Eight days after DFO officers descended on Grand River, Cape Breton with seven vehicles, Mi’kmaw fisher Owen Gould sits down to tell the full story. On June 2nd, 2026, Owen and six others were fishing Gaspereau under treaty rights, catching bait for Mi’kmaw lobster fishermen who are being refused bait by commercial sellers. They were…
“You’re Not Taking My Trailer”: Mi’kmaw Fisherman Stands His Ground Against Theft
A Mi’kmaw fisherman refuses to back down as DFO officers attempt to seize his trailer during a fishing enforcement action. He reminds officers on the scene of a standing agreement made between Mi’kmaw chiefs and the DFO, that vehicles would no longer be seized. An agreement the field supervisor claims was never conveyed to him….
“This Is My Property”: Mi’kmaw Fisher Stands up to DFO
On June 2nd, 2026 in Nova Scotia, a Mi’kmaw fisher reaches his breaking point after being physically pushed by DFO officers while defending his trailer and truck, property that had nothing on it. Officers threaten to seize all four trucks, the trailer, and the ATV, and dangle the trailer back as a bargaining chip to…
“I Am the Land, the Land Is Me”: Dr. Elder Andrea Simon on What Treaty Really Means
Dr. Elder Andrea Simon didn’t come to PEI on May 31st to talk about paper. She came to talk about what treaty looks like when you live it, the way her father traded harvests at the wharf, the way her grandmother carried knowledge that’s now 125 years old, the way she rode seven miles as…
Ryan Gould: From Addiction to Purpose
Ryan Gould (Membertou First Nation) speaks on his journey through addiction and recovery, founding the Membertou Men’s Society, and building a plumbing business rooted in indigenous entrepreneurship. He reflects on the role of elders, culture, and brotherhood in healing. Video link: https://youtu.be/p7ETWy8bRJc
Building the Foundation: Del Riley on a Lifetime of Fighting for What Was Already Ours
Video Link: https://youtu.be/w3HM5J4pUBw At 82 years old, Del Riley hasn’t slowed down. On May 31st in PEI, he spoke about how he got pushed into this work decades ago by an elder who saw something in him, how he went on to settle roughly 70 land claims, and what he learned building Indigenous rights frameworks…
Should Canada rewrite its cannabis law?
From APTN News by Cierra Bettens & Jesse Staniforth May 15 2026 Amid RCMP raids on unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in Mi’kma’ki, some First Nations leaders are calling for changes to Canada’s Cannabis Act. This week on InFocus, APTN online reporter Jesse Staniforth, who wrote a story about what some leaders are calling for to clarify the law,…
Second cabinet minister admits touring pot facility ahead of raid
Indigenous affairs minister says he wants to find ways to integrate First Nation pot sales into the provincial system From The Telegraph-Journal by John Chilibek Local Journalism Initiative May 13 2026 It turns out more than one provincial cabinet minister recently toured a First Nation pot facility that would eventually be raided by the RCMP….
Membertou forges ahead with own cannabis law while seeking federal recognition
Retired Canadian senator Dan Christmas pushing for Cannabis Act changes From CBC by Tom Ayers May 11 2026 Membertou First Nation is pressing ahead with its own cannabis law, amid a Nova Scotia crackdown on unlicensed retail outlets and federal government indifference over self-government rights. Retired Canadian senator Dan Christmas, appointed to engage his home…
RCMP cannabis raids won’t ‘hamper’ N.B. First Nations pot sale discussions: minister
From GlobalNews via The Canadian Press by Eli Ridder May 8 2026 New Brunswick’s Indigenous Affairs minister says he isn’t worried a recent series of raids by the RCMP in three different provinces will derail his negotiations with First Nations to improve controls over the sale of cannabis products. The April 26 raids targeted what…
