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UPDATE: BAND COUNCIL CHIEFS AGREE TO 30 DAY MORATORIUM, but Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy people continue to fish. Non-Natives are ready to attack Indians. Free fish dinner for anyone who shows up to help the Indians

Canadian Supreme court affirms Indigenous Fishing Rights in Donald Marshall Ruling. Canadian Government Allows Mobs to Attack Indians and destroy their property.

Kahnawake of Mohawk Territory (Oct. 7 '99) On October 6th Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Herb Dhaliwal met with the chiefs. He tried to persuade the Indians to give in to mob rule by asking them to pull their traps for 30 days to give the non-natives a chance to cool down. The chiefs agreed to have a self-imposed 30 day moratorium. "The chiefs agreed but we the people did not", said many of the people. So today they are back on the water fishing while another mob forms to attack them.

BACKGROUND: One week ago the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that a 1760 treaty affirms that Indigenous People have a right to fish without restriction any time of the year. Donald Marshall, a Mi’kmaq, was arrested for catching eel out of season. He took it to the Supreme Court and won. Since this favorable ruling for Indians hundreds of non-native fishermen have broken over 3,500 traps belonging to the Mi’kmaq fishermen from Burnt Church, a native territory in New Brunswick and vandalized three fish plants suspected of processing native-caught lobster. So far the police have not laid any charges nor stopped these mobs from attacking the Indians and conducting this sabotage of Indian property.

PRESENT SITUATION. The Mi’kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy People need your help. They vowed to continue to exercise their inherent powers. They need your help and are asking native and non-native supporters to come to Burnt Church and Yarmouth Nova Scotia to keep the peace and protect the native fishermen from this organized mob rule. The government continues to stand back allowing the police to watch as non-natives attack the Indian people and damage their property in violation of the ruling. Canada allows the mobs to rule, to desecrate Indian property and sacred sites, to burn native boats, to destroy lobster traps and to beat up native people.

Please contact the people listed below immediately with advice and support; to contact Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Canadian Embassies and consulates worldwide asking about these tactics of using civilians against natives; to ask international organizations to put pressure on Canada; and to get whatever political support they can for the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy Nations. Remember, the native people’s right to fish is supported by the 1760 treaty, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Constitution of Canada. No one should condone violent mobs to deter people from exercising their legal rights. The Indians need more traps, fishing boats, fuel for their boats, communications equipment and other necessary supplies. They especially need people to go there to deter the potential for violence.