Abegweit First Nation signs new fisheries management agreement with Ottawa
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Abegweit First Nation and the federal authorities have signed a brand new fisheries administration settlement that may present funding to help the Indigenous group’s fisheries administration actions.
The settlement acknowledges the Mi’kmaq Indigenous and treaty rights to reap and promote fish and offers funding to strengthen its fisheries administration actions. It has a five-year time period, renewable for as much as 25 years.
The settlement additionally establishes a joint administration course of between the federal authorities and Abegweit to handle its fisheries by way of a joint operational committee and an govt oversight board
Federal officers additionally introduced $1.47 million in funding over 4 years to the Abegweit Conservation Society.
The funding will assist the conservation society handle threats affecting two culturally important species in danger — Atlantic salmon and American eel — by making use of a safety strategy that makes use of science and Indigenous information ideas.
Chief Roderick W. Gould Jr. of Abegweit First Nation stated the settlement marked a brand new chapter within the relationship with the federal government of Canada.
“It signifies how, by way of partnership and collaboration, we will work collectively as Canadians to reconcile our variations and create constructive outcomes for our communities,” stated Gould. “This settlement doesn’t exchange our treaty proper to hunt and fish below the Peace and Friendship Treaties however is a constructive first step in the direction of future average livelihood discussions and can commit Abegweit and DFO to a collaborative partnership rooted in good religion.”
