Articles by Maureen Googoo

About Maureen Googoo

Maureen Googoo is an award-winning journalist from Indian Brook First Nation (Sipekne'katik) in Nova Scotia. She has worked in news more than 30 years for media outlets such as CBC Radio, the Chronicle-Herald and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Maureen has an arts degree in political science from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, a journalism degree from Ryerson University in Toronto and a Masters degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City.

Next step for Sipekne’katik lobster harvesters in moderate livelihood fishery is selling catch

September 28, 2020 Maureen Googoo

Terrence Augustine said his first week of lobster fishing under his treaty right to earn a moderate livelihood from the fishery was rough. He said non-Indigenous commercial fishermen cut the lines attached to the 50 […]

Sipekne’katik Chief says Mi’kmaw lobster traps vandalized in St. Mary’s Bay over the weekend

September 21, 2020 Maureen Googoo

The Chief of the Sipekne’katik First Nation says lobster harvesters from his community were the target of vandals who cut their trap lines in St. Mary’s Bay over the weekend. Chief Michael Sack, who accused […]

Nova Scotia First Nation launches its own moderate livelihood fishery

September 18, 2020 Maureen Googoo

Unable to reach an agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to define a moderate livelihood, one Nova Scotia First Nation has instead launched its own rights-based lobster fishery. The Sipekne’katik First Nation rolled […]

Mi’kmaw harvesters confront protesters at wharf in southwestern Nova Scotia

September 15, 2020 Maureen Googoo

Mi’kmaw lobster harvesters confronted a large group of protesters who gathered at a wharf in Weymouth, N.S. Tuesday morning to protest against the Mi’kmaq treaty right to fish for a moderate livelihood. Approximately 300 protesters, […]

Sipekne’katik Chief calls on NS Premier, DFO, RCMP to protect Mi’kmaw harvesters’ treaty rights

September 15, 2020 Maureen Googoo

The chief of the Sipekne’katik First Nation in Nova Scotia is calling for the Nova Scotia premier, the minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the RCMP to protect Mi’kmaw lobster harvesters from harassment while they […]

Paqtnkek Chief Paul Prosper elected AFN Vice-Chief for NS/NL

September 7, 2020 Maureen Googoo

A Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chief has been elected as a regional vice-chief for the Assembly of First Nations. Chief Paul Prosper of the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation will represent Mi’kmaw chiefs from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland […]

Mi’kmaw lobster harvesters feeling harassed for practising moderate livelihood fishery

September 4, 2020 Maureen Googoo

Mi’kmaw lobster harvesters in southwestern Nova Scotia say they feel harassed by non-Indigenous harvesters for practicing their treaty right to earning a moderate livelihood by setting lobster traps in St. Mary’s Bay. “It’s been very […]

Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw lobster harvester to file an injunction against DFO for seizing traps

September 1, 2020 Maureen Googoo

A Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw lobster harvester plans to file an injunction against the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for seizing his traps in the Bay of Fundy last weekend. “I’m going to get (my lawyer) […]

Missing teen found safe after search in wooded area in Cape Breton

August 22, 2020 Maureen Googoo

A 14-year-old girl from We’koqma’q First Nation in Nova Scotia who was missing for more than a week has been found safe. According to a news release, RCMP Air Services reported a fire in an […]

Former NSNWA President files human rights complaint against NS Aboriginal Affairs Minister

November 18, 2019 Maureen Googoo

The former president of the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association has filed a complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission against Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil, who is also the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. […]

Remembering William Basque, the Mi’kmaw veteran behind the poem, Sma’knis

November 8, 2019 Maureen Googoo

Rose Basque recalls when her late husband, William Basque, wrote the poem, Sma’knis, back in 1992. She said he had trouble going to sleep one night. “He said, ‘Oh my God. My mind is going […]

Band members have more questions than answers in proposed 1919 land claim deal

November 6, 2019 Maureen Googoo

Several members of the Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia have more questions than answers after examining one of the three parcels of land in Halifax County that’s part of a $49-million land claim. On […]

Prosper seeks fourth term as Chief of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation

October 31, 2019 Maureen Googoo

Paul Prosper is seeking a fourth consecutive term as the chief of the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation in Nova Scotia because he wants to continue to steer the community in several ongoing initiatives such as commercial […]

Mi’kmaw lawyer wants Alton to stop work until court injunction is decided

October 29, 2019 Maureen Googoo

The lawyer (from this site) representing three Mi’kmaw women challenging a proposed permanent court injunction filed by the Alton Natural Gas Storage Project wants all current work at the site to stop while the issue […]

Two Indigenous candidates from Atlantic Canada win seats in 2019 Federal Election

October 22, 2019 Maureen Googoo

Two Indigenous candidates from Atlantic Canada are heading to the House of Commons following Monday’s federal election. In Nova Scotia, Liberal party candidate Jaime Battiste was elected to represent the riding of Sydney-Victoria. Battiste received […]