Good evening, Mr. Chair, members of the committee, fellow witnesses and guests.
My name is Chief Wilbert Marshall. I represent Potlotek First Nation. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss what's been taking place in Nova Scotia in regard to a fishing for a moderate livelihood.
For months we have worked, highly motivated, on our fisheries in Potlotek and our community. Our community demonstrated support of the assembly statement of standards, and we have developed a netukulimk livelihood fishery management plan which involves initial species and specific conditions for fishing lobster for our local LFAs. We were transparent in our work. We engaged with our community members and we successfully came to a consensus on a netukulimk livelihood fisheries plan.
We have shared our work with the federal government and local fishing associations. In fact, we posted our plan publicly so everyone could see and access our rules on conservation, safety and harvesting. We have tried to work nation to nation, but we have been met with DFO slamming doors in our face. It has become clear that DFO seems to think the only way forward is their way. This isn't a meaningful dialogue. This isn't reconciliation. This is the top-down approach, one that meets the needs of only one party.
The Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia want to realize the vision that the late Donald Marshall Jr. had with respect to our inherent treaty right to a fishery surrounding Mi'kma'ki. We have the right to fish for our livelihood. As Mi'kmaq, we have the responsibility to protect this right. We are trying to demonstrate responsible leadership and governance of our fishery. Our people want to better their lives by earning a moderate livelihood in an honourable way, one that has been part of our whole way of living since time immemorial.
Canada's approach has continued to fail us. We expect better and we demand better. DFO continues to look at a treaty right to a moderate livelihood through a colonial lens. They have continued to maintain their position that we should fish under their rules, using their licences and their reasons. We have the right to self-govern, and that includes the right to govern our fisheries and to develop our own sustainable livelihood fisheries, separate from the commercial fisheries.
Wela'lioq . Thank you.