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ESGENOOPETITJ / Burnt Church, Canada - At 11:00am on Friday morning several hundred members of the Esgenoôpetitj First Nation (EFN) prayed at the shore of Miramichi Bay along with their supporters from across Canada. Community elders gave blessings and offered tobacco; the entire gathered assembly joined hands and sang the Mi'qmac honor song.

The prayer ceremony took place against a backdrop of potential violence. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) had set 11:00am (Atlantic Time) as the deadline for EFN fishers to have all of their lobster traps out of the water. Herb Dahliwal, head of the DFO, continued to threaten the use of force, insisting that the DFO would remove the traps if native fishers did not. The Canadian army has been put on standby and could raid or blockade the community at any time.

With the possibility of imminent violence here, the Esgenoôpetitj community and elders have asked Christian Peacemaker Teams to send this urgent action.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

--The community is requesting volunteers to act as third party observers. The local gymnasium is being cleared for sleeping space and meals will be provided. If you can come, bring sleeping gear and any personal items you will need. For more info, contact the CPT Esgenoôpetitj team at 1-506-779-5886

--Contact the Canadian officials below and express your concern about the excessive force that the DFO has been using and has threatened to use in this dispute. Let the officials know that you are following the situation and express your desire that it be resolved peacefully.

WHOM TO CONTACT:

--Ottawa Command Center
Phone: 613-993-4970
Ask for Burnt Church Fishery

-- Wayne Wouters, Deputy Minister of Fisheries
Phone: 613-236-5265 ~ FAX: 506-773-5416

-- Jim Jones, Regional DFO Head
Phone: 506-773-5412 ~ FAX: 606-851-9536