moderate livelihood fishery Archives

Nova Scotia judge dismisses charges against three Mi’kmaw fishermen

January 10, 2023 Maureen Googoo

A Nova Scotia provincial court judge has dismissed fishery charges against three Mi’kmaw lobster fishermen who argued they had a constitutionally protected treaty right to catch and sell fish to earn a moderate livelihood. In […]

Mi’kmaw lawyer says federal government wants to limit treaty rights in Marshall decision through the courts

September 15, 2022 Maureen Googoo

A lawyer who is representing several Mi’kmaw fishermen in three separate fishery trials in Nova Scotia says the federal government is using the courts to limit where his clients can practice their treaty fishing rights. […]

Moderate livelihood treaty right at centre of fishery trial in Nova Scotia

September 9, 2022 Maureen Googoo

A trial involving three Mi’kmaw fishermen who say they were exercising their treaty right to fish for a living when they were charged with fishery offences is currently underway in Digby, N.S. James Nevin, 38, […]

Mi’kmaw fisherman to set date for trial on constitutional challenge in October

August 23, 2022 Maureen Googoo

A Mi’kmaw fisherman who is fighting fishery charges against him on constitutional grounds will return to court in October to set a trial date. Cory Francis, 53, appeared before Judge Paul Scovil in provincial court […]

AFN National Chief calls on DFO to stop intimidating, harassing Mi’kmaw fishers

September 10, 2021 Maureen Googoo

The National Chief for the Assembly of First Nations is calling on the federal government to stop criminalizing treaty rights and end the harassment and intimidation of Mi’kmaw fishers on the waters. “Intimidation and violence […]

Sipekne’katik chief arrested, detained by DFO following launch of annual treaty lobster fishery

August 17, 2021 Maureen Googoo

The chief of the Sipekne’katik First Nation in Nova Scotia was arrested and questioned by federal fishery officers Monday just as community fishers began its annual treaty lobster fishery in Saulnierville, N.S. Chief Mike Sack […]

Nova Scotia NDP leader says fish-buying regulations can change to accommodate moderate livelihood treaty right

July 29, 2021 Maureen Googoo

The leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party says the province can change fish-buying regulations to accommodate First Nations’ treaty right to buy and sell fish to earn a moderate livelihood. “When that court-mandated […]

Sipekne’katik fisherman says delay in fishery launch the smart decision for now

June 5, 2021 Maureen Googoo

Robert Syliboy said he was reluctant to drop his lobster traps in St. Mary’s Bay this week. “If I put my gear in the water today, it would likely be gone by tomorrow,” the Mi’kmaw […]

United Nations committee seeks answers from Canada over racism, violence against Mi’kmaw fishers

May 11, 2021 Maureen Googoo

A United Nations committee is seeking answers from Canada regarding the racism and violence Mi’kmaw lobster fishers experienced while they exercised their treaty right to fish for a moderate livelihood in Nova Scotia last fall. […]

Sipekne’katik to resume lobster fishing under moderate livelihood June 1

April 23, 2021 Maureen Googoo

The Sipekne’katik First Nation in Nova Scotia says it plans to continue on with its own treaty fishery in St. Mary’s Bay in June despite the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’s directive that all moderate […]

Sipekne’katik sues Nova Scotia, says fish buying regulations infringe on treaty rights

February 5, 2021 Maureen Googoo

The Sipekne’katik First Nation is suing the Nova Scotia government over regulations that oversee fish and seafood sales from fish harvesters to buyers, calling them unconstitutional and an infringement of Mi’kmaw treaty rights. In the […]

Membertou latest First Nation to leave Assembly of NS Mi’kmaw Chiefs, KMKNO

October 28, 2020 Maureen Googoo

The Membertou First Nation is the latest Mi’kmaw community to withdrawn from the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs and the Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office. In a news release issued on Wednesday, Membertou Chief Terry […]

Mi’kmaw lobster harvester is pleased with court injunction against hostile protesters

October 22, 2020 Maureen Googoo

One of two Mi’kmaw lobster harvesters who were barricaded inside a lobster facility in West Pubnico, N.S. says he is pleased that a Nova Scotia judge has granted a temporary injunction against hostile protesters like […]

Angry mob trap Mi’kmaw fishermen at a lobster pound in southwestern Nova Scotia

October 14, 2020 Maureen Googoo

An angry mob of non-Indigenous lobster fishermen trapped two Mi’kmaw fishermen inside a lobster pound in southwestern Nova Scotia late Tuesday evening. According to Jason Marr, a Mi’kmaw lobster fisherman with the Sipekne’katik First Nation, […]

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 […]