| First
Nations fishermen, chiefs and technicians came together in Halifax
in January for the Assembly of First Nations' National Fisheries
Conference entitled, Netukulimk: "A Way to Make a Living".
The parties came together to discuss how First Nations can work
together to advance their rights and res-ponsibilities with respect
to fisheries, and to develop a National Fisheries Strategy and
explore ways in which it can be effectively implemented. "There's
all kinds of frustration, a cloud of uncertainty, a fear because
of what they saw happen last year," said National Chief Matthew
Coon Come. "So there's tremendous pressure to come up with
a national strategy." Discussion focused on the exercise
of Aboriginal and treaty fishing rights, management and planning,
economic opportunities and barriers, and international aspects
of fisheries. One of the main issues discussed was whether First
Nations should negotiate with the federal government on agreements
for the upcoming fishing season. Most bands in the Atlantic had
signed the one-year interim deals that provided them with money,
new fishing equipment and training in exchange for following federal
fishery regulations. These agreements will expire March 31, 2001.
In February, the Departments of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and
Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) announced the
federal government's long-term strategy to address the Supreme
Court's Marshall{ |
CP Photo(Andrew Vaughan) Members of the Eastern Eagle Drum Group
from Indian Brook First Nation perform at the opening of a national
fisheries conference held by the Assembly of First Nations in
Halifax, N.S
|
"These
interim fishery agreements do not and will not define Marshall
Supreme Court of Canada treaty rights in any way," said Chief
Second Peter Barlow, co-chairman of the Atlantic Policy Congress
of First Nation Chiefs. "If the government does not see it
like this, there will be no agreements," said Chief Lawrence
Paul, also co-chair of the congress. Following the conference,
the Assembly of First Nations planned to incorporate regional
and community responses into a final strategy approach for First
Nations. "The meeting was quite successful in getting the
delegates to identify some options that meet First Nations expectations
in the area of fisheries. The range of issues and proposed options
that were discussed mean that delegates must now return to their
respective regions and discuss these with their leaders and community
members," said Herb George, AFN Vice-Chief for British Columbia.
"The delegates have made it clear that the recognition of
our rights are the minimum standard by which we will operate.
We are not ready to either cede or undermine our rights in any
manner," said Vice-Chief Rick Simon of Nova Scotia. The AFN
will be providing conference participants with a detailed report
and workshop summaries. For information, contact the AFN Land
Rights Unit at (613) 241-6789. Additional information on the Atlantic
fishery can be found at www.apcfnc.ca, the web site of the Atlantic
Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs. |
| decision
and build a sustainable treaty relationship with Mi'kmaq and Maliseet
communities. The federal strategy is a two-track process which
includes plans to spend $500 million over the next three years.
DIAND's objective is to reach long-term agreement on issues of
Aboriginal and treaty rights. DFO plans to negotiate fishing agreements
that will provide increased First Nation access to the fishery
on an immediate basis. The new agreements could last up to three
years. Chief Reg Maloney of Indian Brook in N.S., who has spoken
out against piecemeal talks, says this offer is |
"another
flood of money drowning our treaty rights". The communities
of Indian Brook and Burnt Church, N.B. were among the few bands
who refused to sign agreements last year, claiming they undermined
inherent Aboriginal treaty rights to the fishery. Chief Maloney
wants First Nations to resist signing any further interim or long-term
fishing agreements in a show of solidarity against Ottawa. "I
would like to see some sort of support for the implementation
of the treaty rights," he said. "And there is a lot
of talk about people not signing. But when it comes down to everybody
doing it, that has to be seen," he said. |
