The Micmac Rights Association is an organization that exists outside and against Canada’s racist Indian Act system. We are building an organization to fight for the inherent sovereign rights of the Micmac people, with a focus on defending our rights to our own fishing, tobacco, and cannabis economies. We are holding our biannual meeting on Saturday, March…
January 18th – Cody Caplin’s next court date and Public Meeting
UPDATE Jan 17 – Court for Cody Caplin has been postponed until Feb 15th. So the Jan 18th meeting has been postponed until Feb 15th. Sorry for any inconvenience. Come and support Eel River Bar First Nation member Cody Caplin in his constitutional challenge for Mi’kmaq Aboriginal and treaty rights. Cody is being charged for…
Micmac Rights Newsletter #6
The 6th edition of our newsletter is available here and contains the opening statements of Cody Caplin and Chief Del Riley regarding Cody’s trial for fishing lobster.
Opening statement at Cody Caplin trial by Chief Del Riley Nov 30, 2023
The simple fact is that this trial should not be happening. The accused, Cody Caplin, a member of the Mi’kmaq Nation, is not a criminal. He simply exercised his constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty right as a member of his nation to fish in order to feed himself and his family on his people’s unceded territory. As Indigenous people, the right to survive and feed ourselves from our own lands is the most basic Aboriginal right that we have.
Opening statement from Cody Caplin at trial on Nov 30, 2023
My name is Cody Robert Ralph Brimsacle Caplin. I am a Mi’kmaw man, born and raised in the community of Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar). My ancestors made nation-to-nation treaties with the British Crown, the French Crown, the United States of America, and with other Indigenous nations like the Mohawk Nation. We warred and we made peace. In 1725, my nation began what became our “Covenant Chain” treaty relationship with the British Crown, and this treaty was repeatedly renewed in different locations across Mi’kma’ki.
Videos from November 30th Meeting in Eel River Bar First Nation in support of Cody Caplin
On November 30th, 2023, Albert Marshall Jr., Chief Del Riley, and elder Albert Marshall Sr. addressed a gathering in Eel River Bar First Nation to speak about Micmac rights and to express support for Mi’kmaw fisherman, Cody Caplin. Caplin is currently facing 10 charges for fishing lobsters to feed himself and his family.
Story on Cody Caplin’s case syndicated across Canada
The following is the list of all media locations which published the story by Mike MacDonald in The Canadian Press entitled “Constitutional challenge in Indigenous lobster fishing case moving ahead this week.” We are grateful that Mi’kmaq rights issues are reaching a wider audience and that news about Cody’s case has reached an audience of millions.
Constitutional challenge in Indigenous lobster fishing case moving ahead this week
Cody Caplin, a member of the Eel River Bar First Nation, was fishing for lobster in the Bay of Chaleur in September 2018 when he and his brother Kyle were arrested and their boat was seized by federal fisheries officers. A year later, they were charged with 10 fishing offences, including trapping lobster out of season.
Former National Chief Del Riley to represent Mi’kmaw fisherman in constitutional challenge Nov 30th, Dec 1st in Campbellton, NB
A Public Meeting on the Aboriginal and treaty rights involved in the case will be held in Eel River Bar FN at 7pm on Thursday Nov, 30th. On September 12th, 2018, Mi’kmaw fisherman Cody Caplin of Eel River Bar First Nation had his lobsters, boat, and trailer seized by the Federal government’s Department of Fisheries…
Former National Chief Del Riley to assist Mi’kmaw fisherman in New Brunswick constitutional challenge
Fisherman Cody Caplin is self-representing in a court battle over Mi’kmaq fishing rights; six days of trial are scheduled in December. BY NEWS EDITOR ON NOVEMBER 20, 2023 CAMPBELLTON, NB – On October 12th, 2023, Mi’kmaw fisherman Cody Caplin appeared in court to fight an attempt by Crown prosecutor Denis Lavoie to summarily dismiss his constitutional challenge as…