#Natoaganeg First Nation

[immaculatasknight]

The sunset of colonialism

[allthecanadianpolitics]

"Mi’gwame’l Tplu”taqnn Inc. (MTI), an organization representing Mi’gmag communities in New Brunswick, has filed a massive title claim that covers more than half of the province on behalf of eight of the province’s Mi’gmag communities.

Their title map overlaps with that of the Wolastoqey First Nation filed in 2021, meaning the entire province and some of the waters surrounding it, are now subject to land claims.

The six chiefs of the Wolastoqey First Nation sent Global News a statement on Wednesday, saying their talks with MTI have been “open, friendly and productive” and that they ” wish to amplify (Wednesday’s) call from the Mi’gmaq chiefs: It’s time for the Government of New Brunswick to see the importance of negotiating recognition and implementation of Indigenous title.”

“We’re not looking to reclaim private lands, that’s not part of the discussion,” Chief George Ginnish of the Natoaganeg First Nation, a Mi’gmag community near Miramichi said in an interview.

“It’s about Crown lands, it’s about industrial activity that’s happening on Crown land. It’s about having a process for development, resource extraction, things that are going on now that are kind of one-offs that would have a formal process.”

MTI based the map on research pertaining to historic land and water use.

Ginnish said MTI intends to negotiate with the province before resorting to the court system.

“Let’s have a realistic discussion that recognizes the relationship and helps our communities move forward and take our rightful place in the words of our elders, in our own land,” he said."

Full article

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[stevemaclellan]

Top Indigenous leaders are warning that the Higgs government has made "a serious mistake" on shale gas that may reignite protests like those seen in the Rexton area in 2013.

They say the province's duty to consult Indigenous people is clearly defined, and the government should have known how to proceed as it tries to restart the industry in one part of the province.

"It's not as if this is all new," said Roger Augustine, the regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. "The blueprint is there."

"There's a lot of case law," said Chief George Ginnish of Natoaganeg First Nation. "There are actual court cases. ... If he needs clarity, we'll certainly provide clarity if that's what he needs."

[bluepointcoin]

First Nations chiefs push for inquiry into systemic racism in N.B.

First Nations chiefs push for inquiry into systemic racism in N.B.

First Nations chiefs in New Brunswick are making their case for an inquiry into policing and the justice system.

Natoaganeg Chief George Ginnish says Indigenous people don’t have many warm, fuzzy memories of dealing with the law.

Ginnish said the fatal police shootings of Chantel Moore and Rodney Levi at the hands of police officers really undermines confidence in a system that is supposed to…

[sadriyassine]

Chief George Ginnish of Natoaganeg First Nation in northern New Brunswick calls for an apology from a Miramichi doctor who displayed a note in his office asking "native patients" not to request tranquillizers or pain medications.

from CBC | Health News http://ift.tt/2sgodWs

[hcsmca]

HCSM News ~ 'Please don't ask for tranquillizers': Doctor's note to First Nations patients has chief calling for apology

Chief George Ginnish of Natoaganeg First Nation in northern New Brunswick calls for an apology from a Miramichi doctor who displayed a note in his office asking "native patients" not to request tranquillizers or pain medications.

Read more from CBC http://ift.tt/2sgodWs

[immaculatasknight]

Hope in Canada

[atlanticcanada]

Indigenous-led harm reduction project receives $1.2 million from Health Canada

An Indigenous-led harm reduction research project has been given about $1.2 million by Health Canada to investigate treatment options for people living with opioid use disorder.

“I’m very proud of this Indigenous-led, strategic, multi-partnered, research-backed, wellness and harm reduction project,” Roger Augustine, retired Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, said in a statement Wednesday.

Augustine is the founder of Gitpo Spirit Lodge, which is leading the project based in Natoaganeg, or Eel Ground, First Nation, in New Brunswick.

Gitpo Spirit Lodge, which opened in 2021, is an Indigenous wellness center focused on engaging with tradition to offer harm reduction and wellness programing.

The new pilot project will research the use of cannabinoid products by people currently receiving opioid agonist medications, which include methadone, naloxone or buprenorphine treatment.

Gitpo Spirit Lodge will work with Natoaganeg First Nation and Dr. Shelley Turner, a member of the Pimicikamak First Nation in Cross Lake, Manitoba, who will provide consultation for the cannabinoid-based medicine program. Turner will lead the medical clinical research team.

The research will involve 30 participants that are from Natoaganeg First Nation.

Natoaganeg First Nation Chief George Ginnish said in a statement Wednesday, “we know that there are members in our community who have experienced, or continue to experience, trauma and who are trying to take control of their lives and their futures.”

“This project provides us with an innovative opportunity to help our members who are struggling, and to reduce the harm related to pharmaceutical treatment for opioid addiction challenging our members, our families, and our communities.”

The University of New Brunswick will support the project through non-medical research by collecting and analyzing data associated with the research. Health Canada is putting $1,193,514 to the project through its Substance Use and Addictions Program.

Augustine said the primary goal of this work is to support harm reduction and wellness for community members that have been “regularly excluded from the decisions that affect their lives.”

The structure of the work will support these individuals in “regaining their rightful place in this community, leading active and contributing roles, including leadership.”

The former chief has spent 46 years of his career developing and implementing harm reduction and wellness programs for members of the Natoaganeg community.

“Indigenous Peoples carry a disproportionate burden of the harms related to the toxic drug and overdose crisis, making it imperative that we invest in community-led projects that can connect people with the culturally sensitive and trauma informed supports they need,” Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett said in a statement.

“Today’s funding will directly support Indigenous people and allow Gitpo Spirit Lodge to make a significant difference in helping those who are struggling with substance use.”  

