WEBVTT

00:01:03.999 --> 00:01:06.208
- Things have escalated
since I was here yesterday.

00:01:06.209 --> 00:01:09.708
We moved the blockade
to the side of the highway.

00:01:09.709 --> 00:01:11.999
What happened this morning?
[noise in background]

00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:17.917
- At 11:00 this morning,
the local police were here,

00:01:17.918 --> 00:01:21.875
along with the Quebec bailiff,
with injunctions.

00:01:21.876 --> 00:01:24.541
He wanted to serve
the injunction, so I told him,

00:01:24.542 --> 00:01:26.998
\"You have to leave,
this is Indian land.

00:01:26.999 --> 00:01:29.333
Your injunctions
have no validity,

00:01:29.334 --> 00:01:32.998
because of the outstanding
land-claim issue

00:01:32.999 --> 00:01:34.791
where this mill sits on.\"

00:01:34.792 --> 00:01:36.208
We have a high
unemployment rate.

00:01:36.209 --> 00:01:40.625
We\'re sick and tired of watching
these trucks go by with lumber,

00:01:40.626 --> 00:01:42.750
people benefiting from it,
non-native people.

00:01:42.751 --> 00:01:45.833
What about us?
I mean, as I said yesterday,

00:01:45.834 --> 00:01:50.541
I have no choice here
but to make a stand.

00:01:50.542 --> 00:01:51.875
This is it.

00:01:51.876 --> 00:01:54.999
[native music]

00:03:17.542 --> 00:03:19.958
- The last couple of years,

00:03:19.959 --> 00:03:23.374
the wood is getting scarcer
and scarcer

00:03:23.375 --> 00:03:25.998
and then... and then we can\'t...

00:03:25.999 --> 00:03:28.333
nobody was making a living on it
no more.

00:03:28.334 --> 00:03:29.458
So then we decided to...

00:03:29.459 --> 00:03:31.166
to go off the reserve.

00:03:31.167 --> 00:03:33.833
We got about 30 or 40 men

00:03:33.834 --> 00:03:35.998
working in the woods.

00:03:35.999 --> 00:03:36.999
It\'s still our territory.

00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:39.374
It\'s a Mi\'gmaq territory,
because my father hunted

00:03:39.375 --> 00:03:42.666
and his father and their father,
father before that.

00:03:42.667 --> 00:03:44.998
It was all
our hunting territory, that.

00:03:44.999 --> 00:03:48.041
My father used to say
that we hunted there,

00:03:48.042 --> 00:03:51.124
we hunted there and we...
it\'s our land.

00:03:51.125 --> 00:03:53.041
But, uh, as years went by,

00:03:53.042 --> 00:03:56.166
they stopped us from hunting
for a while.

00:03:56.167 --> 00:03:57.998
They stopped us from fishing
for a while.

00:03:57.999 --> 00:04:00.875
Everybody else was fishing
up and down the river here,

00:04:00.876 --> 00:04:03.583
the Richelieu,
and then we went fishing

00:04:03.584 --> 00:04:05.875
and they said,
\"You can\'t do that.\"

00:04:05.876 --> 00:04:09.333
The woods\' the same. They told
us, \"You have no right to that.\"

00:04:09.334 --> 00:04:13.750
[narrator]: In 1998,
the Listuguj Mi\'gmaq

00:04:13.751 --> 00:04:14.998
asserted their rights

00:04:14.999 --> 00:04:18.458
by logging the forest
on their traditional territory,

00:04:18.459 --> 00:04:19.998
now Crown land.

00:04:19.999 --> 00:04:22.833
They cut for six weeks

00:04:22.834 --> 00:04:23.998
without being charged.

00:04:23.999 --> 00:04:25.500
Finally, the Quebec Government

00:04:25.501 --> 00:04:29.998
responded by sanctioning
the sale of the Mi\'gmaq wood

00:04:29.999 --> 00:04:32.998
in both Quebec
and New Brunswick.

00:04:32.999 --> 00:04:36.458
- We sent a letter
to Guy Chevrette,

00:04:36.459 --> 00:04:39.082
who\'s the Minister
for Native Affairs

00:04:39.083 --> 00:04:41.666
and Minister responsible
for forestry issues,

00:04:41.667 --> 00:04:45.750
telling him that, uh, as of
Thursday, July 16th, at 11:00,

00:04:45.751 --> 00:04:48.708
we would be going up
into the back country

00:04:48.709 --> 00:04:52.166
where we were cutting,
behind where we were cutting,

00:04:52.167 --> 00:04:54.166
and we\'re gonna go talk to GDS.

00:04:54.167 --> 00:04:56.958
We\'re gonna tell GDS
that they don\'t have the right

00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:59.998
to cut wood here any longer.
They have to leave.

00:04:59.999 --> 00:05:01.958
So we met up there at 11:00

00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:05.291
and - I think it was 10
or 12 trucks -

00:05:05.292 --> 00:05:09.167
and we all convoyed
to where GDS was cutting.

00:05:12.042 --> 00:05:15.291
We went to...
until we seen a truck from GDS,

00:05:15.292 --> 00:05:16.998
so we went up to his truck

00:05:16.999 --> 00:05:19.750
and Gary told him, \"You can\'t
cut here any longer.\"

00:05:19.751 --> 00:05:20.998
He gave him a copy of the letter

00:05:20.999 --> 00:05:23.416
that we sent to Chevrette
telling him that, you know,

00:05:23.417 --> 00:05:25.876
we\'re gonna stop them
from cutting.

00:05:37.999 --> 00:05:39.998
They listened.
They listened peacefully.

00:05:39.999 --> 00:05:41.999
They, uh, they left.

00:05:43.542 --> 00:05:44.250
Then we felt good again.

00:05:44.251 --> 00:05:45.998
We said, you know,
\"If they\'re gonna stop us...\"

00:05:45.999 --> 00:05:48.998
We told them, \"If we can\'t cut,
you know, you can\'t cut.\"

00:05:48.999 --> 00:05:51.999
So that was our message to them.

00:05:52.792 --> 00:05:54.541
So they left and we stayed,
we stayed behind.

00:05:54.542 --> 00:05:59.333
We sent a couple of people down
for supplies, you know,

00:05:59.334 --> 00:06:00.998
because we had a camp now,

00:06:00.999 --> 00:06:03.999
right where they were cutting
we made a camp.

00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:07.999
We started building a, uh,
lean-to, they call it.

00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.541
So by the night, the boys came

00:06:09.542 --> 00:06:12.208
and we started a fire
and we stayed there, you know,

00:06:12.209 --> 00:06:15.791
we stayed there ever since,
from July 16.

00:06:15.792 --> 00:06:19.959
[blues music]

00:06:35.292 --> 00:06:37.500
The Quebec government tells us

00:06:37.501 --> 00:06:40.998
that they\'re gonna be sending
a mediator,

00:06:40.999 --> 00:06:43.291
Regis Larrivée.

00:06:43.292 --> 00:06:44.998
Regis knows many people

00:06:44.999 --> 00:06:45.667
in our community.

00:06:45.668 --> 00:06:48.208
He knows, you know, that
we\'re not violent, we\'re not...

00:06:48.209 --> 00:06:50.374
So he got there
and he just, you know,

00:06:50.375 --> 00:06:51.917
asked various questions,
what we wanted.

00:06:51.918 --> 00:06:53.998
So we said, \"We\'re not leaving
without our wood,

00:06:53.999 --> 00:06:57.124
that\'s the first thing.
We want that wood to be sold.

00:06:57.125 --> 00:06:58.998
And the second thing
we told him,

00:06:58.999 --> 00:07:01.416
that our guys
need to go back to work.

00:07:01.417 --> 00:07:02.334
We cannot sit home

00:07:02.335 --> 00:07:05.249
and watch these people
from other areas -

00:07:05.250 --> 00:07:06.416
Saint-Alexis, LaVerne,
Matapédia -

00:07:06.417 --> 00:07:10.166
working in our woods and us
sitting at home watching them.

00:07:10.167 --> 00:07:14.917
And the third request that
we want long-term negotiations.

00:07:14.918 --> 00:07:16.416
- It\'s not for me.

00:07:16.417 --> 00:07:19.708
You must understand that,
it\'s not for me.

00:07:19.709 --> 00:07:22.082
- I understand.
- Legally, I mean, uh...

00:07:22.083 --> 00:07:24.124
we can go to court, you and I.

00:07:24.125 --> 00:07:26.500
- I understand
you make a difference.

00:07:26.501 --> 00:07:27.998
- Let\'s make it pass,

00:07:27.999 --> 00:07:33.751
we\'ll determine who really owns
this soil we stand on.

00:07:36.167 --> 00:07:40.292
If we have to. If we have to.
- Of course.

00:07:44.083 --> 00:07:48.374
- So he left and we never heard
from him again.

00:07:48.375 --> 00:07:49.998
He went on vacation.

00:07:49.999 --> 00:07:52.125
[music]

00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:10.999
- Are you sure

00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:12.500
that nothing will be damaged?
- No.

00:08:12.501 --> 00:08:15.875
- So I want to ask everybody
not to bother their group.

00:08:15.876 --> 00:08:17.333
We don\'t want
any confrontations.

00:08:17.334 --> 00:08:20.833
But at the same time,
we told them that, uh...

00:08:20.834 --> 00:08:22.458
this mill is not gonna operate.

00:08:22.459 --> 00:08:25.998
Until such time that
we resume that

00:08:25.999 --> 00:08:28.998
our people
are allowed to harvest.

00:08:28.999 --> 00:08:31.124
I\'m proud to see all of you here

00:08:31.125 --> 00:08:33.583
to stand up
for what we believe in.

00:08:33.584 --> 00:08:37.501
So feel free to hang around
anywhere you want.

00:08:38.999 --> 00:08:42.917
- Charles Lachapelle told me
that your wood is illegal.

