From: Jean-Claude Basque <
[email protected] > Open letter to the Prime Minister August 31, 2000 The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Room 309-S, Centre Block Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister Chrétien: We, the undersigned, have followed the situation evolving in the fisheries since the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its decision in the Marshall case. We are very concerned by the attitude and actions of our government in this matter especially in regard to the Native community of Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church). We have seen on the news (August 29, 2000), some appalling actions organized by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. These actions are violent and are certainly not conducive to a peaceful negotiated settlement. Such settlement will only be achieved if and when your government acknowledges that Section 35 of the 1982 Canadian Constitution recognizes aboriginal and treaty rights which include, according to the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Sparrow, the First Nations of Canada right to a fishery for food and ceremonial purposes; and according to the Marshall decision, a treaty right for First Nations in Atlantic Canada to earn a moderate livelihood from the fishery. Any negotiations which are not rooted in such a basic acknowledgment are destined to fail. We urge you, Prime Minister, to get personally involved before it is too late. Real negotiations between the community of Esgenoopetitj and the Federal Government should start without any further delay. Signed Jean Arnold, Executive Director, Fall Brook Centre, Knowsville, N. B. Fernand Arsenault, Docteur en Théologie/Doctor in Theology, Université de Moncton Marin Aubin, Avocat/Lawyer Louise Aucoin, Professeure de droit/Law professor, Université de Moncton Katherine A.