Letter from Burnt Church to Minister Herb Dhaliwhal-Call for Peaceful Dialogue-September 22, 2000

Esgenoôpetitj First Nation

620 Bayview Drive, Esgenoôtitj First Nation, NB E9G 2A8

Telephone (506) 776-1211 Fax (506) 776-1242

BY FAX

September 22, 2000

The Honorable Herb Dahliwal

Minister of Fisheries & Oceans

Ottawa, Ontario

Dear Minister,

As Chief of the Esgenoôpetitj First Nation, I wish to attempt once again peaceful dialogue in addressing the dispute over the exercise of our fishing rights.

In the name of our men, women and children in accord with the pride of Canadians and of your government in peaceful resolution of conflict, I call upon you to hold off on enforcement action and sit down with me immediately and without pre-conditions. Enforcement will only deepen the gulf of distrust and make relations more difficult when we return to dialogue, as we inevitably must.

You are the Minister of the Crown charged with upholding our rights. Your relations with us are constitutionally required to be trustlike and not adversarial. I do not believe that Canadians and the international community will accept massive land and sea enforcement action against Aboriginal people when the Minister responsible has failed to even meet with the Aboriginal Chief.

I invoke and remind you of the solemn promises of the Crown to my ancestors in the Treaty of 1779 signed with the MiÕkmaq chiefs and captains of the Miramichi:

That the said Indians and their constituents shall remain in the Districts before mentioned, Quiet and Free from any Molestation of His MajestyÕs Troops or other Good subjects in their Hunting and Fishing,

I ask you to look to your constitutional duties. Your conservation concerns can be addressed once the audited trap count is complete. Think of the children and future relations.

Chief Wilbur Dedam

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		Esgenoôpetitj First Nation 620 Bayview Drive, Esgenoôtitj First Nation, NB E9G 2A8 Telephone (506) 776-1211 Fax (506) 776-1242 BY FAX September 22, 2000 The Honorable Herb Dahliwal Minister of Fisheries & Oceans Ottawa, Ontario Dear Minister, As Chief of the Esgenoôpetitj First Nation, I wish to attempt once again peaceful dialogue in addressing the dispute over the exercise of our fishing rights. In the name of our men, women and children in accord with the pride of Canadians and of your government in peaceful resolution of conflict, I call upon you to hold off on enforcement action and sit down with me immediately and without pre-conditions. Enforcement will only deepen the gulf of distrust and make relations more difficult when we return to dialogue, as we inevitably must. You are the Minister of the Crown charged with upholding our rights. Your relations with us are constitutionally required to be trustlike and not adversarial. I do not believe that Canadians and the international community will accept massive land and sea enforcement action against Aboriginal people when the Minister responsible has failed to even meet with the Aboriginal Chief. I invoke and remind you of the solemn promises of the Crown to my ancestors in the Treaty of 1779 signed with the MiÕkmaq chiefs and captains of the Miramichi: That the said Indians and their constituents shall remain in the Districts before mentioned, Quiet and Free from any Molestation of His MajestyÕs Troops or other Good subjects in their Hunting and Fishing, I ask you to look to your constitutional duties. Your conservation concerns can be addressed once the audited trap count is complete. Think of the children and future relations. Chief Wilbur Dedam Top