00:08:42.918 --> 00:08:44.333
What do you answer to that?

00:08:44.334 --> 00:08:46.917
- That hasn\'t been proven
yet in any court -

00:08:46.918 --> 00:08:47.792
lower or higher court.

00:08:47.793 --> 00:08:51.291
Court ruled that
what we are doing is legal.

00:08:51.292 --> 00:08:54.374
But it hasn\'t been processed
in the courts of Quebec.

00:08:54.375 --> 00:08:56.999
I said I welcome anytime
the Government of Quebec

00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:59.500
to charge me
or any of my people.

00:08:59.501 --> 00:09:00.998
But I\'m gonna ask for clarification.

00:09:00.999 --> 00:09:04.124
- That\'s what you want.
- That\'s what I want.

00:09:04.125 --> 00:09:07.082
But I would rather negotiate
and get this over with

00:09:07.083 --> 00:09:09.998
rather than going through
the court system for a year,

00:09:09.999 --> 00:09:13.998
two years or whatever it takes
to get to the Supreme Court.

00:09:13.999 --> 00:09:16.625
- You have deposited
the land claim...

00:09:16.626 --> 00:09:18.500
- Yes.
- In 1992.

00:09:18.501 --> 00:09:18.999
- Yes.

00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:23.208
- Nothing happened since then.
Why don\'t you try to force

00:09:23.209 --> 00:09:23.999
the discussion?

00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:26.791
- We\'re forcing the discussion
by what we\'re doing today.

00:09:26.792 --> 00:09:29.666
You are exactly right when
you say nothing\'s happened.

00:09:29.667 --> 00:09:30.875
That\'s the way the system works.

00:09:30.876 --> 00:09:36.708
The government doesn\'t react
until it comes to a crisis.

00:09:36.709 --> 00:09:43.249
A crisis they should react to,
to prevent a crisis.

00:09:43.250 --> 00:09:46.125
[music]

00:10:11.417 --> 00:10:13.875
[narrator]: The Mi\'gmaq Nation

00:10:13.876 --> 00:10:16.917
was represented
through seven districts.

00:10:16.918 --> 00:10:20.625
They were the inhabitants
of all the Maritime provinces;

00:10:20.626 --> 00:10:25.750
part of Quebec, from Rivière
du Loup to the Gaspé Peninsula;

00:10:25.751 --> 00:10:31.374
part of Newfoundland and the
state of Maine, now the USA.

00:10:31.375 --> 00:10:32.375
A hereditary grand chief

00:10:32.376 --> 00:10:35.041
represented the whole
Mi\'gmaq Nation. His symbol

00:10:35.042 --> 00:10:39.666
was represented by seven crosses
for the seven districts

00:10:39.667 --> 00:10:41.291
and a series of circles

00:10:41.292 --> 00:10:45.708
representing the earth,
the moon and the sun.

00:10:45.709 --> 00:10:51.208
The semi-circles represented the
dwellings of the Mi\'gmaq people.

00:10:51.209 --> 00:10:53.998
Each district had it\'s own chief

00:10:53.999 --> 00:10:57.041
and they were responsible
for designing the regulations

00:10:57.042 --> 00:10:59.917
for their people to follow
the seasons,

00:10:59.918 --> 00:11:03.166
for hunting, fishing
and gathering.

00:11:03.167 --> 00:11:05.998
They hunted on sea and land,

00:11:05.999 --> 00:11:09.708
seal, whale, lobster,

00:11:09.709 --> 00:11:11.666
and other seafood.

00:11:11.667 --> 00:11:13.999
There were herds of walrus,

00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.998
moose, deer,

00:11:15.999 --> 00:11:16.999
caribou,

00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:19.458
and many other small animals
and birds.

00:11:19.459 --> 00:11:22.625
Conservation was instinctively

00:11:22.626 --> 00:11:25.917
a part of every hunter\'s life.

00:11:25.918 --> 00:11:28.666
To overkill and abuse the animal

00:11:28.667 --> 00:11:31.998
brought famine
for the next season.

00:11:31.999 --> 00:11:33.998
A large territory was allotted

00:11:33.999 --> 00:11:37.249
to the head
of an extended family,

00:11:37.250 --> 00:11:39.998
those related by blood
or marriage.

00:11:39.999 --> 00:11:44.583
This man was the chief
of his hunting ground

00:11:44.584 --> 00:11:46.458
and followed
patriarchal traditions.

00:11:46.459 --> 00:11:51.791
The land was handed down
to the next generation

00:11:51.792 --> 00:11:53.374
since time immemorial.

00:11:53.375 --> 00:11:54.125
The Listuguj territory

00:11:54.126 --> 00:11:57.998
is the seventh district
of the Mi\'gmaq people

00:11:57.999 --> 00:12:01.998
and the largest
of three Mi\'gmaq communities

00:12:01.999 --> 00:12:02.584
in Quebec.

00:12:02.585 --> 00:12:05.583
Originally,
it began at the Miramichi

00:12:05.584 --> 00:12:08.666
and went all the way to Gaspé.

00:12:08.667 --> 00:12:10.998
A permanent settlement
was Tjigog,

00:12:10.999 --> 00:12:14.666
on the south shore
of the Restigouche River,

00:12:14.667 --> 00:12:16.917
now called Athoville,
New Brunswick.

00:12:16.918 --> 00:12:20.500
Salmon fishing has always
been part of their lives.

00:12:20.501 --> 00:12:23.291
It is said
that during the salmon run,

00:12:23.292 --> 00:12:27.249
there were so many on the river
on their way back to spawn,

00:12:27.250 --> 00:12:31.124
that it was hard to sleep at
night because of the noise

00:12:31.125 --> 00:12:34.416
the fish made
from flying in the air

00:12:34.417 --> 00:12:36.333
and falling in the water.

00:12:36.334 --> 00:12:39.416
Salmon, cod, eel,

00:12:39.417 --> 00:12:42.166
sturgeon, trout and mackerel
were speared,

00:12:42.167 --> 00:12:45.291
and the women
would prepare the fish

00:12:45.292 --> 00:12:49.791
to be smoked or dried
for winter.

00:12:49.792 --> 00:12:53.333
People repaired their canoes
and built new ones,

00:12:53.334 --> 00:12:58.041
and children learned by watching
and helping their parents.

00:12:58.042 --> 00:13:00.333
Summer was a time of plenty

00:13:00.334 --> 00:13:04.833
and there were gatherings of the
people from the other districts.

00:13:04.834 --> 00:13:12.374
There were gambling games, social dances,
singing and trading with the visitors.

00:13:12.375 --> 00:13:17.249
The chiefs would meet,
discussing war and peace,

00:13:17.250 --> 00:13:22.166
land issues, marriage
and other serious business.

00:13:22.167 --> 00:13:23.541
They would smoke tobacco;

00:13:23.542 --> 00:13:27.333
there were rituals
to address the Great Spirit.

00:13:27.334 --> 00:13:30.500
When the leaves started
to change colours,

00:13:30.501 --> 00:13:32.500
it was time for the men

00:13:32.501 --> 00:13:36.082
to travel again,
in order to hunt migrating birds

00:13:36.083 --> 00:13:38.583
and large animals.

00:13:38.584 --> 00:13:41.249
In their travels, the Mi\'gmaq,

00:13:41.250 --> 00:13:43.998
like other aboriginal people,

00:13:43.999 --> 00:13:46.208
drew hieroglyphics on rocks,

00:13:46.209 --> 00:13:50.458
often in areas
difficult to reach.

00:13:50.459 --> 00:13:52.249
Winter was on its way.

00:13:52.250 --> 00:13:54.998
In the forest,
they built new lodges.

00:13:54.999 --> 00:14:00.791
The earth floor would be covered
with pine boughs and fur hides.

00:14:00.792 --> 00:14:03.998
The women kept the fires going.

00:14:03.999 --> 00:14:09.249
They made snowshoes, toboggans
and new, warm clothes.

00:14:09.250 --> 00:14:12.541
The family would sit
around the fire

00:14:12.542 --> 00:14:14.124
and winter stories were told.

00:14:14.125 --> 00:14:19.998
A child could fall asleep
hearing the sound of the drum

00:14:19.999 --> 00:14:20.999
and someone chanting.

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:25.208
The people\'s lives
depended on the weather

00:14:25.209 --> 00:14:27.750
and the cycle of life
around them.

00:14:27.751 --> 00:14:32.917
It was nature
that taught them how to live.

00:14:32.918 --> 00:14:36.333
July 6, 1534, Jacques Cartier

00:14:36.334 --> 00:14:37.999
arrives in Mi\'gmaq territory,

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:43.082
looking for the seaway
to the east at Epsigoneg,

00:14:43.083 --> 00:14:46.999
meaning \"a place
of soft, warm air.\"

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.416
He named it Baie des Chaleurs.

00:14:50.417 --> 00:14:51.625
At Paspébiac Point,

00:14:51.626 --> 00:14:54.458
he was greeted
by the Listuguj people,

00:14:54.459 --> 00:14:59.999
40 to 50 canoes
approaching his long boat.

00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:02.208
- We did not care
to trust to their signs,

00:15:02.209 --> 00:15:04.999
and waved to them to go back,
which they would not do.

00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:08.374
We shot off over their heads
two small cannons.

00:15:08.375 --> 00:15:11.041
They began to return
towards the Point.

00:15:11.042 --> 00:15:12.998
They proceeded to come again.

00:15:12.999 --> 00:15:14.917
We shot off two fire lances,

00:15:14.918 --> 00:15:17.708
which scattered among them
and frightened them.

00:15:17.709 --> 00:15:21.082
They paddled off
in very great haste.

00:15:21.083 --> 00:15:24.208
July 10: We caught sight
of the Indians

00:15:24.209 --> 00:15:25.791
on the side of the lagoon.

