Letter to the Editor:
Shame on The Nugget for running a story promoting an online petition calling for the end of the Anishinaabe commercial fishery on Lake Nipissing. It is irresponsible journalism that really does nothing but target us well-meaning, law-abiding Nbisiing citizens and provide a pedestal to those peddling ignorance.
Let’s make a few things clear. As Anishinaabe people, we have a right to the fishery. This is a Constitutionally-protected Aboriginal and Treaty Right. In the eyes of the global community, it is also an Indigenous Right. There is no room for interpretation or subjective personal opinion. It is fact. It is as real as the right of free speech, the right to assemble, the right to religious freedom and human rights.
What this petition calls for is the majority (mainly the angry, misinformed, ignorant and anonymous) imposing their will on a minority. At it’s essence, it calls for extinguishment of our Constitutionally-protected legal rights. That is plainly unacceptable. It’s one thing for one of our fellow Band members to call for a moratorium on our own fishery, but it’s quite another to advocate extinguishment of the legal rights of another.
Sure, The Nugget has a right to freedom of speech and to print whatever you feel is in the public’s interest. But by publishing it, you also play a role in encouraging the extinguishment of our legal rights. By virtue of some of these attitudes, you may also play a role in propagating hate. Your printed words hurt us, hurt me and hurt our children. More importantly, this does nothing to help address the issue of abandoned nets and good regulation of our fishery. It may, however, sell a few papers.
Ladies and gentlemen, we need to find proactive, practical and constructive means of working through these issues together. Finding whoever is responsible for abandoned nets and bringing them to justice; Taking steps to improve the Nbisiing commercial fishery, regulation and enforcement; and working together to address the declining health of Lake Nipissing. We can’t take our eyes of these goals. This cannot be done if we’re continuing to fight amongst ourselves, those of us that care and Love our beautiful lake. That is one thing we all have in common.
For those responsible for this vile petition and even those signing it, I’m sure there were many people in the South who signed petitions against the rights of blacks and visible minorities during the civil rights era. I’m sure they felt just as strong about their issues too. Although many still harbour unjust attitudes, most have come around to understand what’s right. I hold out hope that some years from now, there will be a better understanding of our Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.
It’s a slippery slope. Maybe one can draft a petition calling for the extinguishment of your rights of private property ownership? Maybe someone can advocate the extinguishment of your right to religious assembly? Extinguishment anyone? No chance.
Bob Goulais
Nipissing First Nation
But Bob, members of your own community are promoting a petition against gill netting. And, as you said, the same courts that support native rights also support freedom to communicate even when it’s misguided or misinformed opinion people want to express. Don’t blame a newspaper for publishing, not necessarily promoting, a viewpoint on a contentious issue. You know it does no good to attack the messenger, in fact it strengthens the opposition to see you can’t tolerate their views.
Miigwetch, Dave. We’re all tolerant to a point. But some “views” can be hurtful and harmful. That’s why I’m guessing that The Nugget, in their wisdom, doesn’t enable the comment section on all of these articles (to which I applaud your Editors for, thank you). Because of that, from our community perspective, the issue of the day is no longer finding who is responsible for the abandoned nets but is now focused on this ill-advised petition and The Nugget’s choice to write about it.
Oh… also wanted to say that you’ll always be my court of appeal and chamber of sober second thought! Always appreciate your wise words, feedback and comment. Thanks, Dave.
THE Nugget! Lol . Big time misinformation .
Perhaps if some sort of organized sentries could catch these ‘criminals’ who are netting, rather than fishing? If the lake is used strictly for recreational fishing, there shouldn’t be a problem with ‘over-fishing’ and if there is, then times and guidelines should be set..BUT..it would require constant monitoring and patrolling. There’s an answer, but it might mean setting up a patrol group, either by the ministry, or govt. funded and supervised by FNR? Definitely net fishing should be outlawed and anyone doing so, should be fined and jailed, no excuses accepted. JMO
Thanks for your comments and ideas, Mary Lou. The reality is that the First Nations fishery is protected by law as they are legal, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights of our people. As you know, legal rights can’t and shouldn’t be quashed. (In fact, the Supreme Court has held that IF there is ever a fishery to be shut-down, it would be the “recreational fishery”. After all, it is “recreational”.) The challenge is to regulate our fishery so it can be a part of the cooperative management of the Lake Nipissing fishery, and punish those offenders who are fishing outside of regulations and acceptable practice.