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A United Nations committee is seeking answers from Canada regarding the racism and violence Mi’kmaw lobster fishers experienced while they exercised their treaty right to fish for a moderate livelihood in Nova Scotia last fall.
In a letter dated April 30, the chair for the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) asked Leslie Norton, Canada’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland to explain what Canada has done to:
Investigate alleged acts of racism, violence and vandalism against Mi’kmaw fishers and supporters
Investigate alleged lack of response by officers with the RCMP and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to protect Mi’kmaw people
MIDDLE WEST PUBNICO, N.S. On Oct. 13, Mi’kmaw fisher Jason Marr brought his catch to a lobster pound in Middle West Pubnico and a mob of commercial fishers formed outside. I got myself barricaded in the lobster pound here, Marr said. Rocks were hurled, a vehicle was set on fire, and the building was raided. Commercial fishers were upset that the Mi kmaq fishers were setting lobster traps outside of the commercial lobster fishing season. They called on DFO stop them and some took matters into their own hands. Hopefully charges come through for that, said Mike Sack the Chief of Sipekne katik First Nation which was operating a moderate livelihood fishery at the time. I’d like to see a lot more. You know there was hundreds of people at the wharf and at the pound and there just needs to be a lot more people held accountable.