00:15:25.792 --> 00:15:29.791
The savages came over in one
of their canoes and brought us

00:15:29.792 --> 00:15:30.501
strips of cooked seal.

00:15:30.502 --> 00:15:33.791
We bartered with them
for everything they possessed

00:15:33.792 --> 00:15:36.291
so that nothing was left to them

00:15:36.292 --> 00:15:39.708
but their naked bodies.

00:15:39.709 --> 00:15:41.875
I am, more than ever,
of the opinion

00:15:41.876 --> 00:15:47.125
that these people would be easy
to convert to our holy faith.

00:15:48.167 --> 00:15:52.458
[narrator]: By 1653, the Mi\'gmaq
territory was diminishing.

00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:57.166
Land from Gaspé to Acadia
and the Restigouche River

00:15:57.167 --> 00:16:00.458
were given as grants
to newcomers

00:16:00.459 --> 00:16:02.082
and turned into seigneuries.

00:16:02.083 --> 00:16:06.500
The grants specified
that the objectives

00:16:06.501 --> 00:16:08.998
were the acculturation
or conversion

00:16:08.999 --> 00:16:11.998
of the Indians
to European values,

00:16:11.999 --> 00:16:13.750
to subjugate, subdue,

00:16:13.751 --> 00:16:18.998
and bring into obedience
the people living there.

00:16:18.999 --> 00:16:22.583
In the mid-to late 1700s,
the French built a fort

00:16:22.584 --> 00:16:25.998
on the north side
of the Restigouche River

00:16:25.999 --> 00:16:28.999
and wanted their Mi\'gmaq allies

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.333
to be on the frontline.

00:16:31.334 --> 00:16:34.124
In the Mi\'gmaq settlement,
Tjigog,

00:16:34.125 --> 00:16:34.999
the white businessmen

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:37.708
were very active
in controlling the logging

00:16:37.709 --> 00:16:41.500
and fishing industry,
building large boats

00:16:41.501 --> 00:16:46.416
to transport huge, ancient trees
to England.

00:16:46.417 --> 00:16:47.000
Consequently,

00:16:47.001 --> 00:16:50.291
the Mi\'gmaq were persuaded
to leave Tjigog

00:16:50.292 --> 00:16:54.998
and move to the north shore
of the river,

00:16:54.999 --> 00:16:55.959
now Listuguj, Quebec.

00:16:55.960 --> 00:17:01.041
In 1853, there was more loss
of Mi\'gmaq territory

00:17:01.042 --> 00:17:04.583
and their land
was officially reduced

00:17:04.584 --> 00:17:08.249
to a reserve
of 39.89 square kilometres.

00:17:08.250 --> 00:17:12.500
Their territories and resources
were taken away from them

00:17:12.501 --> 00:17:16.208
and the fight
continues to this day.

00:17:16.209 --> 00:17:18.542
[music]

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.374
- They sent another guy.

00:17:56.375 --> 00:17:57.998
This time it\'s Bernard Mathieu.

00:17:57.999 --> 00:18:01.041
He worked for the Ministry
before, for Quebec.

00:18:01.042 --> 00:18:03.917
They just took him
out of retirement.

00:18:03.918 --> 00:18:05.998
He was two-and-a-half years
into retirement.

00:18:05.999 --> 00:18:08.541
He showed up with
Daniel LaRocque, a guy working

00:18:08.542 --> 00:18:09.998
for Secretaries
of Affaires Autochtone

00:18:09.999 --> 00:18:11.998
and they asked
the same questions.

00:18:11.999 --> 00:18:13.458
We gave the same answers.
You know,

00:18:13.459 --> 00:18:16.082
we want to sell our wood,
we want to go back to work

00:18:16.083 --> 00:18:18.666
and we want to negotiate
for, you know, our fair share.

00:18:18.667 --> 00:18:22.583
- What I would like to, uh,
know myself...

00:18:22.584 --> 00:18:24.082
as a mediator, you know,

00:18:24.083 --> 00:18:28.998
I would try to know
if your proposal,

00:18:28.999 --> 00:18:29.834
the proposal...

00:18:29.835 --> 00:18:31.998
to try to make recommendations.

00:18:31.999 --> 00:18:36.333
Because I can tell you, for
the moment, I have no solution.

00:18:36.334 --> 00:18:37.292
I will need your help.

00:18:37.293 --> 00:18:42.208
We\'ve been trying to negotiate
something with MRA

00:18:42.209 --> 00:18:46.374
for at least 15 years, you know,

00:18:46.375 --> 00:18:50.625
for the community
to get a sawmill

00:18:50.626 --> 00:18:53.374
and the rights for wood lots

00:18:53.375 --> 00:18:58.999
and, you know, we\'ve been
unsuccessful to this point.

00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.958
There\'s enough allocation

00:19:00.959 --> 00:19:04.708
in the Gaspesian area
to satisfy all the users.

00:19:04.709 --> 00:19:09.583
And all we want is
our fair share of the resource.

00:19:09.584 --> 00:19:11.998
- Before any discussions
can take place,

00:19:11.999 --> 00:19:15.625
the sale of our wood
has to be reopened.

00:19:15.626 --> 00:19:17.998
Our people
have to go back to work,

00:19:17.999 --> 00:19:22.998
just as the non-native people
want to go back to work here.

00:19:22.999 --> 00:19:24.998
And the position
that I\'m telling you

00:19:24.999 --> 00:19:27.750
is not a position
that comes from me, personally,

00:19:27.751 --> 00:19:30.998
although I share it
with the loggers and the people.

00:19:30.999 --> 00:19:35.291
They\'re saying that if
we can\'t go back to work,

00:19:35.292 --> 00:19:39.500
we\'ll occupy this territory
as long as as necessary.

00:19:39.501 --> 00:19:42.041
And myself, personally,
and Daniel, you...

00:19:42.042 --> 00:19:46.583
we\'ve met a lot of times
on these different issues,

00:19:46.584 --> 00:19:51.583
on jurisdictions. I\'m fed up.
I\'m fed up with talking.

00:19:51.584 --> 00:19:53.374
And if I have to stay here,

00:19:53.375 --> 00:19:56.249
and if they have to drag
me out of here -

00:19:56.250 --> 00:19:58.958
and I got people here
who will support us -

00:19:58.959 --> 00:20:03.541
then that is going to happen.
\'Cause I\'m not going to sit down

00:20:03.542 --> 00:20:08.249
and talk for another six months
or another year with anyone.

00:20:08.250 --> 00:20:10.500
We\'re here to stay.

00:20:10.501 --> 00:20:12.998
- So he went away.
He talked to Mr. Bouchard.

00:20:12.999 --> 00:20:15.541
A couple of days later,
he came back and told us,

00:20:15.542 --> 00:20:19.583
\"Okay, we have a deal for you.
We\'ve got good news for you.\"

00:20:19.584 --> 00:20:22.583
- The Ministry is ready,
for example,

00:20:22.584 --> 00:20:25.998
to take the wood and ask,
for example,

00:20:25.999 --> 00:20:28.374
the GDS to compensate
your group.

00:20:28.375 --> 00:20:31.999
And there will be negotiations
concerning the, uh...

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:35.333
the amount convened, you know,
for the wood.

00:20:35.334 --> 00:20:40.999
And this money will go to the
company that you will design...

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.834
uh, designate.

00:20:41.835 --> 00:20:44.998
- We will not accept
the province of Quebec

00:20:44.999 --> 00:20:48.374
taking our wood
and selling it to GDS. Never.

00:20:48.375 --> 00:20:51.998
This is our wood.
Right now, it belongs to us.

00:20:51.999 --> 00:20:54.998
When you tell me that Quebec
will take our wood

00:20:54.999 --> 00:20:57.917
and sell it to GDS
and give us the money,

00:20:57.918 --> 00:21:00.998
that\'s like Indian Affairs
taking care of you again.

00:21:00.999 --> 00:21:03.291
We don\'t need your, uh...

00:21:03.292 --> 00:21:05.082
your generosity and that\'s it.

00:21:05.083 --> 00:21:09.124
Let\'s be clear - and I\'m only
gonna say it once -

00:21:09.125 --> 00:21:11.998
open up the sale of that wood.
If not,

00:21:11.999 --> 00:21:16.291
nothing is gonna go through
that highway. No lumber.

00:21:16.292 --> 00:21:17.625
And railroads.
- Nothing.

00:21:17.626 --> 00:21:20.791
- And railroads.
- And railroads is right.

00:21:20.792 --> 00:21:22.875
- That\'s all I have to say.

00:21:22.876 --> 00:21:24.875
Because what you came back
with...

00:21:24.876 --> 00:21:26.958
- Is nothing.
- Is piecemeal.

00:21:26.959 --> 00:21:27.959
- No talks about long term.

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:30.750
It was just, you know,
as if we were just contractors

00:21:30.751 --> 00:21:32.958
mad that we weren\'t getting
any of their work.

00:21:32.959 --> 00:21:36.124
They didn\'t realize that
we were saying this is our land

00:21:36.125 --> 00:21:37.998
and that we...
this is, you know...

00:21:37.999 --> 00:21:41.333
I don\'t know how more...
simple we can say it.

00:21:41.334 --> 00:21:42.292
As my friend always says,

00:21:42.293 --> 00:21:46.998
\"I don\'t know how else I can
tell you. This is our land.\"

00:21:46.999 --> 00:21:49.998
So... he went away,
he went back to Bouchard,

00:21:49.999 --> 00:21:53.458
and that\'s when Chevrette
came on TV and told us...

00:21:53.459 --> 00:21:55.375
gave us an ultimatum.

