Nova Scotia's Indigenous Lobster Crisis

PUBLISHED: 23/10/2020

Tensions are running high in Nova Scotia as a conflict between commercial lobster fishers and Indigenous communities. When will the violence end?

Parliament held an emergency debate earlier this week following the vandalism and destruction of Indigenous fishing boat, van and traps. At issue is the Mi’kmaq ability to start their own lobster fishery. Under the 1999 Supreme Court ruling, Mi’kmaq bands have the right to fish for a moderate livelihood.

While the Supreme Court ruled the treaty gave Indigenous people the right to a moderate living, it left out the definition of moderate living which is the crux of the dispute.

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GUESTS:

Dwight Newman - Indigenous Rights and Law Professor at the University of Saskatchewan - https://law.usask.ca/people/faculty/dwight-newman.php

Chief Mike Sack - Chief of the Sipekne'katik First Nation’s in Nova Scotia

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REFERENCES:

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/policing-must-be-adequate-to-keep-everyone-safe-in-indigenous-lobster-dispute-pm-1.5148495?fbclid=IwAR0q-xZNAq5McPRpvQ-nmDW9ttSlvgwNI4cKMFRxrhXzI8Ze8Qf53WuuxSw

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/membertou-first-nation-to-become-latest-to-join-mi-kmaw-livelihood-fishery-in-n-s-1.5153100?fbclid=IwAR3i3zfMkBGJE4Dcxd3WHaVw7GvWW6er7Wy-XV0UEiOALu1MCvfBkpzicDE

https://globalnews.ca/news/7410158/dispute-nova-scotias-indigenous-lobster-fishery/

https://globalnews.ca/news/7410066/michael-sack-sipeknekatik-chief-parliament/

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/we-want-answers-mps-hold-emergency-debate-over-handling-of-n-s-lobster-dispute-1.5150837

https://theconversation.com/nova-scotia-lobster-dispute-mikmaw-fishery-isnt-a-threat-to-conservation-say-scientists-148396

https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/federal-minister-criticizes-rcmp-response-in-lobster-fishery-dispute-as-more-officers-dispatched-to-intervene

https://financialpost.com/commodities/agriculture/no-science-behind-lobster-dispute-unpacking-the-ugly-conflict-exploding-in-nova-scotia

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-s-first-nation-pulls-commercial-lobster-boats-from-the-water-rcmp-commissioner-defends-police-response-1.5154331?fbclid=IwAR0DXfdHVLvRHiR4qamSkyhrvNg1Uo2_RhkOib8nl9XfIox0lZsOemZojEA

https://globalnews.ca/news/7405129/nova-scotia-fishery-dispute-moderate-livelihood/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/mi-kmaw-fishers-reaction-emergency-debate-1.5769918

https://www.thespec.com/opinion/editorials/2020/10/23/its-ottawas-job-to-settle-bitter-lobster-dispute.html

https://apnews.com/article/nova-scotia-canada-bill-blair-24efe61b02ad21609a6239e4a98bf7b8

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/nova-scotia-lobster-fishing-dispute_ca_5f9042a4c5b6b005f5f1a400

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/10/22/justice-is-needed-in-nova-scotia-to-protect-the-mikmaw-fishers-violence-should-not-be-tolerated.html