(Halifax) The Mi’kmaq community misbehaved after starting a “self-regulated” shrimp fishery that sued non-native Nova Scotia fishermen, the RCMP and the federal government last fall.
In its original application, filed on Friday with the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, the Sipanecki community alleges that non-indigenous commercial fishermen set up stolen and damaged nets and engaged in coordinated operations of intimidation and harassment against Mi’kmaq fishermen are.
He also alleged that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans failed in their duties of ensuring the safety of tribal fishermen.
No allegations were proved in court and none of the defendants named in the trial could be immediately reached for comment.
A separate lawsuit filed last month involves a constitutional challenge to Nova Scotia law, which prevented the Mi’kmaq community from selling lobster caught in St. Mary’s Bay in southwestern Nova Scotia.
The lawsuits are being brought after months of tensions over the so-called “civilized subsistence” fishery, which was launched by the community of Sipekne’katik on 17 September – before the start of the federally regulated fishing season.
The Supreme Court of Canada granted 21 years ago the right of indigenous communities in the eastern part of the country to “hunt and catch fish to ensure decent subsistence”.
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