00:22:00.584 --> 00:22:02.708
This is too reminiscent of \'81.
\'Cause in \'81,

00:22:02.709 --> 00:22:05.583
they sent us a letter -
Lucien Lessard sent us a Telex -

00:22:05.584 --> 00:22:08.998
that said, \"If your nets aren\'t
out by 8:00 the next morning,

00:22:08.999 --> 00:22:10.998
you\'ll face the full rigours
of the law.\"

00:22:10.999 --> 00:22:13.875
So all the women and the elders
were there. They said no.

00:22:13.876 --> 00:22:16.458
They remember it and thy said,
\"We weren\'t ready last time.

00:22:16.459 --> 00:22:19.958
This time, let\'s be ready.
We\'re not gonna let them come in

00:22:19.959 --> 00:22:20.998
and storm through our community

00:22:20.999 --> 00:22:24.291
and do the things
that they did to us before.

00:22:24.292 --> 00:22:26.918
[marching]

00:23:10.999 --> 00:23:13.416
[narrator]: On the morning of
June 11th, 1981,

00:23:13.417 --> 00:23:17.583
a force of about 90 Quebec
Department of Fisheries wardens

00:23:17.584 --> 00:23:22.333
and more than 300
Quebec Provincial Police

00:23:22.334 --> 00:23:24.791
raided the reserve.

00:23:24.792 --> 00:23:27.416
They located
six or seven salmon nets

00:23:27.417 --> 00:23:30.998
which had not been removed
from the river.

00:23:30.999 --> 00:23:32.249
- We were trapped on that end.

00:23:32.250 --> 00:23:33.998
The west end was trapped
on that corner.

00:23:33.999 --> 00:23:37.041
The only free thing was
the fields. We tried the fields.

00:23:37.042 --> 00:23:41.791
I went to the Band office to
check what was going on there.

00:23:41.792 --> 00:23:42.709
It was chaos over there.

00:23:42.710 --> 00:23:46.041
- Looking out the window,
I\'m seeing QPP is urinating

00:23:46.042 --> 00:23:48.333
in front of our women
and children.

00:23:48.334 --> 00:23:50.041
Feel so helpless
I can\'t do nothing about it.

00:23:50.042 --> 00:23:52.166
I wouldn\'t want
to have that feeling again.

00:23:52.167 --> 00:23:55.999
I\'ll sit first behind bars.

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.458
I told the commander, I says,

00:24:12.459 --> 00:24:14.998
\"I\'m the guy that\'s representing
the fishermen here.\"

00:24:14.999 --> 00:24:16.998
And he says,
\"You don\'t represent nobody.

00:24:16.999 --> 00:24:21.666
We are taking over today
and we are the bosses now.\"

00:24:21.667 --> 00:24:24.125
[marching]

00:25:40.959 --> 00:25:45.792
- The decision was made to put
up the barricades at that time.

00:25:49.626 --> 00:25:51.791
And it was the community
that said,

00:25:51.792 --> 00:25:53.124
\"We can\'t take this no longer.

00:25:53.125 --> 00:25:56.998
We gotta make a stand.
\'Cause many people said,

00:25:56.999 --> 00:25:58.541
\"When we fought,
fought for the fish,

00:25:58.542 --> 00:26:01.333
it wasn\'t given to us.
We had to fight for it.\"

00:26:01.334 --> 00:26:03.998
So it was of the same mind
that, you know,

00:26:03.999 --> 00:26:07.082
we will protect our territory,
We will protect the reserve

00:26:07.083 --> 00:26:10.083
and we have to protect
our future.

00:26:13.250 --> 00:26:14.500
Right now, we\'re fighting
amongst ourselves

00:26:14.501 --> 00:26:17.750
over jobs, because there\'s...
when the Band Council

00:26:17.751 --> 00:26:19.999
gets jobs...
There might be 60 jobs.

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:22.291
But there\'s 300 people
looking for those jobs.

00:26:22.292 --> 00:26:25.458
So all the other people are,
you know, on welfare,

00:26:25.459 --> 00:26:27.998
or they get work
for 10 to 14 weeks

00:26:27.999 --> 00:26:29.998
and from there,
there\'s no future.

00:26:29.999 --> 00:26:32.417
It\'s just back to welfare.

00:26:33.626 --> 00:26:35.998
It\'s, like... it\'s a big, uh...

00:26:35.999 --> 00:26:42.834
a big indifference
for our people in this area.

00:27:05.083 --> 00:27:06.998
- Sir, is your group still open

00:27:06.999 --> 00:27:08.791
to negotiations
with the Ministry?

00:27:08.792 --> 00:27:09.501
- We\'re very open.

00:27:09.502 --> 00:27:11.583
In my letter to Mr. Chevrette,
I stated

00:27:11.584 --> 00:27:13.917
that we are still open
to negotiations,

00:27:13.918 --> 00:27:16.374
but it\'s got to be taken
to another level.

00:27:16.375 --> 00:27:18.625
- There are rumours
that you\'re calling in natives

00:27:18.626 --> 00:27:21.998
from other reserves throughout
the province and New Brunswick.

00:27:21.999 --> 00:27:25.500
Is this confirmed? - It is confirmed.
There was a letter sent out

00:27:25.501 --> 00:27:28.958
that we may need assistance
because of the ultimatum.

00:27:28.959 --> 00:27:29.998
This happened in 1981.

00:27:29.999 --> 00:27:33.791
The same communiqué
was sent to our people

00:27:33.792 --> 00:27:38.249
during the salmon crisis,
when they were told to stop,

00:27:38.250 --> 00:27:40.998
cease fishing,
or \"We will come in

00:27:40.999 --> 00:27:44.291
and use what necessary force.\"
And it happened.

00:27:44.292 --> 00:27:47.500
That\'s why we sent
for outside assistance,

00:27:47.501 --> 00:27:49.625
so that when they do come,

00:27:49.626 --> 00:27:52.998
we will be able
to defend ourselves.

00:27:52.999 --> 00:27:56.000
[music]

00:28:05.459 --> 00:28:07.291
[narrator]: The blockade
creates difficulties

00:28:07.292 --> 00:28:11.125
for those who normally travel
Highway 132.

00:28:14.999 --> 00:28:17.583
Before long,
the outside communities

00:28:17.584 --> 00:28:22.292
and the workers affected
gather in protest.

00:28:46.876 --> 00:28:53.998
- We did not want
to block Route 132,

00:28:53.999 --> 00:28:55.124
but sometimes,

00:28:55.125 --> 00:29:00.998
Native people have to be heard

00:29:00.999 --> 00:29:03.041
and for years,

00:29:03.042 --> 00:29:06.875
since 1981, the salmon raids,

00:29:06.876 --> 00:29:09.666
we\'ve been promised
economic prosperity

00:29:09.667 --> 00:29:14.625
by both the federal
and provincial governments.

00:29:14.626 --> 00:29:16.791
And this is 1998

00:29:16.792 --> 00:29:23.998
and our community still has
a high unemployment rate.

00:29:23.999 --> 00:29:25.708
- Our position is,

00:29:25.709 --> 00:29:27.124
until our people
go back to work,

00:29:27.125 --> 00:29:28.998
nobody is going
to go back to work.

00:29:28.999 --> 00:29:32.249
- As we understand it,
the bill has been started now.

00:29:32.250 --> 00:29:36.958
Why weren\'t you opposing
the guys coming back to work?

00:29:36.959 --> 00:29:38.999
- \'Cause we were never told...

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:41.458
If they came back
this morning or this afternoon,

00:29:41.459 --> 00:29:44.500
then we have to deal with it.
- But Mr. Metallic,

00:29:44.501 --> 00:29:46.708
you have proven since
the beginning of everything,

00:29:46.709 --> 00:29:49.458
that you know everything
going on in the territory.

00:29:49.459 --> 00:29:51.708
You have even photographer
in the manifestation

00:29:51.709 --> 00:29:55.249
at Cross Point who have seen it.
You are everywhere.

00:29:55.250 --> 00:29:56.958
How come you didn\'t know today?

00:29:56.959 --> 00:29:59.166
Because you had trust
they would not enter?

00:29:59.167 --> 00:30:02.833
- I don\'t like your question,
the way you put your question.

00:30:02.834 --> 00:30:05.208
I never said in front of you
or anybody else

00:30:05.209 --> 00:30:07.666
that I know everything.
I\'ve never proclaimed myself...

00:30:07.667 --> 00:30:10.208
- You know everything, sir.
- As God,

00:30:10.209 --> 00:30:13.249
as Minister Chevrette
is trying to make that image.

00:30:13.250 --> 00:30:14.625
And I think you\'re exactly doing

00:30:14.626 --> 00:30:15.998
what Minister Chevrette
is trying to.

00:30:15.999 --> 00:30:18.791
- No, you misunderstood the
question. You know everything.

00:30:18.792 --> 00:30:20.541
- I never misunderstood
the question.

00:30:20.542 --> 00:30:21.583
I heard exactly what you said.

00:30:21.584 --> 00:30:29.041
- With the workers back at GDS,
this is not good news.

00:30:29.042 --> 00:30:31.998
This is certainly an indication

00:30:31.999 --> 00:30:37.041
that the negotiation phase
must be over.

00:30:37.042 --> 00:30:39.082
We are now heading

00:30:39.083 --> 00:30:42.249
to the GDS Mill, and if
the Quebec Government

00:30:42.250 --> 00:30:46.625
feels that we don\'t belong
there, by a form of injunction,

00:30:46.626 --> 00:30:51.541
so be it. Arrest us
and let\'s get this over with.

00:30:51.542 --> 00:30:53.751
[cheering]

00:31:11.709 --> 00:31:13.249
- Just because
they\'re a little bit nervous

00:31:13.250 --> 00:31:15.291
because everybody is here.
- Okay. No problem.

00:31:15.292 --> 00:31:18.125
[unintelligible conversation]

00:31:44.999 --> 00:31:47.167
[clapping]

00:32:39.459 --> 00:32:40.500
- Back?

