Garden River First Nation speaks out in support of Mi'kmaw communities

As tensions escalate in Nova Scotia over the lobster fisheries and people of the Mi'kmaw communities attempts to assert their sovereignty and avail themselves of their Constitutional and treaty rights, other first nations across the country have added their voices in support of their brothers and sisters to the east.

Garden River First Nation, led by Chief Andy Rickard, is another in the list of communities lending their support and calling upon the federal government to defend the rights of the Mi'kmaw people.

The full text of a statement by Rickard on behalf of his community follows.

Chief Andy Rickard, on behalf of the Ojibways of the Garden River First Nation, joins the many First Nation leaders and allies across the country in denouncing the aggressive actions levelled against peaceful Mi’kmaw citizens over their inherent rights to harvest their lobster fishery.

The Garden River First Nation stands with our Mi’kmaw relatives in strength and unity in their struggle to exercise and protect their Constitutional and Treaty rights in harvesting their fishing rights bestowed to the Mi’kmaw people since time immemorial.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in June of 2017 that “No relationship is more important to Canada than the relationship with Indigenous Peoples.”

We call upon the Prime Minister and Premier McNeil to take immediate and concrete action to bring a peaceful resolution to this matter and end the violence against the Mi’kmaw Nation that is exercising its rights given it by the Creator.

We are appalled that the Federal Government is standing worthlessly by as our brothers and sisters continue to be physically taunted and harmed by non-Indigenous fishermen from the province of Nova Scotia, stated Chief Rickard.

Please contact your federal Member of Parliament and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take action now.