Hunger Strikers in Fifth Day
Mi’maw communities question the honor of their leadership.
MILLBROOK- Shelley Young and Joseph Jean Sock, representatives of the grassroots Mi’kmaq
people across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Gaspe Peninsula, also known to the Mi’maq
communities as Mi’kma’ki, believe that their leadership has been negotiating with the Canadian
government to a framework agreement under the Comprehensive Claims Policy without
consulting with their communities.
The United Nations has issued a response to the periodic reports sent in by the Canadian
government and have concluded that these framework agreements across Canada are based on
racist structures which ultimately lead First Nations communities into a form of “hostage to
treaty loans”.
“The structure of our Indian Act governing system is a pyramid, and those at the bottom suffer
the most. Those at the bottom are actually the ones who hold the real power. The Indian Act
leadership works for us, not the other way around. It’s time that we assert that power.” said
Shelley Young.
Joseph Jean Sock of Elsipoqtuk First Nation and Shelley Young of Eskasoni First Nation
represent the Mikmaq in Nova Scotia and in New Brunswick. “We fought hard against C-45,
not knowing that our own Chiefs were re-writing our treaties, opening them up to the Harper
government for access to resources protected by the long standing, binding Treaties that our
ancestors fought and died for.” said Jean Sock.
Many community members are now questioning why their leadership have not taken the hunger
strike to heart. Of the 28 Chiefs in council in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, only 3 have
come to listen to what Shelley and Jean and the people in the Porcupine Lodge in Millbrook have
to say about this process.
“Our treaties are a part of our cultural identity, we are not defined by their promises, but by their
standards”, said Marina Young, “we say NO! To the Made In Nova Scotia Process”.
Jean Sock and Shelley Young are in their 5th day of a hunger strike, drinking water only. They
welcome everyone to come support and share their views at the Porcupine Lodge in Millbrook
NS, located across the Pow Wow grounds
For more information, please contact idlenomorehalifax@gmail.com
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