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SPOTLIGHT
on Aboriginal Rights --- Fisheries
August 2001
CPTnet release
NEGUAC, NEW BRUNSWICK- Christian Peacemakers Blow the Horn on the DFO
August 15, 2001
On August 14, 2001, members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) placed a man inside a gigantic lobster trap in front of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) office in Neguac, New Brunswick, to illustrate the “trap” of violence and intimidation in which the DFO has put itself as it abuses First Nations fishing rights.
This public witness also included a modern-day version of the Battle of Jericho, in which CPTers prayed and marched around the DFO office seven times, blew a ram’s horn, and shouted for justice and for a recognition of First Nations’ inherent fishing rights.
During the event, members of CPT dramatized how DFO officers and government officials have been caught in the trap of violence, and how they now have an opportunity to escape from the trap and find new ways of dialoguing with First Nations peoples. After the events of last fall when DFO officers rammed boats, beat native fishers, and intimidated members of the Esgenoôpetitj community (Burnt Church), many people fear that the DFO will continue their violent behaviour during this fall’s lobster fishing season.
“It’s simply unacceptable that our federal fisheries officers acted in this way,” stated CPT member Natasha Krahn. “Those of us who are Canadian citizens need to recognize that the DFO is acting on our behalf, and that we need to denounce their violence. It’s time to let them know that there are nonviolent ways of dealing with this situation.”
CPT is hoping that both Canadian citizens and internationals will speak out in favour of a nation-to-nation dialogue between the Canadian government and First Nations peoples. “As a citizen of the USA, I think it’s important to call on other nations to speak out,” said CPT member Janet Shoemaker. “This is essentially a matter of justice between international neighbours–in this case between Canada and the Mi’kmaq First Nation.”
Although DFO officers and staff were invited to observe the prayer vigil, none chose to take up the invitation. On the contrary, six DFO officers left the building by the back door and drove away.
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has maintained a presence in Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church) since April 2000 at the invitation of community leaders, and will be accompanying the community as it asserts its inherent right to fish for lobster.
Current members of the CPT Esgenoopetitj team include Matthew Bailey-Dick, Nina Bailey-Dick, Natasha Krahn (all of Waterloo, ON), Patty McKenna (Manhattan, KS), William Payne (Toronto, ON), Janet Shoemaker (Goshen, IN).
Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of
the Brethren congregations, Friends Meetings and other Christians that
supports violence reduction efforts around the world. Contact CPT, PO Box
72063, 1562 Danforth Ave., Toronto ON M4J 5C1, ph 416-421-7079, fax
416-467-1508, email cptcan@web.ca; or CPT, POB 6508 Chicago, IL 60680, ph
312-455-1199, fax 312-432-1213, email cpt@igc.org. To join CPTNET, visit us
on the WEB: www.cpt.org
Preparations Undwerway for Mi'kmaq Lobster Fishery
Christian Delegation to Visit Esgenoopetitj at Start of Lobster Season
CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAMS - Canada Office
1562 Danforth Ave, Box 72063, Toronto ON M4J 5C1
ph. 416-421-7079, fax 416-467-1508
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2001
Contact: William Payne
506-779-5886
Christian Delegation toVisit Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church, NB) at Start of Fall Lobster Season
A delegation of twelve Christians from Canada and the USA will arrive in Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church, New Brunswick) on August 19, 2001 at the start of the fall lobster-fishing season to provide encouragement to those who have experienced violence while exercising their right to fish and to challenge violations of human rights.
Delegation leader William Payne from Toronto ON said, "The Miqmaq community of Esgeoôpetitj is struggling for the recognition of its right to a peaceful, sustainable lobster fishery under its own Conservation Management plan. We know it is important to have 'outsiders' present to reduce the kind of violence perpetrated by Canadian fisheries officials and police last year."
Members of the delegation come from varied walks of life and include a former Member of Parliament, students, teachers, production workers, a concert pianist, pastors, and have had experience in the Middle East, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Aboriginal communities, the Black Panthers, and rape crisis centres.
The delegation plans to hear from fishers, community members, and Canadian officials and will promote active nonviolence and respectful dialogue in settling this conflict.