For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/IKNz3hZ

[atlanticcanada]

'We can no longer sit back': Mi’gmaq First Nations look to claim more of New Brunswick

Speaking out about the fact that they never ceded the lands and waters in New Brunswick, eight Mi’gmaq communities are claiming title to most of the province and even parts of the offshore water.

“We can no longer sit back and be spectators in our homeland,” said Chief Rebecca Knockwood of Amlamgog First Nation in a media release.

“It’s now the time to govern lands for the protection and benefit of future generations.”

The group of First Nations is represented by Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc. (MTI) and say this move is “a step towards self-determination and full recognition of our rights.”

However, the New Brunswick government says the new claim, paired with previous ones, means there are now First Nation claims against all land in the province.

“First Nations are claiming the entire Province of New Brunswick, including the majority of the Bay of Fundy and the Northumberland Strait,” said David Kelly, the communications officer for Aboriginal Affairs.

MTI says it worked with a legal team, mapping team and research team in order to determine the new title claim within the province. The group says it is only looking for the return of Crown lands and industrial freehold lands.

“Landowners in the Province of New Brunswick do not need to worry,” said Chief George Ginnish of Natoaganeg.

“We are not looking at taking your homes, cottages, or properties. Our assertion of title is against the Crown and a small number of companies using industrial freehold lands in which the Crown still asserts an interest.”

“We will be seeking compensation from the Crown for the loss of use of private lands,” he adds.

Kelly said the title claim will be reviewed in the coming days and weeks, including how the new title claim impacts previous claims made to government.

“The province will address the Mi’gmaq’s position in due course and as part of that process must consider how it implicates the current claim by the Wolastoqey to land that is in the Mi’gmaq map area,” said Kelly.

Meantime, the six chiefs of the Wolastoqey Nation responded to MTI’s title claim and the overlap with a press release on Wednesday, confirming that discussions are already underway between the leadership groups.

“These discussions, like our collaboration on many matters, have been open, friendly and productive,” said the chiefs in the release.

“We wish to amplify [Wednesday’s] call from the Mi’gmaq chiefs: It’s time for the Government of New Brunswick to see the importance of negotiating recognition and implementation of Indigenous title.”

MTI says all the information, map and details on the new title claim have been shared with other nations, along with the New Brunswick and federal governments.

“Any overlaps between the assertion of titles will be resolved among the nations,” said Chief Sacha Labillois of Ugpi’ganjig.

Right now, MTI says it already has a “negotiation table with the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick where Aboriginal Title is one of the topics for negotiation.”

At this time, there are no plans to go to court, but that can change if the province is “unwilling to have meaningful discussions.” 

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/riU5fN2

[atlanticcanada]

A place for healing: Gitpo Spirit Lodge tries new way to help people with addictions

A new cannabinoid therapy program will be run by the Gitpo Spirit Lodge and has received $1.2 million from Health Canada for two years. The treatment of the 30 participants from Natoaganeg First Nation is expected to begin in January.

from CBC | New Brunswick News https://ift.tt/pSsD1qX

[atlanticcanada]

Woman dies after fire in Natoaganeg First Nation home

A woman has died after a fire broke out in a home in the Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation on Tuesday morning, the Miramichi fire department says. 

from CBC | New Brunswick News https://ift.tt/3benlco

[atlanticcanada]

New emergency shelter to be built in Natoaganeg First Nation

The Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation will be home to a new emergency shelter for Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQ people. The 12-bed shelter will serve 15 Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey communities and serve other First Nations in the Atlantic Region.

from CBC | New Brunswick News https://ift.tt/3s2wDji

[atlanticcanada]

Protesters from Eel Ground First Nation demand share of snow crab fishery

About 25 Members of Natoaganeg First Nation gathered outside the Department of Fisheries and Ocean on Monday to protest the band's lack of access to the lucrative Gulf of St Lawrence crab fishery.

from CBC | New Brunswick News https://ift.tt/2XLP9QS

[atlanticcanada]

First Nation in New Brunswick demands DFO allow access to crab fishery

EEL GROUND, N.B. -- The chief of the Eel Ground First Nation in northeastern New Brunswick is calling on the federal government to honour treaty rights and allow access to the snow crab fishery.

Chief George Ginnish says the community, also known as Natoaganeg, has been waiting for 20 years to exercise their rights.

He says the band council authorized a treaty fishery for snow crab, but the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has seized their traps.

"Natoaganeg's leadership has consistently engaged with DFO on this issue, specifically on the issue of a snow crab moderate livelihood fishery. However, all reasonable attempts to gain access to a moderate livelihood fishery have been futile," Ginnish said in a statement.

"Our community is one of the poorest in the Atlantic provinces and we cannot sit idly by and continue to have our people suffer in silence and not have an opportunity to support themselves and their community as well as their families."

A spokesman for the department said the government is committed to renewing its relationship with Indigenous Peoples and moving forward "in a spirit of respect and reconciliation."

However, Barre Campbell added in a statement that the department needs to ensure compliance with the Fisheries Act and its regulations.

"The Supreme Court of Canada recognized a right to harvest in pursuit of a moderate livelihood and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been working at negotiation tables to implement the right in New Brunswick, including in Eel Ground First Nation," Campbell wrote.

National Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations called on Ottawa to immediately stop seizing traps and work with the people of Eel Ground.

AFN Regional Chief Roger Augustine said the DFO has seized 31 snow crab pots so far.

He's asking Fisheries and Oceans Minister Jonathan Wilkinson step in, return the traps and work with Eel Ground to resolve the issue.

"It is disturbing to me and does not make sense that a First Nation would be given a licence but no quotas," Augustine said.

from CTV News - Atlantic http://bit.ly/2IwP3Cg