Burnt Church-2001/07/3/01-CPT Archives

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Archives

CPTnet
July 3, 2001
Indian Brook, Nova Scotia Update June 10-24, 2001

Sunday June 10, 2001

Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) members Lena Siegers and Jane MacKay Wright drove to Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. They were met by a female warrior chief of Indian Brook and a group of fishers. Siegers intrduced CPT, emphasizing its commitment to nonviolence. The fishers spoke of their experience on St. Mary's Bay last year when one young man was beaten and others were harassed by officers of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Monday June 11, 2001

Siegers and Wright slept in a small trailer then ate breakfast with the warrior's family. Late afternoon CPT went to the Indian Brook First Nation reserve where they introduced themselves to people in the band office. At the end of the day they attended a meeting of Indian Brook fishers in the band council chamber. Chief Reg Maloney chaired the meeting and read several letters and described discussions he and the Indian Brook band council have had with the DFO. Community members expressed their hurt and frustration at being unable to exercise their rights to fish. After the meeting Siegers and Wright visited with the Indian Brook woman who had hosted Siegers and Gina Lepp last October. Tuesday June 12, 2001 Siegers and Wright visited with their host family in Shubenacadie, and attended another fishers meeting in the afternoon. Chief Maloney presented the advice of lawyers from the Union of Nova Scotia Indians. He also distributed copies of letters sent by him to the Canadian government. The fishers again expressed their anger and hurt so the Chief said he could not stop them from fishing since they really have a right to fish. Many of them said they would go to St. Mary's Bay the next day. After the meeting Chief Maloney asked that the CPT team check with him first before speaking to media. Siegers and Wright then drove to Digby, Nova Scotia on St. Mary's Bay.

Wednesday June 13, 2001

Siegers and Wright toured the St. Mary's Bay coastline, praying in churches at Church Point and St. Bernard. They lit candles for peace for all fishers in the Bay. Doug Pritchard sent out a press release announcing the team's presence in the area. Although the Chief was quoted as saying that Indian Brook First Nation will fish in St. Mary's Bay, no fishers arrived.

Thursday June 14, 2001

Siegers conferred with some fishers and learned that they were not arriving that day. An article about the team appeared in the provincial Chronicle-Herald. Siegers and Wright drove to Digby to set up an appointment to introduce themselves to the RCMP. The team then received a telephone call from the DFO who wanted to meet with them that evening Four DFO and two RCMP officers were assembled when the CPT team arrived at the DFO offices. The officers said they did not want trouble on the water, and hoped Siegers and Wright would not hinder their operations. The Chief Enforcement Officer for the DFO presented copies of the Criminal Code and the Fisheries Act outlining charges for obstructing a peace officer. The officers insisted that there was no trouble on St. Mary's Bay and that they did not want a "Burnt Church" situation. Siegers expressed concerns for justice and dignity for all involved.

Friday June 15, 2001

Siegers and Wright returned to Shubenacadie where they talked with the leader of the Indian Brook fishers. He spoke movingly of the history of the community, and showed them videotapes of violence inflicted on native fishers at St. Mary's Bay the previous year. One tape showed the young man being beaten by DFO officers on July 26, 2000, as well as other incidents in August of that year.

Saturday June 16, 2001

Siegers and Wright attended the Indian Brook fishers meeting. The community's usual lobster buyer has been threatened by the DFO. They will arrest him if they find one lobster in his compound. After the meeting Wright spoke to one fisher who told her of the death of two fishers in the past year. One was accidental, one a suicide.

Sunday June 17, 2001

Siegers and Wright attended Roman Catholic church at Indian Brook and introduced themselves to the priest, Father Tom. He remembered Siegers from last fall. CPT ate lunch at the barbeque held as a fund raiser behind the church.

Tuesday June 19, 2001

Wright had a moving conversation with the female warrior about her experiences at residential school. Her parents had worked at the school which once stood on the hill above their residence. She described her difficulties with educational authorities after the residential school was closed. She also described an incident in which her son was beaten up on the grounds of the local school. Siegers and Wright attended another fishers meeting held in the band council room. The Indian Brook fisheries management plan is being amended at the advice of professors from St. Mary's University.

A demonstration is being planned. The leader of the fisheries group was quoted as saying, " We don't need an agreement from the DFO to fish. We have a longstanding agreement in our treaties. The Supreme Court of Canada says that the Canadian government must provide access to fishing for the Mi'kmaq people. We decide how much lobster we need."

Wednesday June 20, 2001

Siegers and Wright drove to Yarmouth, NS to pick up Joanne Kaufman. They drove along St. Mary's Bay showing Kaufman the traditional Mi'kmaq fishing waters. Upon returning to Shubenacadie the team learned of the presence of a DFO van and truck parked facing their host's homes in mid-afternoon.

Thursday June 21, 2001

The fishers of Indian Brook congregated at the offices of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Dartmouth, as part of the observance of Aboriginal daya national celebration promoted by the Canadian government. For several hours they drummed, and paraded with placards, then dropped two lobster traps into Halifax harbour in symbolic witness. See June 26 release, "One day is not enough."

Sunday June 24, 2001

A local priest introduced the team to the band's hereditary chief who welcomed the team into his home and told stories from his perspective as a leader on Grand Council.

