Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

MN Mohawk Nation News (Oct., 16 '99) - At this moment hundreds of non-native fishing boats are destroying fishing equipment of the natives in Yarmouth Nova Scotia Canada harbour. They need your letters of support and ideas.

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October 8th, 1999

Hon. Jean Chretien
Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa K1A 0L4

Sir:

As you know recently 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. Since this favourable ruling for Indians hundreds of non-native fishermen have broken thousands of 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.

The members, friends and supporters of the Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with the Native Peoples strongly condemns your government's inaction and demands that immediate protection be provided to the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy fishermen who have a legal right to exercise their inherent powers in the waters of Eastern Canada.

You, sir, have a duty to keep the peace and protect the native fishermen from what looks like organized mob rule. Your government cannot stand back allowing the police to watch as non-native civilians attack the Indian people, desecrate Indian property and sacred sites, burn native boats, destroy lobster traps and threaten more violence. Remember, the native people's right to fish is supported by the 1760 treaty, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Constitution of Canada. You cannot condone violent mobs to deter people from exercising their legal rights.

/S/ Kahn-Tineta Horn, President

Canadian Alliance in Solidarity
with the Native Peoples CASNP
casnp@cyberglobe.net

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October 8th, 1999

Secretary General
United Nations
1 UN Plaza
New York City NY

Sir:

Supreme Court of Canada confirmed in the Marshall decision that a 1760 treaty affirms that the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy Nations have a right to fish without restriction any time of the year. Since this favourable ruling for Indians hundreds of non-native fishermen have broken thousands of 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.

The members, friends and supporters of the Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with the Native Peoples (CASNP) strongly condemns Canada's inaction. CASNP asks the United Nations to intervene and demand that Canada immediately provide protection to the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy fishermen who have a legal right to exercise their inherent powers in the waters of Eastern Canada.

We ask that the United Nations remind the Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, that they have a duty to keep the peace and protect the native fishermen from what looks like organized mob rule. The UN cannot allow Canada to stand by while their police watch non-native civilians attack the Indian people, desecrate Indian property and sacred sites, burn native boats, destroy lobster traps and threaten more violence. The native people's right to fish is supported by the 1760 treaty, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Constitution of Canada. The UN cannot condone violent mobs to deter people from exercising their legal rights.

/S/ Kahn-Tineta Horn, President

Canadian Alliance in Solidarity
with the Native Peoples CASNP
casnp@cyberglobe.net