00:32:40.501 --> 00:32:42.958
- Where?
- You see that square,

00:32:42.959 --> 00:32:43.998
just start going that way.

00:32:43.999 --> 00:32:46.625
When you\'re there,
we\'ll tell you what\'s good.

00:32:46.626 --> 00:32:48.291
- When you say equipment...
- Everything.

00:32:48.292 --> 00:32:51.958
You guys and the equipment.
I\'m just gonna say it once.

00:32:51.959 --> 00:32:54.124
I have a bunch of guys
that are gonna come here

00:32:54.125 --> 00:32:57.625
if you don\'t listen. So just
pick it up and move it. Okay?

00:32:57.626 --> 00:33:00.333
Please. I\'ll talk to you
in a minute, okay, Marc?

00:33:00.334 --> 00:33:02.167
- Yeah.
- Okay.

00:33:07.417 --> 00:33:09.416
[narrator]: The people on the
reserve

00:33:09.417 --> 00:33:10.875
feel invaded by the media,

00:33:10.876 --> 00:33:14.583
and the press is asked to move
and station themselves

00:33:14.584 --> 00:33:17.751
500 metres
further down the road.

00:33:48.999 --> 00:33:51.998
The Atlantic Policy Congress

00:33:51.999 --> 00:33:53.998
of First Nations Chiefs

00:33:53.999 --> 00:33:55.998
recognizes
the traditional leadership

00:33:55.999 --> 00:34:00.833
and Gary Metallic
as the Listuguj District Chief.

00:34:00.834 --> 00:34:03.750
- I was born and raised here.

00:34:03.751 --> 00:34:07.998
I\'ve been a labourer
most of my life.

00:34:07.999 --> 00:34:12.666
And, uh, the last 26 years,
I was a steel worker.

00:34:12.667 --> 00:34:13.250
But in 1990,

00:34:13.251 --> 00:34:21.251
I assumed the role of the Grand
Council District Chief,

00:34:21.501 --> 00:34:22.998
hereditary Chief,

00:34:22.999 --> 00:34:25.249
and that was held

00:34:25.250 --> 00:34:26.999
by my late uncle,
Alphonse Metallic,

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:30.998
who was also a Chief
of this community in 1981.

00:34:30.999 --> 00:34:33.041
It was because of that title

00:34:33.042 --> 00:34:35.998
that was passed on to me

00:34:35.999 --> 00:34:41.666
that I had to speak out
against the system here

00:34:41.667 --> 00:34:44.999
and what it was doing
to our people.

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:51.041
So, uh, as a District Chief,
Traditional District Chief,

00:34:51.042 --> 00:34:54.541
in 1992, I was asked
to get involved

00:34:54.542 --> 00:34:56.917
in the political
Indian Act system,

00:34:56.918 --> 00:35:00.998
to the point
where they asked me to run,

00:35:00.999 --> 00:35:02.999
to be part of the system

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:05.750
in order to change
what was happening.

00:35:05.751 --> 00:35:09.333
And from \'92 to \'97,
we made considerable changes

00:35:09.334 --> 00:35:13.666
in the way the system
was structured in terms -

00:35:13.667 --> 00:35:16.416
especially in accountability -

00:35:16.417 --> 00:35:18.249
to have open public forums,

00:35:18.250 --> 00:35:21.291
especially in the area
of aboriginal and treaty rights.

00:35:21.292 --> 00:35:24.833
You know, everything that was
talked about went to the people.

00:35:24.834 --> 00:35:27.875
The decision
was made by the people.

00:35:27.876 --> 00:35:31.875
As a leader,
I was more of a servant.

00:35:31.876 --> 00:35:33.833
Our generation has not changed

00:35:33.834 --> 00:35:35.458
through the different
generations.

00:35:35.459 --> 00:35:38.374
If I look at my father
and grandfather

00:35:38.375 --> 00:35:40.166
and their mother
and grandmother,

00:35:40.167 --> 00:35:41.875
those were our ways.

00:35:41.876 --> 00:35:46.291
Nothing was done without
the consent of the people.

00:35:46.292 --> 00:35:50.374
They talked about it and then
when it was talked about,

00:35:50.375 --> 00:35:51.416
it was passed over

00:35:51.417 --> 00:35:52.998
to the leadership at that time

00:35:52.999 --> 00:35:55.583
and told this
is what has to be done.

00:35:55.584 --> 00:35:57.458
And then no one
can say afterward,

00:35:57.459 --> 00:35:59.998
\"Why did you do this?
Why did you say

00:35:59.999 --> 00:36:03.791
that I could not fish over here?
Or I could not hunt over here?\"

00:36:03.792 --> 00:36:08.291
It\'s only when they introduced
this Indian Act system

00:36:08.292 --> 00:36:11.458
that then, the dictatorial,
supposed democracy

00:36:11.459 --> 00:36:14.541
that Canada followed,
and the provinces,

00:36:14.542 --> 00:36:17.666
was imposed
right down our throats.

00:36:17.667 --> 00:36:19.998
And this is where
our problems began.

00:36:19.999 --> 00:36:22.500
[narrator]:
The Indian Act system

00:36:22.501 --> 00:36:27.291
was introduced by
the Canadian Government in 1876.

00:36:27.292 --> 00:36:27.999
Ever since,

00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:30.791
there has been conflict
between this system

00:36:30.792 --> 00:36:32.998
and the traditional ways
of leadership.

00:36:32.999 --> 00:36:35.998
The federal
and provincial governments

00:36:35.999 --> 00:36:38.374
only recognized
the Indian Act government,

00:36:38.375 --> 00:36:42.333
which is presently headed
by Chief Ronald Jacques.

00:36:42.334 --> 00:36:46.666
- I am pleased to announce
that this administration

00:36:46.667 --> 00:36:49.166
has negotiated
a tentative agreement

00:36:49.167 --> 00:36:50.458
with the Quebec government.

00:36:50.459 --> 00:36:53.998
[narrator]: This agreement
gives the community much less

00:36:53.999 --> 00:36:57.998
than the traditionalists
were fighting for,

00:36:57.999 --> 00:36:59.875
so the conflict continues.

00:36:59.876 --> 00:37:04.458
- We will be inviting
the chief and council

00:37:04.459 --> 00:37:07.998
to come and meet
with the people,

00:37:07.999 --> 00:37:09.208
and also our group,

00:37:09.209 --> 00:37:15.292
to discuss this present
situation tomorrow night.

00:37:16.834 --> 00:37:18.998
- It\'s not about politics.
It\'s about forestry,

00:37:18.999 --> 00:37:21.999
it\'s about logging,
it\'s about creating jobs.

00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:24.249
And he\'s not down here.

00:37:24.250 --> 00:37:26.998
- I am not discouraged
that they didn\'t show up...

00:37:26.999 --> 00:37:28.166
Sure we have
our political differences,

00:37:28.167 --> 00:37:31.416
but when it comes to this issue,
everybody is of one mind

00:37:31.417 --> 00:37:33.998
that it\'s still our land,
it belongs to us.

00:37:33.999 --> 00:37:36.374
And nobody has a right
to give it away

00:37:36.375 --> 00:37:40.166
without notifying each one
of you exactly what\'s going on.

00:37:40.167 --> 00:37:40.999
That\'s the issue.

00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:43.875
- It looks like we\'re fighting
amongst each other

00:37:43.876 --> 00:37:46.082
and that\'s exactly
what it\'s gonna look like

00:37:46.083 --> 00:37:48.541
and what they wanted
right from the beginning.

00:37:48.542 --> 00:37:50.791
This is not an internal fight
with Ronald Jacques.

00:37:50.792 --> 00:37:53.958
We made that clear. We don\'t
wanna fight with our own people.

00:37:53.959 --> 00:37:58.374
We wanna fight with Quebec.
Quebec is the culprit here.

00:37:58.375 --> 00:38:01.458
You know, the rest
of the country is looking at us.

00:38:01.459 --> 00:38:02.875
Native people
from across the country

00:38:02.876 --> 00:38:05.998
are looking at what we\'re doing
here and they\'re supporting us.

00:38:05.999 --> 00:38:08.998
\'Cause faxes are coming in.
Don\'t stop. Don\'t quit.

00:38:08.999 --> 00:38:10.998
In the meantime,
we\'re here to stand.

00:38:10.999 --> 00:38:13.917
We had a discussion here
this afternoon.

00:38:13.918 --> 00:38:15.416
People are still saying no.

00:38:15.417 --> 00:38:16.791
Nobody\'s going back to work

00:38:16.792 --> 00:38:20.666
until we go back to work.
So let\'s go on.

00:38:20.667 --> 00:38:21.708
Let\'s continue.
- Okay.

00:38:21.709 --> 00:38:25.998
- Minister Chevrette
has not really put anything...

00:38:25.999 --> 00:38:29.333
concrete forward, except
accusing us of being dissidents.

00:38:29.334 --> 00:38:31.917
I think, in this day and age,

00:38:31.918 --> 00:38:34.791
that the word \"dissident\"
is uncalled for.

00:38:34.792 --> 00:38:36.500
Monday, Mayor Young has said

00:38:36.501 --> 00:38:39.291
that his workers
are going back to work.

00:38:39.292 --> 00:38:42.998
He gave me a letter
for me to understand, uh...

00:38:42.999 --> 00:38:45.998
that these people have been
out of work for two weeks

00:38:45.999 --> 00:38:49.625
and they want to go back to work
and I have to, uh...

00:38:49.626 --> 00:38:51.041
respond to his letters,
telling him to...

00:38:51.042 --> 00:38:54.875
that my people also have been
out of work for nearly 200 years

00:38:54.876 --> 00:38:57.625
and we\'re just asking
to go back to work.

00:38:57.626 --> 00:38:59.041
We just want our fair allocation

00:38:59.042 --> 00:39:02.917
so that our people
can make their salaries

00:39:02.918 --> 00:39:04.082
to support their families.

