Sipekne’katik – Ku'ku'kwes News

Charges withdrawn against fishermen in elver eel dispute

May 3, 2024 Megan James

Charges against two fish harvesters who were involved in a violent altercation over the elver eel fishery in April 2023 were withdrawn in Halifax Provincial Court on April 18. Crown attorney Ben Hoskins informed Judge […]

Fisheries Court Cases Roundup: February 19-23, 2024

February 22, 2024 Maureen Googoo

February 20-21: Dartmouth Provincial Court Daniel Francis, 45, from Pictou Landing First Nation Trent Francis, 33, from Pictou Landing First Nation A two-day trial got underway for Daniel Francis and Trent Francis in Dartmouth Provincial […]

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. […]

Fisheries Court Cases Roundup: January 22-26, 2024

January 26, 2024 Maureen Googoo

January 22: Digby Provincial Court Eight Mi’kmaw fishermen from Sipekne’katik and Eskasoni First Nations were scheduled to appear in Digby Provincial Court on January 22. Levi Toney, 29, from Sipekne’katik First Nation Levi Toney is […]

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 […]

More than 50 Mi’kmaw fishers charged with fishery offences in Nova Scotia courts

September 25, 2023 Maureen Googoo

More than 50 Mi’kmaw fish harvesters from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are currently before the courts in Nova Scotia on fishery-related offences. The charges range from fishing for lobster or elver eels without authorization, […]

Nova Scotia judge reserves decision in treaty fishing rights case

October 19, 2022 Maureen Googoo

A Nova Scotia provincial court judge has reserved his decision in a court case that involves the treaty right to fish to earn a moderate livelihood. Leon Knockwood, 27, James Nevin, 38, and Logan Pierro-Howe, […]

Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services sues Sipekne’katik following order to leave community

August 29, 2022 Maureen Googoo

An Indigenous agency that provides child protection and family support services to First Nation communities in Nova Scotia is suing the province’s second largest Mi’kmaw First Nation after it was ordered to leave one of […]

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 […]

RCMP say a church fire at a Nova Scotia First Nation is suspicious

July 1, 2021 Maureen Googoo

The RCMP is investigating a fire that happened at a Catholic church in Indian Brook First Nation, N.S. According to the RCMP, police and the local fire department responded to a fire at St. Kateri […]

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 […]