A traffic slowdown was held on Highway 17 yesterday to show support for the Mi’kmaq people of Nova Scotia.
The Chiefs of Serpent River First Nation and Mississauga First Nation jointly organized the protest and exchanged fish yesterday morning symbolizing their support of Indigenous fishing rights.
Serpent River FN Chief Brent Bissaillion and Mississauga FN Chief Reg Niganobe also released a joint statement affirming the Treaty Rights of the Mi’kmaq people.
The exchange took place at the halfway mark between the two bands’ territories.
The dispute has seen several large demonstrations and physical confrontations by commercial fishermen in Nova Scotia against the Sipekne’katik First Nation which has launched a self-regulated lobster fishery outside of the federally regulated commercial fishing season.
It has also seen the destruction of a lobster pound used by the Mi’kmaq to store their catch.
The Nova Scotia facility was burned to the ground and is the focus of a fire and police investigation to determine its cause.