00:39:04.083 --> 00:39:07.291
That\'s all this is,
our fair share.

00:39:07.292 --> 00:39:09.041
What\'s wrong with that?

00:39:09.042 --> 00:39:11.501
[music]

00:39:35.999 --> 00:39:39.999
[car horns honking]

00:39:50.083 --> 00:39:51.208
[narrator]:
Though Minister Chevrette

00:39:51.209 --> 00:39:52.998
keeps referring
to the traditionalists

00:39:52.999 --> 00:39:54.875
as merely a handful
of dissidents,

00:39:54.876 --> 00:40:01.249
large numbers of people
come to protest his agreement.

00:40:01.250 --> 00:40:05.083
[people cheering and honking]

00:40:37.167 --> 00:40:40.999
- Mr. Chevrette,
show some respect.

00:41:34.334 --> 00:41:38.998
- They\'re playing us
exactly the way they want it

00:41:38.999 --> 00:41:43.208
to be played out.

00:41:43.209 --> 00:41:43.959
Exactly.

00:41:43.960 --> 00:41:45.998
When is this going to stop?

00:41:45.999 --> 00:41:49.999
Michael told me
he went through it in 1981.

00:41:50.999 --> 00:41:53.999
He\'s exactly right.
This feels like 1981.

00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:56.998
It\'s worse.
It\'s worse than 1981.

00:41:56.999 --> 00:41:58.500
This is survival right now,

00:41:58.501 --> 00:42:02.458
survival for our future
generations, our young children.

00:42:02.459 --> 00:42:03.999
That\'s what this is about.

00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:07.249
People that have been
politically opposed

00:42:07.250 --> 00:42:09.416
have been here,
they\'ve been eating,

00:42:09.417 --> 00:42:12.583
they\'ve been drinking,
they\'ve been talking...

00:42:12.584 --> 00:42:14.416
About one issue:
about our lands,

00:42:14.417 --> 00:42:18.541
about our lands and resources,
about how we own them.

00:42:18.542 --> 00:42:22.124
We still own them.
And that is the issue.

00:42:22.125 --> 00:42:26.625
The issue is not
who voted for who.

00:42:26.626 --> 00:42:30.291
The issue is about unity
and about our people

00:42:30.292 --> 00:42:34.291
and about our children
and the future generations.

00:42:34.292 --> 00:42:36.998
Thank you.
[applause]

00:42:36.999 --> 00:42:40.333
- The way things are going now,

00:42:40.334 --> 00:42:44.333
and all the clear-cutting
that\'s being done,

00:42:44.334 --> 00:42:45.998
paper mills today
and lumber mills

00:42:45.999 --> 00:42:49.999
use more wood today than
the wood they plan to grow.

00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:51.998
We\'re gonna run out of wood

00:42:51.999 --> 00:42:54.208
in the very, very,
very near future

00:42:54.209 --> 00:42:57.333
if this government
doesn\'t start regulating cutting

00:42:57.334 --> 00:42:59.998
and things like that.

00:42:59.999 --> 00:43:02.833
The private-woodlot owners,
you see it in the newspapers,

00:43:02.834 --> 00:43:04.958
there\'s no control over them.

00:43:04.959 --> 00:43:08.583
They\'re cutting more
than they can grow.

00:43:08.584 --> 00:43:10.999
I could see it way back,

00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:12.998
when mining industries
took everything,

00:43:12.999 --> 00:43:16.833
all the resources out
and a very small percentage

00:43:16.834 --> 00:43:20.750
came back to the Indians.
Because this is all Crown land

00:43:20.751 --> 00:43:24.958
and it was our land,
it was held in trust

00:43:24.959 --> 00:43:29.208
by the Government of Canada,
Crown, on our behalf,

00:43:29.209 --> 00:43:31.500
so there\'s a breach of trust

00:43:31.501 --> 00:43:35.917
concerning the responsibility
they have toward our resources.

00:43:35.918 --> 00:43:39.999
They\'ve done a goddamn poor job
of it.

00:43:40.876 --> 00:43:43.875
- Our position is the same.
The blockades are there.

00:43:43.876 --> 00:43:46.998
They will stay. We have had
direction from the community

00:43:46.999 --> 00:43:49.999
that they will stay and
that the negotiated agreement

00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:53.124
between the band council
and the Quebec government

00:43:53.125 --> 00:43:53.999
is totally unacceptable.

00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:57.998
We are sending a delegation
tomorrow to Quebec City.

00:43:57.999 --> 00:43:58.999
If they have to,

00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:02.249
they\'ll camp out
at the doors of Mr. Bouchard.

00:44:02.250 --> 00:44:05.500
Minister Chevrette
has made a position -

00:44:05.501 --> 00:44:06.998
a very firm position -

00:44:06.999 --> 00:44:09.541
that he will not negotiate
with myself.

00:44:09.542 --> 00:44:14.541
I am man enough to step aside
and not to take it personal,

00:44:14.542 --> 00:44:17.291
as Mr. Chevrette
has done against me,

00:44:17.292 --> 00:44:18.000
to personally attack me,

00:44:18.001 --> 00:44:21.998
and that he will not meet
with me and the \"dissidents.\"

00:44:21.999 --> 00:44:26.833
We will be sending our four
elected officials to Quebec City

00:44:26.834 --> 00:44:29.082
plus a delegation
of elders, women,

00:44:29.083 --> 00:44:30.999
and representation
from the loggers.

00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:33.583
It is now up to
the Quebec government,

00:44:33.584 --> 00:44:36.458
it is in the hands
of the Quebec government,

00:44:36.459 --> 00:44:37.958
on how this situation
will unfold.

00:44:37.959 --> 00:44:40.750
- Mr. Metallic, how can you say
that you still have the support

00:44:40.751 --> 00:44:45.625
of your community?
- How can I say that?

00:44:45.626 --> 00:44:47.458
[cheering]

00:44:47.459 --> 00:44:49.750
Unless you were blind,
and you couldn\'t hear,

00:44:49.751 --> 00:44:54.750
if you look around and
take the time to walk around,

00:44:54.751 --> 00:44:56.416
you\'ll see what that means.

00:44:56.417 --> 00:44:58.458
It\'s been three weeks now
that the media

00:44:58.459 --> 00:45:01.208
has been portraying me
as 14 individuals and myself.

00:45:01.209 --> 00:45:02.998
Look for yourself.
You\'ve got cameras?

00:45:02.999 --> 00:45:06.708
Take the time to talk
to the people if you want,

00:45:06.709 --> 00:45:07.709
and they\'ll tell you:

00:45:07.710 --> 00:45:11.334
this is now a community issue.

00:45:27.501 --> 00:45:30.459
- See ya.
See you in Quebec City.

00:45:35.375 --> 00:45:37.833
- Mr. Chevrette?
- Oh, that\'s not a rumour.

00:45:37.834 --> 00:45:41.416
That was a call from his attache
pleading now to meet with us.

00:45:41.417 --> 00:45:43.875
After three weeks
of trying to meet with him,

00:45:43.876 --> 00:45:45.374
now, because we\'re sending
our delegation

00:45:45.375 --> 00:45:49.500
to camp out at the National
Assembly, now he wants to meet.

00:45:49.501 --> 00:45:52.791
It\'s almost like the mountain
coming to us now,

00:45:52.792 --> 00:45:54.791
but we\'ll go to the mountain.

00:45:54.792 --> 00:45:56.041
- So he\'s not coming here now?

00:45:56.042 --> 00:45:57.708
- Ah, he can come if he wants.

00:45:57.709 --> 00:46:00.750
But, we\'re going
directly to Quebec

00:46:00.751 --> 00:46:01.998
and to ask Minister Bouchard

00:46:01.999 --> 00:46:05.458
to finally deal with this,
that we have to intervene.

00:46:05.459 --> 00:46:08.708
- The next morning, Allison\'s
outside the Legislative Assembly

00:46:08.709 --> 00:46:11.917
waiting for them
to call him in for a meeting.

00:46:11.918 --> 00:46:14.998
He said three hours go by
before they called him in.

00:46:14.999 --> 00:46:16.041
There was too many press
in Quebec

00:46:16.042 --> 00:46:18.750
for Chevrette to say that
he didn\'t know they were there,

00:46:18.751 --> 00:46:21.500
so they met with the Minister
till 2:00-3:00 in the morning.

00:46:21.501 --> 00:46:24.374
He says, \"Yeah, everything
looks good.\" Then finally,

00:46:24.375 --> 00:46:27.750
they said no. It\'s too late.
Everyone\'s too tired.

00:46:27.751 --> 00:46:29.998
We\'ll have it for you
next morning at 10:00.

00:46:29.999 --> 00:46:32.249
So they made him wait
till 3:00 in the afternoon.

00:46:32.250 --> 00:46:34.999
But they gave him a deal
back at 3:00 and they said,

00:46:35.000 --> 00:46:37.998
\"Accept this, fly back home,
take those barricades up.\"

00:46:37.999 --> 00:46:38.876
But they told him again,

00:46:38.877 --> 00:46:40.999
\"Listen, the process is,
we go back to the people.

00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:45.125
The people have to decide
whether they accept or not.\"

00:46:58.999 --> 00:47:01.374
- Have to ask the people.

00:47:01.375 --> 00:47:01.999
Do you think

00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:05.918
this is a good offer?
[people]: No!

00:47:07.417 --> 00:47:09.124
- Can you raise your hands

00:47:09.125 --> 00:47:13.542
if you do not think
it\'s a good offer?

00:47:14.459 --> 00:47:17.041
- It\'s garbage!
- Garbage!

00:47:17.042 --> 00:47:21.249
- That\'s exactly
what I had said...

00:47:21.250 --> 00:47:21.999
- Garbage!

