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. Barnaby, Environmental Project Coordinator/Research Assistant Eel Ground First Nation, N.B. Jean-Claude Basque, Représentant Syndical/Union Representative, Canadian Labour Congress-Congrès du travail du Canada Sophia Bella, Artist, Hampton, N. B. Michèle Caron, Professeure de droit/Law professor, Université de Moncton Herménigilde Chiasson, Président/President, Centre Culturel Aberdeen Bob Childs, Ten Days for Global Peace Shirley Childs, Ten Days for Global Peace Omer Chouuinard, Professeur en Étude de l'environnement/Professor Environmental Studies, Univ. de Moncton Amelia Clarke, Environmental Research, Halifax, N. S. Mary Ann Coleman, Co-ordinatrice du Réseau Environnemental du N-B/Co-ordinator of the NB Environmental Network Cynthia Coates, MCPL, (Ret'd), Waterford, N. B. David Coon, Conservationist Auréa Cormier, PHD, Membre de l'Ordre du Canada/Member of the Order of Canada Blair Doucet, Président , Fédération des travailleuses et travailleurs du N.-B./President, New Brunswick Federation of Labour Dr. Lucy Dyer, Biologist, Fredericton, N. B. Carol Ferguson, Fredericton, N. B. Ronald Fournier, President, The Clearinghouse Group, Glassville, N. B. Huberte Gautreau, Co-présidente de la Marche mondiale des femmes N-B/Co-chair, New Brunswick World Women's March Brigid Grant, Artist, Fredericton, N. B. Richard Grant, Geologist, Fredericton, N. B. Gilles Halley, Co-président du Front commun pour la justice sociale N-B, Co-chair, New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice Janice Harvey, Columnist, Waweig John Hooper, Sculptor, Hampton, N. B. Sue Hooper, Graphic Artist, Hampton, N. B. Thaddeus Holownia, Artist & Professor, Sackville, N. B. Rev. Leslie Jay and Gail Carter Jay, Co-Presidents, Maritime Conference, United Church of Canada Claudette Lagrandeur, Co-ordinatrice, Union des Femmes pour l'Équité Salariale NB/ Coordinator, Women's Union for Pay Equity-NB Michel LeBlanc, Desneiges, Terre à Terre, Moncton, N.-B. Robert LeBlanc, Professeur de droit/Law Professor, Université de Moncton Alonzo Léger, Alicia Leger, Aboriginal Rights Coalition Florien Levesque, écrivain/writer Ghita Levin, Artist, Baie Verte, N. B. Willie Lirette, Membre du Conseil national de Développement et Paix/Member on the National Council of Peace and Development Clark Phillips, Farmer and Woodlot Owner, Penobsquis, N. B. Linda Silas, Présidente, Syndicat des infirmiers et infirmières du N.-B./President, New Brunswick Nurses' Union Claude Snow, Porte-parole du Comité des 12 Gérard Snow, Université de Moncton Marc Spence, Biologist and Woodlot owner, Baie Verte, N. B. Paula Tippet, Physician, Saint John, N. B. Karen Townsend, Fundy Environmental Action Group, Alma, N. B. Susan Tyler, Farmer, Woodlot Owner and Teacher, Penobsquis, N. B. Peggy Woolsey, Teacher and Artist, Saint John, N. B. .