moderate livelihood

Mi’kmaw leaders accuse DFO of racism after fishermen were forced to walk at night without phones, shoes

April 3, 2024 Maureen Googoo

Mi’kmaw leaders are accusing Fishery and Oceans Canada, or DFO, of systemic racism after two Mi’kmaw fishermen from Unama’ki (Cape Breton) were forced to walk along the highway at night without their phones and shoes […]

NS judge dismisses fishery obstruction charges against two Mi’kmaw men

March 25, 2024 Maureen Googoo

A Nova Scotia judge dismissed fishery obstruction charges against two Mi’kmaw men who were transporting crates of lobsters from the Saulnierville wharf in September 2021. Provincial Court Judge Brad Sarson found that the two fishery […]

Fisheries Court Cases Roundup: Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2024

March 1, 2024 Maureen Googoo

February 26: Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court Ashton Bernard, 34, from Eskasoni First Nation Ashton Bernard’s lawyer appeared on his behalf via phone in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court on February 26 regarding fishery offences dating back […]

Fisheries Court Cases Roundup: February 5-9, 2024

February 9, 2024 Maureen Googoo

February 7: Bridgewater Provincial Court Ashton Bernard, 34, from Eskasoni First Nation Arden Bernard, 25, from Eskasoni First Nation Rayen Francis, 25, from Pictou Landing First Nation Zachery Nicholas, 37, from Pictou Landing First Nation […]

Fisheries Court Cases Roundup: January 29 – February 2, 2024

February 2, 2024 Maureen Googoo

January 29: Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court Ashton Bernard, 33, from Eskasoni First Nation Lawyer Alex McKillop joined court via phone on behalf of his client, Ashton Bernard, before Judge Laurel Halfpenny-MacQuarrie for a status update. […]

Fishery court cases roundup: Jan. 15-19, 2024

January 19, 2024 Maureen Googoo

Jan. 15: Jordan Chasse, George Denny, Nathan Toney and Jonathan Johnson The fishery trial for Jordan Chasse, George Denny, Nathan Toney and Jonathan Johnson in Digby Provincial Court was adjourned on Jan. 15 due to […]

Fishery court cases roundup: Jan. 8-12, 2024

January 12, 2024 Maureen Googoo

Jan. 8: Cory Francis A new fishery charge against Cory Francis, 54, was withdrawn during a court hearing in Digby Provincial Court on Jan. 8. Francis, a member of the Wasoqopa’q (Acadia) First Nation, was […]

Fishery court cases roundup: Jan. 2-5, 2024

January 5, 2024 Maureen Googoo

There were three fishery-related court cases in Nova Scotia provincial courts this week. All of them involve Mi’kmaw fishermen challenging fishery-related charges against them on constitutional grounds. The hearings this week mostly dealt with pre-trial […]

“We can’t use our treaty rights to fish.” Mi’kmaw fishermen upset with fines following sentencing circle for fishery offences

December 18, 2023 Maureen Googoo

Two Mi’kmaw fishermen from the Pictou Landing First Nation in Nova Scotia are upset with the amount of fines they received following a sentencing circle for lobster fishing out of season. A provincial court judge […]