equally. Systemic racism thrives in Canada.