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Fax and Email Blitz
August 10, 2001
Christian Peacemaker Teams
Esgenoocpetitj Team - Phone (506)779-6886
Email: [email protected]
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Do lobsters have ears? |
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Who knows? But Canadians have ears. As Esgenoopetitj First Nation prepares for the fall lobster-fishing season, many wonder whether the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Canadian government are preparing to use the same "gunboat diplomacy" tactics as they used last year or if they'll take this chance to use their ears and listen to First Nations people. In accordance with their treaty rights, the First Nations fishers will be dropping lobster traps into the waters of Miramichi Bay under the authority of the Esgenoopetitj Conservation Management plan. Meanwhile, DFO officers and federal officials will have the opportunity to renounce their violence and misbehaviour of the past in favour of respectfully dialoguing with First Nations people on a nation-to-nation basis.
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| Our role as Canadian citizens |
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| As a department of the federal government, the DFO represents all Canadians and, therefore, DFO officers act on our behalf as they relate to First Nations peoples (in the same way that they act on our behalf as they relate to other Canadians). If the DFO has acted in a way that goes against what Canadians want, then our role as Canadian citizens is to say, in effect, "Stop doing that! We want you to do this differently." Unless we speak up, the government interprets our silence as support. In other words, through our federal governmental system, we have a responsiblility both to hold the DFO accountable for their objectionable behaviour of the past and to specify which positive and constructive behaviours we want them to display in the future. |
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What can I do? |
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Join the fax and email blitz! Send a message to the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) asking them to respect the fall lobster-fishing season. |
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| 1. Encourage them to open their ears to the First Nations peoples. |
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| 2. Request that they widen their perspective to include the possibility that the conservation management plans of First Nations peoples might be more conservation-minded and sustainable than current DFO plans. |
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3. Tell them that they do not need to passively accept orders from Herb Dhaliwal and Jean Chretien, but that they have the right and the obligation to initiate discussions within the federal system about the fact that Canadians need to build new relations with First Nations peoples. |
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| Where do I send my message? |
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| Send your message to the following DFO addresses, and send another copy to Esgenoopetitj First Nation so that they know there are Canadians out there who want their federal representatives to use creative and respectful methods rather than violence. |
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Hon. Herb Dhaliwal
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
House of Commons, Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-9957052
Fax: 613-995-2962
email: [email protected] |
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Raoul Breault
DFO Area Chief (East New Brunswick)
Phone: 506-395-7711
Fax: 506-395-3809
email: [email protected] |
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Rheal Boucher
DFO Regional Director (East New Brunswick)
Phone: 506-395-7702
Fax: 506-395-7739
email: [email protected] |
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Jim MacKenzie
DFO Federal Chief Negotiator
Phone: 613-993-8598
Fax: 613-993-3435
email: MacKenzieJ@dfo_mpo.gc.ca
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Let the people of Esgenoopetitj First Nation know that they are not
alone in their strugglePlease send a copy of your letter to: |
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Miigam'agan and Gkisedtanamoogk
Esgenoopetitj First Nation
PO Box 2051, Burnt Church NB
E9G 4J9
Fax:506-776-5137
Email: [email protected] |
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Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church
of the Brethren congregations, Friends Meetings and other Christians
that supports violence reduction efforts around the world. |
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Contact |
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CPT
PO Box 72063
1562 Danforth Ave.
Toronto, ON
M4J 5C1
ph 416-421-7079
fax 416-467-12508
email [email protected] |
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| or |
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CPT
POB 6508
Chicago, IL
60680
ph 312-455-1199
fax 312-432-1213
email [email protected] |
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To join CPTNET, visit us on the WEB: http://www.prairienet.org/cpt |
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----------------------------------------------- |
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Doug Pritchard
Canada Coordinator
Christian Peacemaker Teams |
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Wisdom is better than weapons of war.
Ecclesiastes 9:18
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CPTNet
June 18, 2001 |
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TORONTO: Delegation to Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church, New Brunswick)announced
for August 19 - 28, 2001
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There is an urgent need for Canadian and U.S. citizens and others to understand what
Aboriginal communities are facing today. The Mi�kmaq community of Esgenoopetitj (Burnt
Church, New Brunswick) is struggling for recognition of its right to a peaceful, sustainable
lobster fishery. At the invitation of the community, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has
maintained a violence-reduction team at the fishery since April 2000. You are invited to
participate in a CPT delegation to Esgenoopetitj in August 2001. |
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Last year, Canadian fisheries officers repeatedly attacked Aboriginal fishers, seizing their traps,
and ramming their boats. CPT observers on board the fishing boats documented many of these
encounters and raised awareness around the world. CPT�s summary report �Gunboat
Diplomacy� called attention to the Canada�s abuse of human rights at Esgenoopetitj
(http://www.prairienet.org/cpt/canada.php). |
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The Mi�kmaq people in Esgenoôpetitj fear that the government has not yet changed its course
of action and that there could be more violence during the fall fishery which begins in
mid-August. Delegation participants will meet various people related to the issue and may join
the CPT team in its daily work. |
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| Participants in this delegation should be prepared to: |
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learn about Aboriginal issues through contact with people at Esgenoopetitj
camp in the community under cool summer conditions and/or stay with local Mikmaq families.
Possibly participate in a nonviolent public witness relating to Aboriginal fishing concerns communicate their experiences to local congregations, groups and the media upon return
raise Cdn$400 to cover delegation expenses. In addition to this, delegation participants
will be responsible for the transportation costs to Miramichi, N.B. CPT will arrange the
transportation. |
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| CPT seeks individuals with some of the following experience and gifts: |
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interest or experience in Aboriginal issues and human rights work commitment to or experience in non-violent action
willingness to engage in public witness, vigils and worship
willingness to participate in daily periods of team worship and reflection |
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For more information or an application form, contact:
Christian Peacemaker Teams
PO Box 72063, 1562 Danforth Ave., Toronto ON M4J 5C1
ph 4164217079, fax 4164671508, email [email protected]; or
CPT, POB 6508 Chicago, IL 60680
ph 3124551199, fax 3124321213, email [email protected].
An application form is also available on the CPT website http://www.prairienet.org/cpt |
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Doug Pritchard
Canada Coordinator
Christian Peacemaker Teams
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