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SEPTEMBER 13, 2000

Fourteen people in New Brunswick were arrested yesterday, including Chief Wilbur Dedam of the Burnt Church First Nation, as Department of Fisheries and Oceans continued their fight to keep Mi'kmaq fisherman off the waters of Miramichi Bay.

DFO Minister Herb Dhaliwal had allegedly said no more arrests or enforcment was to occur. But Native leaders say he went back on his promise, threatening the dispute resolution process.

Former Ontario PM Bob Rae recently agreed to mediate the dispute between the DFO and the Burnt Church, who have refused to sign an agreement or allow the government to regulate their fishing rights. Last year's Marshall decision affirmed the rights of Mi'kmaq and Maliseet to fish, but the Supreme Court later said the goverment can regulate that right.

Four boats were seized in the latest raid.

Get the Story:
Fishery officers seize native boats in N.B. (CBC 9/13)

Related Stories:
Fishing dispute mediation to begin (First Nations 9/12)
Potential dispute mediator weighs role (First Nations 9/11)
Group wants boats off water (First Nations 9/6)
Support for Mi'kmaq grows (First Nations 9/5)
Fishing rights still in dispute (First Nations 9/1)
Mi'kmaq done with government (First Nations 08/15)
Mi'kmaq organize blockade (First Nations 08/14)
Mi'kmaq defy government (First Nations 08/11)
Treaty rights battle heads to court (First Nations 06/06)
Treaty rights battle continues (First Nations 06/02)
Govt seizes traps (First Nations 05/22)
Mi'kmaq test limits of treaty rights (First Nations 05/10)
Natives defy government (First Nations 05/08)
Treaty rights face test (First Nations 05/01)
Peacemakers arrive at fishery (First Nations 04/05)

Relevant Links:
Fishing Fury, from the CBC: cbc.ca/news/indepth/fishingfury/index.html