A few more traps were seized today and there were some high speed chases on Miramichi Bay, New Brunswick as coast guard and RCMP helicopters circled above. It was one of many recent raids by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that has labelled (mis-labelled from an Aboriginal perspective) as illegal the Native fishery by the people of Esgenoôpetitj Mi'kmaq Burnt Church First Nation.

Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs is among the many First Nations supporters there to show solidarity with the Mikmaq people in their struggle against the Canadian government and Fisheries Canada's assault on their lobster fishery.

In an exclusive interview with Turtle Island Native Network, Chief Phillip accused the government of playing "high level politics" with peoples lives --- suggesting the Liberals in Ottawa are using the situation with the Mikmaq in New Brunswick to score points with non-aboriginal voters in Atlantic Canada because of the impending federal election.

Phillip, who also is the Chief of the Penticton Indian Band is familiar with the government's tactics in dealing with fishery disputes. He accuses Fisheries Canada of lying about the number of lobster traps it says it has been seizing in Miramichi Bay.

Chief Phillip says it's a tactic he's familiar with because DFO used it when dealing with the Native fishery in British Columbia's Fraser River where he says Fisheries officials issued false reports about the number of nets they said they had seized there.

In New Brunswick, Chief Phillip says Fisheries officers have seized traps but not near as many as they claim, and besides - many are from non-natives. "There's a huge poaching operation going on here. Non-natives are taking advantage of the situation."

The question is what will happen now? Chief Phillip says the "debate is over whether DFO will take the risk of coming in close to shore", to seize more traps. The First Nation traps offshore are clearly marked by white or flourescent coloured buoys.

Chief Phillip wonders if the government is willing to risk again what happened at the outset when film footage showed a DFO boat ramming a small native boat in a confrontational, violent fashion. That took place in the inner bay and it's not likely Canada wants those kinds of pictures to be shown around the country and world again.

Chief Phillip says if they do raid again and close to the community, make no mistake the people, "intend to protect their traps". Phillip should know --- he and his wife, Penticton band councillor Joan Phillip are staying with Chief Wilbur Dedam at Burnt Church.

By way of comment - if the Government of Canada is looking for an honourable, peaceful way to end the seige at Burnt Church, there's an obvious solution right now. Leave the lobster traps that are close to the First Nation community so the Esgenoôpetitj Mi'kmaq Burnt Church people can continue their food fishery, something that is 'legal' under the government's own rules and regulations. DFO could certainly illustrate publicly that it has seized many traps and for all intents and purposes shut down the so-called illegal commercial operation. That way it sends a strong message to the people it worries about - the non-natives - the voters of Atlantic Canada. The old law and order approach sells big time when you're harvesting votes. As for the First Nation, they have made their point well and can be proud to have fought for their aboriginal and treaty rights. Continue to food fish through to the October 7th closing date they have set, and then encourage Canada to get back to the negotiation and or mediation table to discuss common ground - conservation, and some how harmonize the Native Fishery Plan and the government's plan in time for the next fishing season.

It can be done but the government will have to see the benefit of the strategy first. The benefit of peace and non-violent resolution to conflict.

They could even piggy-back on the latest suggestion from the coalition of churches that calls for the establishment of an independent commission to oversee the government's new relationship with Aboriginal treaty rights.