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NEGUAC, NEW BRUNSWICK - On August 31, Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) member William Payne appeared in Neguac court on behalf of CPTer Father Robert Holmes and himself. Both had been charged with "obstructing a fishery officer who was carrying out his duties under the Fisheries Act (section 62)."

Payne asked the court to have the proceedings translated into Mi'kmaq as the matter is related to the Mi'kmaq fishery and as there were many people in attendance in the court room who speak Mi'kmaq as their first language.

Judge Lordon said that he would ask the Justice Department if they can provide a Mi'kmaq translator. The matter was held over until September 7, 2000, at which time a date will be set for trial.

Holmes (64 years old), a Catholic priest and a member of the Congregation of St. Basil, is a retired secondary school principal. For the last six years he has overseen the formation of those interested in the priesthood. He was in ESGENO'PETITJ (Burnt Church, N.B.) earlier this year and is presently part of the CPT team in Hebron, West Bank, in the middle-east.

Payne (36 years old), a secondary school teacher presently on leave of absence from his teaching responsibilities, is a full-time member of the CPT corps. He has been part of the CPT team that has been in ESGENO'PETITJ for several months this year. Payne has also been part of the CPT team in Chiapas, Mexico for three rotations since August 1998. Both men are from Toronto, Ontario.

Members of the CPT New Brunswick team currently include Joel Klassen (Kitchener, ON), William Payne (Toronto, ON), Janet Shoemaker (Goshen, IN) and Lena Siegers (Blyth, ON). CPT has come by invitation of the people of ESGENO'PETITJ to accompany the First Nations people as they struggle for respect and for the recognition of their aboriginal right to fish.