Saskatoon residents rally to support N.S. Mi'kmaw fishermen amidst dispute

Over 100 people met at a rally in Saskatoon Tuesday afternoon to stand in solidarity with First Nations lobster fishermen in Nova Scotia. 

The show of support comes as Mi'kmaw fishers in the east continue to be the target of increasingly violent protests. 

Lindsay Knight, also known as rapper Eekwol, spoke at the rally. The Indigenous artist declared that she was at the rally as a mother and a supporter of Indigenous rights. 

"What we're doing today is standing in solidarity with them, and letting them know that they're not alone. We're watching, we're aware, and we're here to support any way that we can," said Knight. 

"I'm here today to demand justice … I'm sick of having to stand here to demand justice for Indigenous people."

Approximately 120 people attended the solidarity event at an RCMP detachment located at 400 Brand Place in Saskatoon at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Attendees stood in a large circle where mask-clad groups physically distanced themselves from each other. 

People held signs that read 'I stand with treaty 1742,' 'All eyes on Mi'kma'ki,' 'No Justice on Stolen Land' and 'Indigenous Lives Matter.'

The fishing dispute ramped up when the Sipekne'katik First Nation launched a livelihood fishery in the the southwestern part of Nova Scotia in September.

The Supreme Court has recognized the right of Mi'kmaw fishers to earn a "moderate living" through fishing. But commercial fishermen have spoken out against the decision, believing it to be unfair.

The phrase 'moderate livelihood' was never defined.

The non-Indigenous fishermen want the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to enforce regulations that prohibit a commercial lobster fishery when the season is closed.

The Mi'kmaw have been fishing out of season.

The dispute boiled over on Sept. 20 when about 350 lobster traps were removed by non-Indigenous fishermen in St. Mary's Bay. Fishers with the Sipekne'katik First Nation allege the non-Indigenous fishermen vandalized their equipment and vessels. 

Dozens of commercial fishermen began gathering in New Edinburgh on the afternoon of Oct. 13. By nightfall, a van was set ablaze outside a facility where Mi'kmaw fishermen were storing their catches. The facility was damaged and lobster stolen.

Indigenous leaders are condemning the actions as racist hate crimes and calling for the RCMP to step up their response. 

On Tuesday at the Saskatoon solidarity rally, Knight made calls to defund the RCMP.

"Defund those that do not protect Indigenous people and defund those that harm Indigenous people," Knight said. 

"We have a human right to exist. … Why are we standing here? Because our ancestors have stood here for thousands of years ... They [the Mi'kmaw] can feel this energy," said Knight. 

Conflict origin 

The dispute originally started in 1999 when supreme court said Indigenous people can fish without a licence in support of a "moderate livelihood." The supreme court later clarified the government could regulate the Mi'kmaw fishers if there were concerns about conservation.

After the Sipekne'katik First Nation launched a rights-based fishery in September, non-Indigenous commercial fishers who work in the area said the Sipekne'katik fishery is illegal and accuse it of being used as a cloak for a large-scale commercial fishery.

Sylvia McAdam, one of the organizers of Idle No More, also spoke at the Saskatoon rally. She is a lawyer and she said the issue at the centre of the dispute is the rule of law.

"The rule of law that Canada refuses to enforce and the RCMP is part of the problem," McAdam said.

"The 1999 decision clearly states that the Mi'kmaw have a treaty right ... For the RCMP to stand by and watch the violence, they're upholding racism and white supremacy."

McAdam urged Saskatoon rally attendees to call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to apply the rule of law immediately. 

Knight echoes McAdam's thoughts. 

"We're helping in a sense over here in Treaty 6 territory with just an acknowledgement of treaties. We're hoping to get a stronger understanding of what treaties mean. How they are agreements and legislation that are encoded in our pre-Canadian context. They've been around forever," said Knight. 

Ottawa is now promising to continue negotiating with all parties to defuse the crisis.