Fishermen, natives talk

Moncton Times and Transcript
Thursday, April 5, 2001

Commercial fishermen and native fishermen have held face-to-face talks to discuss the participation of natives in the fishery.

The first talks between members of the Maritime Fishermen's Union and some First Nations members who might be interested in joining one or more commercial fisheries took place during the weekend.

Besides being the possible forerunner to an orderly entry into commercial fishing for First Nations fishermen, the talks might also aid in diffusing tension in some northern New Brunswick native and non-native communities over natives exercising their fishing rights.

Friday's first session was more of a get-to-know-you meeting, "not much more than that," said Mike Belliveau, spokesman for the MFU. { au: dt: 04/05/01 sc: mtt}