00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:25.333
- When I got this.
- If we have vote...

00:47:25.334 --> 00:47:28.999
if you think it\'s a good offer.

00:47:32.999 --> 00:47:34.998
- I needed to see that.

00:47:34.999 --> 00:47:37.416
\'Cause I didn\'t want
Chevrette to say

00:47:37.417 --> 00:47:41.291
that Gary Metallic has once
again influenced the people.

00:47:41.292 --> 00:47:45.625
I know the people here
will not back away.

00:47:45.626 --> 00:47:49.917
I am still as determined
as I was four weeks ago.

00:47:49.918 --> 00:47:51.998
I may look tired,
but believe me,

00:47:51.999 --> 00:47:55.541
I\'m still as determined
to go on with this -

00:47:55.542 --> 00:47:59.416
only if you are willing
to go on with this.

00:47:59.417 --> 00:48:01.374
- Yes!
[people]: Yes!

00:48:01.375 --> 00:48:03.501
[cheering and applause]

00:48:23.334 --> 00:48:28.041
- I think what has been
put forward here...

00:48:28.042 --> 00:48:28.999
is not enough,

00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:33.708
and that it only brings us down
to mere users.

00:48:33.709 --> 00:48:38.166
We are not users.
We are owners of this land.

00:48:38.167 --> 00:48:40.334
Mi\'gmaq...
[loud cheering]

00:48:46.709 --> 00:48:48.958
The people have spoken.

00:48:48.959 --> 00:48:51.083
[cheering]

00:49:25.834 --> 00:49:29.875
Our boys came back from Quebec,

00:49:29.876 --> 00:49:30.751
the delegation.

00:49:30.752 --> 00:49:32.998
We received them
with a candlelight vigil,

00:49:32.999 --> 00:49:33.542
\'cause, you know,

00:49:33.543 --> 00:49:36.291
we said that they worked so hard
when they were there.

00:49:36.292 --> 00:49:38.458
When they came back,
they were so emotional.

00:49:38.459 --> 00:49:40.875
They were crying and they,
you know,

00:49:40.876 --> 00:49:45.082
they were expressing to us
what they went through there.

00:49:45.083 --> 00:49:47.999
It was like hell.
[cheering]

00:49:50.999 --> 00:49:53.291
- In 1981,

00:49:53.292 --> 00:49:57.249
when we first started fighting
for fishing rights,

00:49:57.250 --> 00:49:59.625
we had to battle governments

00:49:59.626 --> 00:50:01.166
that did not understand,

00:50:01.167 --> 00:50:06.998
and we\'re faced with the same
situation again today,

00:50:06.999 --> 00:50:11.458
where they don\'t understand.

00:50:11.459 --> 00:50:14.958
They think
we\'re a bunch of rebels.

00:50:14.959 --> 00:50:16.291
We\'ve been labelled...

00:50:16.292 --> 00:50:17.998
\"dissidents,\"

00:50:17.999 --> 00:50:21.333
from children,

00:50:21.334 --> 00:50:24.833
our elders,

00:50:24.834 --> 00:50:27.458
our warriors,

00:50:27.459 --> 00:50:30.124
our people.

00:50:30.125 --> 00:50:30.959
Dissidents.

00:50:30.960 --> 00:50:37.998
We are not dissidents,
Mr. Minister.

00:50:37.999 --> 00:50:40.583
We are leaders
of this community.

00:50:40.584 --> 00:50:41.459
- Right on.

00:50:41.460 --> 00:50:45.041
- We went to this meeting.

00:50:45.042 --> 00:50:49.374
They called it
a negotiation process.

00:50:49.375 --> 00:50:54.124
We were given another ultimatum.

00:50:54.125 --> 00:50:55.500
\"This is good for you.

00:50:55.501 --> 00:50:58.249
This is good for your people.\"

00:50:58.250 --> 00:51:01.750
It may be good in a short term,

00:51:01.751 --> 00:51:07.208
but that\'s not the message
that we wanted to hear.

00:51:07.209 --> 00:51:12.374
The government has been playing
with us long enough,

00:51:12.375 --> 00:51:16.208
but do they think
that we are ever gonna quit?

00:51:16.209 --> 00:51:17.875
- Never.
[people]: Never. No way.

00:51:17.876 --> 00:51:18.626
We\'re never gonna quit.

00:51:18.627 --> 00:51:21.666
We are gonna get our fair share
of the forest.

00:51:21.667 --> 00:51:22.083
- Yeah.

00:51:22.084 --> 00:51:26.708
- And aren\'t you willing
to renegotiate some more?

00:51:26.709 --> 00:51:31.249
- I don\'t know. It\'s, uh,
certainly not tonight

00:51:31.250 --> 00:51:35.458
and certainly not
with Mr. Metallic, Allison,

00:51:35.459 --> 00:51:36.958
and Mr. Wen Dell.

00:51:36.959 --> 00:51:42.958
Surely, you will be sure
not tonight with them,

00:51:42.959 --> 00:51:47.998
because excuse me, what am I?

00:51:47.999 --> 00:51:49.999
A small short...

00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:52.458
are in Joliette, you know.

00:51:52.459 --> 00:51:54.333
I\'m a... I have pant,

00:51:54.334 --> 00:51:58.500
and, uh, with the little boy,
not serious.

00:51:58.501 --> 00:52:02.041
After a long day
and a long night,

00:52:02.042 --> 00:52:07.998
\'scuse me, but I will speak
with, uh...

00:52:07.999 --> 00:52:09.625
the adult, okay?

00:52:09.626 --> 00:52:11.708
- No respect for the Mi\'gmaqs,

00:52:11.709 --> 00:52:14.583
no respect for the people
that were there.

00:52:14.584 --> 00:52:18.750
It\'s sad that this guy
is a minister for Native Affairs

00:52:18.751 --> 00:52:21.541
and understanding the way
we think, our rights...

00:52:21.542 --> 00:52:24.708
But he\'s the Minister of Native
Affairs at the same time,

00:52:24.709 --> 00:52:27.998
and, you know, to show that much
disrespect for our people...

00:52:27.999 --> 00:52:29.792
The people were angry.

00:52:30.751 --> 00:52:33.082
- You know, governments

00:52:33.083 --> 00:52:36.458
have managed to get away
from the issue.

00:52:36.459 --> 00:52:39.333
We are fighting this
for everyone,

00:52:39.334 --> 00:52:40.875
everyone in the community.

00:52:40.876 --> 00:52:43.208
All we want
is for Ronald Jacques, tomorrow,

00:52:43.209 --> 00:52:46.500
to put this to the people.
- Right on. Right on.

00:52:46.501 --> 00:52:49.583
And if he does so,
it will be to his benefit.

00:52:49.584 --> 00:52:52.998
- Okay, if you lose the issue
of your referendum,

00:52:52.999 --> 00:52:55.249
it\'s by your conviction,
what do you make?

00:52:55.250 --> 00:53:00.416
- If we lose, for myself,
if it is a yes, it is a yes.

00:53:00.417 --> 00:53:04.917
I will respect the wishes
of the people and that\'s it.

00:53:04.918 --> 00:53:05.834
What else can be done?

00:53:05.835 --> 00:53:07.998
We don\'t... we\'re not like
the Quebec government.

00:53:07.999 --> 00:53:12.374
They lost once in a referendum,
but they keep dragging it on.

00:53:12.375 --> 00:53:14.083
- Twice.
[laughter]

00:53:14.626 --> 00:53:16.998
- We are talking about
the sacred right

00:53:16.999 --> 00:53:20.208
to our land and its resources.
That\'s what it\'s about.

00:53:20.209 --> 00:53:23.998
And Quebec knows it, because
they don\'t want to recognize it.

00:53:23.999 --> 00:53:27.708
It will affect their sovereignty
and territorial integrity.

00:53:27.709 --> 00:53:31.042
That\'s what it\'s all about.

00:53:33.542 --> 00:53:35.500
There\'s real concerns out there.

00:53:35.501 --> 00:53:36.998
Because of tomorrow morning,

00:53:36.999 --> 00:53:38.958
what may happen
tomorrow morning.

00:53:38.959 --> 00:53:39.998
As this thing gets closer,

00:53:39.999 --> 00:53:42.666
I realize people are starting
to get nervous.

00:53:42.667 --> 00:53:46.124
People are starting
to get scared for their families

00:53:46.125 --> 00:53:49.998
and that\'s right,
it\'s right to be that way.

00:53:49.999 --> 00:53:50.999
If you\'re not,

00:53:51.000 --> 00:53:53.041
you know you\'re not human.

00:53:53.042 --> 00:53:55.875
But what I have to know is,

00:53:55.876 --> 00:53:59.082
do you want to keep
this blockade?

00:53:59.083 --> 00:54:02.166
We have to know that.

00:54:02.167 --> 00:54:04.833
[people]: Yes. Yes. Yeah.

00:54:04.834 --> 00:54:06.999
Leave \'em up.

00:54:27.584 --> 00:54:30.208
- We\'ll prove them something.

00:54:30.209 --> 00:54:33.250
- Exactly.
- Exactly.

00:54:34.000 --> 00:54:37.083
[music and applause]

00:54:51.209 --> 00:54:53.333
- The resolution is going
to be presented

00:54:53.334 --> 00:54:55.708
by Mr. Allison Metallic
for officially asking

00:54:55.709 --> 00:54:57.958
for the referendum, the vote.

00:54:57.959 --> 00:55:00.374
It\'s clear
that we won\'t have any...

00:55:00.375 --> 00:55:01.998
there\'s no real dialogue
up there.

00:55:01.999 --> 00:55:04.791
It\'s just a back-and-forth
and that\'s not constructive.

00:55:04.792 --> 00:55:07.998
- They will be signing
that agreement I guess shortly.

