#Sipekne’katik

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Update to the fishery dispute between Sipekne’katik First Nations and the federal governments.

[blogynews]

"Shocking Revelation: Ottawa-Halifax Uncovers Over 50 Indigenous Fish Harvesters Charged or On Trial in the Maritimes – What's Really Going On?"

After three years since the Sipekne’katik First Nation initiated a self-regulated lobster fishery that sparked protests and violence in Nova Scotia, federal prosecutors are moving forward with charges against numerous Indigenous fishers, some of whom are planning to challenge the charges on constitutional grounds. On September 17, 2020, the Sipekne’katik First Nation issued five lobster licenses…

[blogynewz]

"Shocking Revelation: Ottawa-Halifax Uncovers Over 50 Indigenous Fish Harvesters Charged or On Trial in the Maritimes – What's Really Going On?"

After three years since the Sipekne’katik First Nation initiated a self-regulated lobster fishery that sparked protests and violence in Nova Scotia, federal prosecutors are moving forward with charges against numerous Indigenous fishers, some of whom are planning to challenge the charges on constitutional grounds. On September 17, 2020, the Sipekne’katik First Nation issued five lobster licenses…

[blogynewsz]

"Shocking Revelation: Ottawa-Halifax Uncovers Over 50 Indigenous Fish Harvesters Charged or On Trial in the Maritimes – What's Really Going On?"

After three years since the Sipekne’katik First Nation initiated a self-regulated lobster fishery that sparked protests and violence in Nova Scotia, federal prosecutors are moving forward with charges against numerous Indigenous fishers, some of whom are planning to challenge the charges on constitutional grounds. On September 17, 2020, the Sipekne’katik First Nation issued five lobster licenses…

[oopsabird]

to me the beautiful and incredibly badass message of the Sipekne’katik Mi’kmaq treaty rights fishery is the idea that if dominant state powers won’t give you authorization to do what your people need, won’t listen to your pleas or your demands (for twenty-one years!!!), then you are well within your rights and your powers, even in the face of violent opposition, to say “fuck it, we already know how to do the thing anyway, or we can learn, so let’s just circumvent the government, get the supplies, and do the work ourselves to create our own system that can truly take care of our community”

if more of us can learn to think and act like that, we just might change the world

[ahdor]

I'm really tired of being on settled land... I'm tired of the DFO thinking that Not Following The Treaty is something they can do Without Consequence... Treaty 1752 and specifically article #4... it isn't our land, it is theirs... no company owns the Wharf.....

[thatfeministkilljoy]

Sipekne’katik/Fort Ellis — Alton Gas has posted signs outside the Treaty Camp at the Shubenacadie River naming water protectors on site as trespassers and criminals.

Grassroots Mi’kmaq water protectors have been holding down a protection camp at the Shubenacadie River for nine months to prevent Alton Gas from dumping thousands of tons of salt brine into the sacred river every day. They are outraged by Alton Gas’ bully tactics and intent to resume work on the project without allowing Sipekne’katik to complete its community consultation process.

The Alton Gas project proposes to create two salt caverns by solution mining an existing salt deposit, dumping the salt brine in the Shubenacadie River, and filling the resulting caverns with gas. The company’s mixing channel, designed to mix the brine into the river water, filled with mud almost immediately upon its creation. Additionally, Alton Gas is eight years behind schedule, has a number of lapsed and defunct permits, and has cancelled two of the four caverns it originally planned to create.

“Alton Gas has been interfering with Sipekne’katik’s self-made consultation process,” says grassroots grandmother water protector, Dorene Bernard. “The band has recently hired a person to do Community Consultation on this project and others. Now, the company is trying to intimidate and harass water protectors, and paint us as criminals.”

“This camp is peaceful, and principled,” says Bernard. “We’re here as Mi’kmaq and treaty rights holders to defend our right to this river and this place. Defending this right is our responsibility. Alton Gas is trying to paint us as criminal for protecting our Treaty rights and doing our sacred duty to protect our unceded lands and waters.”

“Sipekne’katik has been developing its own consultation process – we want to tell Canada how we will be consulted, and not have that dictated for us,” says Bernard. Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative (KMKNO) does not represent Sipekne’katik.  “Alton Gas is trying to bully us here at the river by calling us criminals, and bully our band council into signing an impact benefit agreement. All we’re doing is defending our treaty right to this river and protection of the watershed.

“The RCMP officers come with Alton Gas when they try to do work or hang up signs like these ones. They are protecting Alton Gas’s interests more than they are protecting us as peaceful water protectors and treaty rights holders,” says Rebecca Cope-Moore.

Treaty Camp water protectors are calling on the Government of Nova Scotia to stop Alton Gas from proceeding with their project while Sipekne’katik completes its consultation process.

Link

[tepkunset]

Non-native fishermen have destroyed and stolen thousands of dollars worth of fishing equipment owned by fishermen of Sipekne'katik First Nation. (You know I’d really like to know where are all the people crying over how vandalism in protest might as well be cold-blooded murder now.) This comes in addition to forming blockades and threatening to ram boats. Businesses across the province are denying services to Mi’kmaq in support of these terrorizing acts. Online, people are sharing horrible threats. It is blatant racist violence and discrimination, and the fishermen/media continues to call our people the lawbreakers.

“The gear that we were collecting was what was in violation of the law," Sproul said. "There's nothing more to show that fishermen have the true, just, lawful position here than the fact that we conducted that activity yesterday and nobody stopped us.”

The fact that the RCMP have done jack shit to stop the non-native fishermen destroying Mi’kmaw lobster traps has painted a very clear picture. It’s the same picture that’s been hanging on the wall for centuries, and surprise surprise, flowery talk of #reconciliation doesn’t change that. And the quote above is a perfect example of how fully aware these fuckers are of their privilege.

Anyway someone should tell Sproul that a) the Mi’kmaq have the legal treaty right to hunt, fish and gather for a moderate livelihood, b) the traditional lobster season for our people is in September and October, and c) that the only people breaking the law here is his ignorant ass and his cronies.

Sharing this link again, as it is a very well compiled doc: Ways to support Sipekne’katik First Nation, and resources to educate yourself and share with others.  Financial support for supplies is especially helpful right now.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The Sipekne’katik First Nation has filed a court action against the Attorney General of Nova Scotia to challenge a provincial regulation on purchasing fish products, saying it’s unconstitutional.

This regulation orders that any fish products sold in Nova Scotia must be caught and registered under a commercial licence with the Department of Fisheries.

“The regulation places a legal limitation on the Mi’kmaq people and the community members of Sipekne’katik to fish and trade in support of a moderate livelihood,” Sipekne’katik said in a release on Wednesday.

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada @nspoli

[bagpipes-or-bust]

So a non-Native fisherman punched the Sipekne’katik Cheif, non-Natives are continually commiting arson, treaty rights are still being threatened, and a white woman decides it’s a good time to run for the Cheif of Eskasoni?????

Anyways donate to treaty defenders here: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8tlWdvL8uJ

[anarchistettin]

Mi’kmaw lobster fishers who were blockaded, attacked and assaulted while exercising a treaty right to harvest lobster late last year say internal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) documents expose systemic racism in the bureaucracy and preferential policing by law enforcement.

APTN News obtained hundreds of internal records that reveal public servants and law enforcement agencies knew potentially violent protests against the Mi’kmaq were coming, yet did little to intervene.

“That’s pretty unnerving. It’s even more unnerving to know those documents exist,” said Jason Marr, a lobster harvester with Sipekne’katik First Nation.