The delegates include: Rob Burdette (Butler OH), Robin Buyers (Toronto ON), Bob Carlsten (Denver CO), Tom Cavanagh (Lennoxville QC), Jill Foster (Hull QC), Don Heap (Toronto ON), Rod Orr (Cuba IL), Marilyn Roper (Houlton ME), Abigail Smith (Gibson City IL), Lorraine Snyder (Kitchener ON), Shira Taylor (Toronto ON), and Heather Toews (Waterloo ON).
Christian Peacemaker Teams is a violence-reduction initiative of
Mennonites, Brethren, Friends and other Christians and has maintained a
presence at Esgenoôpetitj since April 2000 at the invitation of the community.
August 10, 2001
Christian Peacemaker Teams
Esgenoôpetitj Team - Phone (506)779-6886 - Email: cptcan@sympatico.ca
Do lobsters have ears?
Who knows? But Canadians have ears. As Esgenoôpetitj First Nation
prepares for the fall lobster-fishing season, many wonder whether the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Canadian government are
preparing to use the same "gunboat diplomacy" tactics as they used
last year or if they'll take this chance to use their ears and listen
to First Nations people. In accordance with their treaty rights, the
First Nations fishers will be dropping lobster traps into the waters
of Miramichi Bay under the authority of the Esgenoôpetitj Conservation
Management plan.
Meanwhile, DFO officers and federal officials will have the opportunity to renounce their violence and misbehaviour of the past in favour of respectfully dialoguing with First Nations people on a nation-to-nation basis.
Our role as Canadian citizens
As a department of the federal government, the DFO represents all
Canadians and, therefore, DFO officers act on our behalf as they
relate to First Nations peoples (in the same way that they act on our
behalf as they relate to other Canadians). If the DFO has acted in a
way that goes against what Canadians want, then our role as Canadian
citizens is to say, in effect, "Stop doing that! We want you to do
this differently."
Unless we speak up, the government interprets our silence as support. In other words, through our federal governmental system, we have a responsibility both to hold the DFO accountable for their objectionable behaviour of the past and to specify which positive and constructive behaviours we want them to display in the future.
What can I do?
Join the fax and email blitz! Send a message to the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) asking them to respect the fall
lobster-fishing season.
1. Encourage them to open their ears to listen to First Nations
peoples.
2. Request that they widen their perspective to include the
possibility that the conservation management plans of First Nations
peoples might be more conservation-minded and sustainable than
current DFO plans.
3. Tell them that they do not need to passively accept orders from
Herb Dhaliwal and Jean Chrétien, but that they have the right and
the obligation to initiate discussions within the federal system
about the fact that Canadians need to build new relations with First
Nations peoples.
Where do I send my message?
Send your message to the following DFO addresses, and send another
copy to Esgenoôpetitj First Nation so that they know there are
Canadians out there who want their federal representatives to use
creative and respectful methods rather than violence.
Hon. Herb Dhaliwal
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-9957052
Fax: 613-995-2962
email: dhalih@parl.gc.ca
Raoul Breault
DFO Area Chief (East New Brunswick)
Phone: 506-395-7711
Fax: 506-395-3809
email: BreaultR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Rheal Boucher
DFO Regional Director (East New Brunswick)
Phone: 506-395-7702
Fax: 506-395-7739
email: BoucherR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Jim MacKenzie
DFO Federal Chief Negotiator
Phone: 613-993-8598
Fax: 613-993-3435
email: MacKenzieJ@dfo_mpo.gc.ca
Let the people of Esgenoôpetitj First Nation know that they are not alone in their struggle.
Please send a copy of your letter to:
miigam'agan and gkisedtanamoogk
Esgenoôpetitj First Nation
PO Box 2051, Burnt Church NB E9G 4J9
Fax: 506-776-5137
email: miigkis@nbnet.nb.ca
Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations, Friends Meetings and other Christians that supports violence reduction efforts around the world.
Contact CPT, PO Box 72063, 1562 Danforth Ave., Toronto ON M4J 5C1, ph 416-421-7079, fax 416-467-1508, email cptcan@web.ca; or CPT, POB 6508 Chicago, IL 60680, ph 312-455-1199, fax 312-432-1213, email cpt@igc.org.
To join CPTNET, visit us on the WEB:
http://www.prairienet.org/cpt
-----------------------------------------------
Doug Pritchard
Canada Coordinator
Christian Peacemaker Teams
Wisdom is better than weapons of war.
Ecclesiastes 9:18
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