Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
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Monday, June 25
One of the fisher leaders at Indian Brook First Nation told Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) members Joanne (Jake) Kaufman and Lena Siegers how important learning to fish inshore for lobster has been for young Aboriginal people from Indian Brook First Nation (IBFN). She is concerned that the motivation and selfdetermination of the young fishers will be undermined by the band signing an agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) that limits the number people who can participate, the number of traps on the water, and the tonnage taken in.

The Millbrook First Nation at Truro NS, which is about 20 minutes from Indian Brook, signed a threeyear agreement with the DFO, gaining $25 million. According to news reports, the $25 million will be used in part for an arctic char fish farm. Fishers said that the farm might employ ten people at Millbrook leaving most of the others unemployed. When one First Nation signs with DFO and the media speak of millions of dollars involved, it puts pressure on others to sign, which creates tension within communities.

Two Aboriginal teenagers from IBFN have been arrested and charged with murder in the death of a nonAboriginal teen in what IBFN members see as an incident stemming from racial tension. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) claimed on TV news that it was "not at all racially motivated."

The chief of Indian Brook First Nation, Reg Maloney, was charged with breach of trust and fraud because he allegedly signed a paper which allowed a relative to buy back traps that had been confiscated from fishers by the DFO. There is much tension here because the fishers are unemployed as a result of DFO's refusal to recognize their Aboriginal right to fish.

Tuesday, June 26
CPT met with fishers from 4:00 7:00pm. Chief Maloney told the fishers that he was being charged, but he maintained he was innocent. There was heated discussion about whether to accept DFO's proposals for the community's fishers. Fishers discussed with their lawyer the court cases that will come up on July 10. These are charges brought against them during last year's fishing.

Wednesday, June 27
The Robinsons told of a land claim they filed several years ago on the land where the Aboriginal residential school was situated. The land claim includes 1900 acres in and around the town of Shubenacadie (aka, "Shubie.") The claim has been filed, but the family does not pay taxes on the land.

CPT contacted an organization which brings Aboriginal and nonAboriginal fishers together to discuss problems of inshore fishing in the St. Mary's Bay area in southern Nova Scotia. The organization's head expressed some reservations about Indian Brook fishing at St.Mary's Bay, since they are now an inland community (as a result of the government's "centralization" policies in the early 20th century).

CPTers took two of their hosts shopping at a large Mall nearby. Some Aboriginal people hadbeen treated rudely there since the arrest of the two young men from Indian Brook. The day's shopping took place without incident.

Sunday, July 1
Kaufman and Siegers attended the United Church in "Shubie" in the morning. They each received a "peace candle" as visitors. They handed out CPT brochures and visited over juice and cookies. The interim pastor had been involved with the Tatamagouche Centre and had read reports from the Aboriginal Rights Coalition and CPT about Esgeno=F4petitj last year. He already had CPT's email address but was pleased to receive the "Gunboat Diplomacy" report. Kaufman and Siegers returned to camp for lunch and goodbyes then left for Yarmouth where Kaufman met a ferry to Portland, Maine on her way back to Colorado.

Monday July 2
Siegers visited Bear River First Nation in southwest Nova Scotia and met with a former Chief who makes and sells white ash baskets like his people have made for centuries. He showed her a basket that was 100 years old and told Siegers that if she keeps the basket she bought dry, it too will last 100 years. He presented her with a gift he made out of ash by splitting the year lines on the wood which made it into a "clacker."

When asked about fishing, he said he knows little but said an agreement has not been signed with DFO but his band had "agreed not to fish". He was interested in Esgeno=F4petitj and Indian Brook's struggle for self-determination and treaty rights, and agreed they have a right to fish.