Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
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Halifax, Nova Scotia - Fisher families from the Indian Brook First Nation set lobster traps in Halifax harbour to celebrate National Aboriginal Day, June 21. But the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) was still unwilling to recognize the right of Mi'kmaq fishers to fish under their own regulations.

One Mi'kmaq fisher sat in a green canoe with red and white painted metal lobster traps on board in the front of DFO's offices. Signs in the canoe said, "I want to Fish," and "Can't Catch Lobster on Land." Several dozen Mi'kmaq people circled in front of the DFO offices, carrying signs that said, "Born with a Right, Want to Fish, Forced to Be a Bum," "Hunt, Fish, Gather: Our Way of Life," "Our Fishing, Our Management, Our Regulations," and "Honour the Treaties."

The front doors of the DFO building were locked for part of the day. DFO employees peered out of their office windows or walked through the crowd, but would not interact with the Mi'kmaq people.

Before the vigil began, a non-Aboriginal man leaned out his car window, shouting, "Give it up, give it up!" But many others driving by honked or waved in support.

A non-Aboriginal woman from Halifax joined the group, wrapped in a fishing net. She carried a sign saying, "First Nations were here First; They have First dibs." She said she supported the action, because "You don't see [Mi'kmaq] out with factory trawlers. They could teach us a thing or two about conservation."

After the vigil, the Mi'kmaq fishers launched the canoe into Halifax harbour, with jests all around, trying to keep it balanced so no one would fall into the notoriously polluted water. Lobster traps were set with no interference from the DFO, which has repeatedly threatened to shut down any attempt by Indian Brook fishers to set traps.

When the fishers returned to the harbour later in the afternoon to check their traps, they only found crabs inside and threw them back into the bay. DFO Manager of Aboriginal Operations, Steve Wilson, said that his officials would not interfere with the Indian Brook fishers on Aboriginal Day.

But the government's "zero tolerance" policy for Aboriginal fishers is still in effect. Indian Brook's fishers know that if they return to their traditional fishing grounds in St. Mary's Bay, all their equipment, boats and traps could be seized again.

The quote from one of the signs at the Halifax vigil was right on. "Aboriginal Day? One Day is Not Enough!"