The Native Council of Nova Scotia is not in agreement with the Manitoba Métis Federation where they are applauding the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’Kmaq Chiefs for creating a system of ID cards for those who qualify for Treaty hunting and fishing rights in the Province of Nova Scotia.
President David Chartrand believes , “These harvester cards help to ancestrally connect the First Peoples of Nova Scotia and identify who truly qualifies to exercise traditional practices. Rules and laws pertaining to this issue are not new to Indigenous Nations in Canada. We have been practicing these indigenous laws both orally and in writing for centuries.”
As the Chief and President of the Native Council of Nova Scotia, this action by the Nova Scotia Assembly of Mi’Kmaq Chiefs does not show a conservation management system.
As a matter of fact, the ATRA passport holders, of the Native Council of Nova Scotia, have more of a connection to the Treaties and Treaty rights than some of the status Indian Band members. As you are all aware, you could become a status Indian without any bloodline or connection to the community.
The Native Council of Nova Scotia has been in existence for the off reserve Aboriginal People’s for 45 years, and do not appreciate being lumped into the “so called eastern Métis”
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For more information
Contact
Chief Lorraine Augustine
902-957-8859