______________________

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and Friends Meetings that supports violence reduction efforts around the world. Contact CPT, POB 6508 Chicago, IL 60680, TEL. 312-455-1199 FAX 312-432-1213 / To receive news or discussion of CPT issues by e-mail, fill out the form found on our WEB page at http://www.prairienet.org/cpt/


		Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Archives CPTnet July 3, 2001 Indian Brook, Nova Scotia Update June 10-24, 2001 Sunday June 10, 2001 Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) members Lena Siegers and Jane MacKay Wright drove to Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. They were met by a female warrior chief of Indian Brook and a group of fishers. Siegers intrduced CPT, emphasizing its commitment to nonviolence. The fishers spoke of their experience on St. Mary's Bay last year when one young man was beaten and others were harassed by officers of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Monday June 11, 2001 Siegers and Wright slept in a small trailer then ate breakfast with the warrior's family. Late afternoon CPT went to the Indian Brook First Nation reserve where they introduced themselves to people in the band office. At the end of the day they attended a meeting of Indian Brook fishers in the band council chamber. Chief Reg Maloney chaired the meeting and read several letters and described discussions he and the Indian Brook band council have had with the DFO. Community members expressed their hurt and frustration at being unable to exercise their rights to fish. After the meeting Siegers and Wright visited with the Indian Brook woman who had hosted Siegers and Gina Lepp last October. Tuesday June 12, 2001 Siegers and Wright visited with their host family in Shubenacadie, and attended another fishers meeting in the afternoon. Chief Maloney presented the advice of lawyers from the Union of Nova Scotia Indians. He also distributed copies of letters sent by him to the Canadian government. The fishers again expressed their anger and hurt so the Chief said he could not stop them from fishing since they really have a right to fish. Many of them said they would go to St. Mary's Bay the next day. After the meeting Chief Maloney asked that the CPT team check with him first before speaking to media. Siegers and Wright then drove to Digby, Nova Scotia on St. Mary's Bay. Wednesday June 13, 2001 Siegers and Wright toured the St. Mary's Bay coastline, praying in churches at Church Point and St. Bernard. They lit candles for peace for all fishers in the Bay. Doug Pritchard sent out a press release announcing the team's presence in the area. Although the Chief was quoted as saying that Indian Brook First Nation will fish in St. Mary's Bay, no fishers arrived. Thursday June 14, 2001 Siegers conferred with some fishers and learned that they were not arriving that day. An article about the team appeared in the provincial Chronicle-Herald. Siegers and Wright drove to Digby to set up an appointment to introduce themselves to the RCMP. The team then received a telephone call from the DFO who wanted to meet with them that evening Four DFO and two RCMP officers were assembled when the CPT team arrived at the DFO offices. The officers said they did not want trouble on the water, and hoped Siegers and Wright would not hinder their operations. The Chief Enforcement Officer for the DFO presented copies of the Criminal Code and the Fisheries Act outlining charges for obstructing a peace officer. The officers insisted that there was no trouble on St. Mary's Bay and that they did not want a "Burnt Church" situation. Siegers expressed concerns for justice and dignity for all involved. Friday June 15, 2001 Siegers and Wright returned to Shubenacadie where they talked with the leader of the Indian Brook fishers. He spoke movingly of the history of the community, and showed them videotapes of violence inflicted on native fishers at St. Mary's Bay the previous year. One tape showed the young man being beaten by DFO officers on July 26, 2000, as well as other incidents in August of that year. Saturday June 16, 2001 Siegers and Wright attended the Indian Brook fishers meeting. The community's usual lobster buyer has been threatened by the DFO. They will arrest him if they find one lobster in his compound. After the meeting Wright spoke to one fisher who told her of the death of two fishers in the past year. One was accidental, one a suicide. Sunday June 17, 2001 Siegers and Wright attended Roman Catholic church at Indian Brook and introduced themselves to the priest, Father Tom. He remembered Siegers from last fall. CPT ate lunch at the barbeque held as a fund raiser behind the church. Tuesday June 19, 2001 Wright had a moving conversation with the female warrior about her experiences at residential school. Her parents had worked at the school which once stood on the hill above their residence. She described her difficulties with educational authorities after the residential school was closed. She also described an incident in which her son was beaten up on the grounds of the local school. Siegers and Wright attended another fishers meeting held in the band council room. The Indian Brook fisheries management plan is being amended at the advice of professors from St. Mary's University. A demonstration is being planned. The leader of the fisheries group was quoted as saying, " We don't need an agreement from the DFO to fish. We have a longstanding agreement in our treaties. The Supreme Court of Canada says that the Canadian government must provide access to fishing for the Mi'kmaq people. We decide how much lobster we need." Wednesday June 20, 2001 Siegers and Wright drove to Yarmouth, NS to pick up Joanne Kaufman. They drove along St. Mary's Bay showing Kaufman the traditional Mi'kmaq fishing waters. Upon returning to Shubenacadie the team learned of the presence of a DFO van and truck parked facing their host's homes in mid-afternoon. Thursday June 21, 2001 The fishers of Indian Brook congregated at the offices of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Dartmouth, as part of the observance of Aboriginal daya national celebration promoted by the Canadian government. For several hours they drummed, and paraded with placards, then dropped two lobster traps into Halifax harbour in symbolic witness. See June 26 release, "One day is not enough." Sunday June 24, 2001 A local priest introduced the team to the band's hereditary chief who welcomed the team into his home and told stories from his perspective as a leader on Grand Council. ______________________ Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations and Friends Meetings that supports violence reduction efforts around the world. Contact CPT, POB 6508 Chicago, IL 60680, TEL. 312-455-1199 FAX 312-432-1213 / To receive news or discussion of CPT issues by e-mail, fill out the form found on our WEB page at http://www.prairienet.org/cpt/