LENNOX PASSAGE, N.S. — A group of about 30 demonstrators made their way to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans depot in Lennox Passage Wednesday to protest the seizure of lobster traps the governmental body seized this past weekend.
The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs said in a statement that about 200 traps from Potlotek and Eskasoni First Nation were seized by the department out of St. Peter's Bay. Traps were stored at the depot in Lennox Passage, located about 30 km southeast of Port Hawkesbury.
The traps were part of the community's moderate livelihood plans and for Evan Johnson, seeing the traps seized was money out of his and his family's pocket.
“It hurts man, it sucks honestly, you know but I’d like to get them back,” said the 24-year-old.
He’s been fishing since he was 14 and loves being out on the water. And he knows the St. Peter's Bay can be lucrative. That’s why it pained him to see his traps seized.
Since Potlotek’s moderate livelihood launched, he’s dropped about 75 lobster traps and only has 25 still in the water. Johnson counted 35 traps at the DFO depot and estimates he’s lost $20,000-$35,000 because of it.
"We have a right to fish, and I have to support my family and I have kids I have to support,” said Johnson.
He wants his two sons to know their rights and if they want, they can make money selling lobster also. Johnson hopes that the federal government is listening and thinks it's only appropriate for the Mi’kmaw harvesters to be compensated for their lost wages and gear after years of harassment.
About 21 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the Mi’kmaq had a right to hunt, fish and sell their product to make a moderate livelihood but in the years since the country has struggled to define it. Harvesters like Johnson say they’ve been harassed for years trying to implement their treaty rights.
“Hopefully everybody gets to open their eyes to what's happening and maybe this would stop eventually,” said Johnson.
Jane Deeks, press secretary for the office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard said in an email that the department was aware of the ongoing situation and would work closely with Chief Leroy Denny of Eskasoni and Chief Wilbert Marshall of Potlotek.
Bernadette Marshall helped organize the protests and felt the actions taken by the local depot and the words DFO Minister Bernadette Jordan uttered during the House of Commons emergency debate Monday were a bit of mixed messaging.
“Minister Jordan stated to let them fish and that’s what I got out of it and to leave us alone. And that’s her department right now that’s seizing traps from our fishermen,” said Marshall.
Poltotek First Nation even sent its community bus to help people voice their concerns and none were louder than Byron Johnson. The 60-year-old felt a collective pain with the fishers who had their traps seized and demanded they be returned.
“We’ve been fishing and hunting and gathering for thousands and thousands of years and they have no right to try and put a stop to our livelihood and our way of life," said Johnson.
