Chiefs delay signing fisheries deals

The Daily Gleaner
Thursday, March 22, 2001

MONCTON - Atlantic aboriginal chiefs say they're not prepared to sign fishery agreements with the federal government.

However, that could change.

The chiefs emerged from a meeting Tuesday to announce that federal Fisheries Minister Herb Dhaliwal has until Thursday to have his legal advisers meet with native lawyers to discuss whether or not agreements are possible.

``We are committed to finding a solution to avoid conflict on the waters or in courts,'' said Chief Peter Barlow, co-chairman of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs.

The chiefs take issue with proposed three-year agreements they characterize as a federal attempt to ``assume all control on how the First Nations are to exercise their constitutionally protected right.''

``It's more of a case where they are telling us how we're going to exercise our rights with no consideration of our management plans,'' said Chief Lawrence Paul, congress co-chair.

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