Mi’kmaw may add their names to the statement here: https://forms.gle/Rbbzz6bHLTqgctrR6.
We are the Mi’kmaq heirs of the unceded and sacred lands of our ancestors.
We issue this statement on behalf of the Mi’kmaw people who are currently protecting our Nation’s resources, title and rights at Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s mountain).
—————————————————————————————————-
1. Collective Representation Now and Beyond
All negotiations, discussions, or decisions affecting Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain) must be conducted with the Mi’kmaw representatives who are present protecting the mountain, the elders, women, and men acting together as a collective voice. This may require patience from those who wish to speak with us, but it is an important part of our traditional governance.
There is no single leader authorized to speak for our people, we are a collective voice.
2. No External Representation of Sovereignty
Representatives who operate under the Indian Act or any government-funded organization do not have authority to speak for the Nation of Mi’kma’ki on matters of sovereignty, land use, or rights. Our nation speaks for itself much like the Mi’kmaq on Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain). Our Nation must be heard.
3. Immediate halt to all destructive projects
All actions, activities and projects that harm or threaten our traditional, sacred, and hunting lands must stop immediately. The protected area is identified on the map posted at the mountain entrance. As a Mi’kmaw nation, we have an inherent right and responsibility to protect our territory and resources for future generations.
There will be no more projects which materially affect our unceded land (including but not limited to clearcutting, mines and water diversion) and there will an immediate halt in the use of harmful chemicals and carcinogens on our forests (including but not limited to Glyphosate or “Roundup”) without the free and prior informed consent of the Mi’kmaw Nation.
Our biodiversity is precious and our medicines are not weeds.
4. Land recovery and stewardship
Our sacred lands must be allowed to heal and return to their natural state so ecosystems, medicines, and food resources can recover. We steward these lands for the benefit of the next seven generations.
Any future use of Mi’kmaq land and resources must be done with the free and prior informed consent of the Mi’kmaw Nation.
5. Grassroots management and oversight
The Mi’kmaq heirs at Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain) will establish a grassroots Mi’kmaw committee to manage and oversee all current and future operations affecting Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain).
This is a practice of self-determination. A right held by the Mi’kmaw Nation. Canada as a state has a duty to take special measures to support our shared goal of conservation and the enjoyment of the Mi’kmaq right to self-determination.
6. Energy equity and revenue sharing
Mi’kmaw households across our eight districts shall not be charged power bills for their home energy use.
The Mi’kmaq heirs at Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain) request a 60% revenue dividend to be distributed among all Mi’kmaq people living in Mi’kma’ki from all major companies currently benefiting from the appropriation of Mi’kmaw resources (including but not limited to Emera/Nova Scotia Power, Irving, Killiam etc).
This is to begin to redress resources appropriated without consent or compensation from the Mi’kmaw Nation.
7. Mi’kmaw conservation and patrol team
The Mi’kmaq heirs at Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain) will establish a Mi’kmaw conservation and patrol team to monitor Hunters Mountain and ensure protection of our lands, medicines, and food resources for future generations.
This is a practice of our right to self-governance. Canada as a state has a duty to take special measures to support our shared goal of conservation and the enjoyment of the Mi’kmaq right to self-governance.
8. Rights and Justice
The Mi’kmaq heirs at Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain) demand that Mi’kmaw people exercising inherent Indigenous and treaty protected rights including but not limited to: economic, cultural, and self-determination rights shall have all charges stayed and any convictions related thereto pardoned (ex. fishermen, land and water protectors and truck house owners/employees for retailing tobacco and cannabis).
9. Recognition of Mi’kmaw land title
We the Mi’kmaq heirs of Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain) demand a formal recognition regarding our Mi’kmaw land title, affirming that we have never relinquished our lands to the Crown through wars, treaties, nor proclamations.
All of Mi’kma’ki is unceded Mikmaw territory, and the Mi’kmaq hold collective rightful ownership of this land.
10. Education on Sovereignty and Rights
The Mi’kmaq heirs at Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain) demand the implementation of education and knowledge regarding our Mi’kmaw nation’s sovereignty and inherent/treaty rights to be included in the curriculum for all grade schools, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and any other government-funded organizations.
The Mi’kmaw have a right to live without criminalization and harassment and Canada has an obligation to protect the people of Mi’kma’ki from discrimination and harm.
—————————————————————————————————-
The Mi’kmaw heirs on Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain) invite representatives of the Crown (the Premier and Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia) to gather with us in peace and friendship . Become educated on our inherent rights and title, as well as Crown obligations as per Canadian law; then hear from our elders, our women, our youth, and listen with an open heart and mind to their concerns.
Then we will feast together in peace and friendship.
We are committed to pursuing peaceful resolutions and working together as two equal nations; however, should Mi’kmaw voices continue to be disregarded and our rights violated, we will call upon all Mi’kmaw people and our allies in the Wabanaki Confederacy and beyond to collectively seek redress, in all available forms, for the harms done to our people and the infringement against our rights and title.
This territory is unceded Mi’kmaw land, any infringement upon the Mi’kmaw Nation’s sovereignty is unacceptable. We remind Crown representatives including both the Federal Government and the Provincial Government to seek information in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in particular Article 43 which states that the rights recognized by UNDRIP “constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being” of the Mi’kmaq people.
This statement is made and affirmed by the Mi’kmaq heirs of Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain), expressed here as a collective voice.
Sincerely;
The Mi’kmaq heirs on Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain)