Mi'kmaw Leaders Condemn DFO Over Racist Treatment of Fishermen

Mi'kmaw Leaders Decry Systemic Racism in DFO Incident

Two Mi'kmaw fishermen from Unama'ki (Cape Breton) were left walking along a Nova Scotia highway at night without phones or footwear after DFO officers seized their belongings. The incident has sparked outrage among Indigenous leaders who are calling it a clear case of systemic racism.

The Incident Unfolds

On March 26, Blaise Sylliboy and Kevin Hartling were fishing for elver eels near Shelburne when DFO officers arrived. The two men were separated from their belongings, including phones and waders, and left at a gas station in the dark. Sylliboy, a 25-year-old from Eskasoni First Nation, described the experience as dehumanizing.

We'koqma'q Chief Annie Bernard-Daisley condemned the treatment, stating, "It's inhumane. It's unacceptable." Millbrook Chief Bob Gloade echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the disrespect shown to Indigenous people.

Community Response and Protest

On April 2, a protest took place near DFO's Dartmouth office where supporters, including Indigenous leaders, removed their shoes to demonstrate solidarity with the fishermen. The symbolic act highlighted the lack of footwear the men were forced to walk without.

The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs issued a statement on March 28, linking the incident to broader systemic racism within DFO and the federal government. They demanded immediate action against the officers involved and called for a meeting with DFO leadership to address the situation.

Treaty Rights and Season Closure

The incident occurred amid ongoing tensions over DFO's decision to close the 2024 elver eel fishing season in the Maritimes. Both Mi'kmaw and Wolastoqey leaders have criticized this move, arguing it violates their treaty rights to a moderate livelihood through fishing.

The closure was implemented to prevent unauthorized fishing and reduce violence between harvesters and DFO officers. However, Indigenous leaders maintain that the decision disproportionately impacts their communities' economic and cultural practices.