00:55:07.999 --> 00:55:10.917
A Band Council Resolution
is on the table to accept

00:55:10.918 --> 00:55:13.998
the agreement that we rejected.
It\'s simply not enough.

00:55:13.999 --> 00:55:16.124
But I guess they want
to create jobs.

00:55:16.125 --> 00:55:18.998
Hopefully, it will help us
to continue the struggle,

00:55:18.999 --> 00:55:21.998
so that we can have our people
get off welfare.

00:55:21.999 --> 00:55:24.998
And that our people can have
some hope and our fair share.

00:55:24.999 --> 00:55:26.998
- So what does that mean
for the barricades?

00:55:26.999 --> 00:55:29.750
- That will have to be discussed
amongst the people.

00:55:29.751 --> 00:55:30.584
I cannot make that decision.

00:55:30.585 --> 00:55:32.998
It\'s not a decision that
was made lightly last night.

00:55:32.999 --> 00:55:35.082
It took three hours
to discuss it, to keep it.

00:55:35.083 --> 00:55:37.875
- Well, that\'s how we\'ve been
settling our issues.

00:55:37.876 --> 00:55:40.998
Every night, everybody gets
a chance to talk and listen,

00:55:40.999 --> 00:55:43.708
even if they\'re against it.
And at the end,

00:55:43.709 --> 00:55:48.374
you usually get almost
full consensus on the issue.

00:55:48.375 --> 00:55:51.998
- Are you interested
in any sort of discussion

00:55:51.999 --> 00:55:55.041
of increasing the protest
in some way.....

00:55:55.042 --> 00:55:56.042
- No, right now...

00:55:56.043 --> 00:55:59.833
what exists now is more
than enough, stress-wise.

00:55:59.834 --> 00:56:05.541
We just want to get back
to work, like other people.

00:56:05.542 --> 00:56:07.501
Thank you.

00:56:08.083 --> 00:56:11.998
The question of a referendum...

00:56:11.999 --> 00:56:12.751
was rejected,

00:56:12.752 --> 00:56:16.999
but we have something
that we can bring back...

00:56:17.000 --> 00:56:18.000
to our people,

00:56:18.001 --> 00:56:22.875
you know, that will hopefully
put an end to these crises.

00:56:22.876 --> 00:56:24.166
Extra allocation...

00:56:24.167 --> 00:56:29.208
to the loggers is one thing
that we\'ve been asking for,

00:56:29.209 --> 00:56:30.209
but, uh, not...

00:56:30.210 --> 00:56:33.625
I can\'t reveal any details.

00:56:33.626 --> 00:56:36.583
I\'m gonna let Mr. Metallic,

00:56:36.584 --> 00:56:38.166
Gary Metallic himself,

00:56:38.167 --> 00:56:39.000
explain that to the press.

00:56:39.001 --> 00:56:42.208
- But he just told us
that you\'re back to square one.

00:56:42.209 --> 00:56:44.833
- Getting a sense
that you, Gary and Troy

00:56:44.834 --> 00:56:45.667
are not saying the same thing.

00:56:45.668 --> 00:56:49.666
Troy and Gary burst out
and they were... they seemed...

00:56:49.667 --> 00:56:52.541
didn\'t seem satisfied at all.
What\'s going on?

00:56:52.542 --> 00:56:55.708
- It\'s all a game that
we\'re playing with you guys.

00:56:55.709 --> 00:56:56.542
[laughter]

00:56:56.543 --> 00:56:59.166
- Is the impression that you got
that the barricades

00:56:59.167 --> 00:57:02.666
will be coming down?
- That\'s the impression I got.

00:57:02.667 --> 00:57:05.500
- When do you think
they\'ll come down?

00:57:05.501 --> 00:57:07.041
- I don\'t really know.

00:57:07.042 --> 00:57:09.917
- Well, you must have an idea.

00:57:09.918 --> 00:57:11.208
- I never asked for that.

00:57:11.209 --> 00:57:15.541
I just told them that this is
what we\'d like to see...

00:57:15.542 --> 00:57:17.708
and take care of it themselves.

00:57:17.709 --> 00:57:22.999
- Okay, will you be asking
your police at all to interfere,

00:57:23.000 --> 00:57:23.626
or...?

00:57:23.627 --> 00:57:26.998
- We never did ask our police
to interfere,

00:57:26.999 --> 00:57:29.791
because we don\'t want
to fight with native.

00:57:29.792 --> 00:57:30.998
We\'re not that kind of people.

00:57:30.999 --> 00:57:36.959
We take care of our own business
and we want it to work that way.

00:58:00.042 --> 00:58:01.082
- I was very happy

00:58:01.083 --> 00:58:04.875
to see that the people\'s
determination was there,

00:58:04.876 --> 00:58:09.041
even though the session
was a closed meeting.

00:58:09.042 --> 00:58:10.750
We still went in

00:58:10.751 --> 00:58:14.583
and said our piece, I guess.

00:58:14.584 --> 00:58:15.998
During, I guess, uh...

00:58:15.999 --> 00:58:19.791
the course of the meeting
and before that,

00:58:19.792 --> 00:58:22.041
there was a new offer

00:58:22.042 --> 00:58:23.458
that came in

00:58:23.459 --> 00:58:28.124
that I think
should be looked at...

00:58:28.125 --> 00:58:29.208
very closely.

00:58:29.209 --> 00:58:31.249
It was an allocation,

00:58:31.250 --> 00:58:35.998
an extra allocation
of 5,000 cubic metres.

00:58:35.999 --> 00:58:39.625
This has been a long fight,

00:58:39.626 --> 00:58:45.998
and I believe
this is only the first step

00:58:45.999 --> 00:58:48.124
in that long struggle.

00:58:48.125 --> 00:58:54.917
I think we should look
at the short term,

00:58:54.918 --> 00:58:58.334
to put our people
back to work...

00:59:01.542 --> 00:59:06.998
and to see if it can lead
to that long-term allocation

00:59:06.999 --> 00:59:08.998
that we came up with.

00:59:08.999 --> 00:59:10.625
Which was, at the time,

00:59:10.626 --> 00:59:14.958
we used a figure of
150 to 160,000 cubic metres.

00:59:14.959 --> 00:59:19.998
If I look at the amount
that\'s being allocated now,

00:59:19.999 --> 00:59:21.458
it\'s 15,000 cubic metres,

00:59:21.459 --> 00:59:24.875
but the season
is almost half over, also.

00:59:24.876 --> 00:59:30.333
Therefore, it could be seen
as something that we could use

00:59:30.334 --> 00:59:35.500
to negotiate over the fall
or winter or next year.

00:59:35.501 --> 00:59:39.998
The fight is not over,
as I said.

00:59:39.999 --> 00:59:40.999
My views haven\'t changed

00:59:41.000 --> 00:59:44.791
as to we are the owners
of this territory.

00:59:44.792 --> 00:59:48.999
But I believe we can do that
on another road,

00:59:49.000 --> 00:59:49.999
another parallel process.

00:59:50.000 --> 00:59:55.458
I don\'t take it, not one bit,
that we have lost.

00:59:55.459 --> 00:59:58.750
I can stand before anybody
with my head up high,

00:59:58.751 --> 01:00:02.791
just as you - each and every
one of you - can

01:00:02.792 --> 01:00:04.666
that we have won this fight.

01:00:04.667 --> 01:00:06.998
[clapping and cheering]

01:00:06.999 --> 01:00:10.584
We have won this.

01:00:12.999 --> 01:00:14.998
And we should be proud.

01:00:14.999 --> 01:00:17.998
As Mi\'gmaq people,
we should be proud.

01:00:17.999 --> 01:00:18.999
From now on, when we say

01:00:19.000 --> 01:00:23.249
the Mi\'gmaq have their
traditional tribal governments,

01:00:23.250 --> 01:00:24.750
no one can say...

01:00:24.751 --> 01:00:28.998
that there is no such thing
that exists.

01:00:28.999 --> 01:00:31.998
Because it does exist.

01:00:31.999 --> 01:00:34.082
Proof of it
is what happened here.

01:00:34.083 --> 01:00:37.082
So don\'t anyone feel

01:00:37.083 --> 01:00:38.875
that we\'ve lost. Never.

01:00:38.876 --> 01:00:40.708
This is only the beginning.

01:00:40.709 --> 01:00:43.333
This is the beginning
of our nationhood,

01:00:43.334 --> 01:00:44.541
the building of our nationhood,

01:00:44.542 --> 01:00:50.584
the institutions that go with it
and the laws that go with it.

01:00:51.999 --> 01:00:55.209
So I thought
I\'d share this with you.

01:00:57.999 --> 01:01:02.124
And I want to thank you
from the bottom of my heart.

01:01:02.125 --> 01:01:04.291
I will never forget this day.

01:01:04.292 --> 01:01:06.625
Thank you.

01:01:06.626 --> 01:01:08.083
[applause]

01:01:14.667 --> 01:01:17.708
I know there are
a lot of questions,

01:01:17.709 --> 01:01:19.999
and they should be asked.

01:01:20.751 --> 01:01:21.626
- How is this different

01:01:21.627 --> 01:01:25.667
from the agreement that
you brought back on August 13th?

01:01:27.334 --> 01:01:29.333
How is it different?

01:01:29.334 --> 01:01:29.999
- Same deal.

01:01:30.000 --> 01:01:33.333
The allocation,
as it was told to me,

01:01:33.334 --> 01:01:36.458
was raised
to 5,000 cubic metres more.

01:01:36.459 --> 01:01:39.583
- Ten jobs added.
- Ten jobs.

01:01:39.584 --> 01:01:41.041
- Also, an extra $100,000.

01:01:41.042 --> 01:01:44.833
- Okay, so how is it different?
I\'d like to...

01:01:44.834 --> 01:01:46.458
- The Band has 15,000

01:01:46.459 --> 01:01:48.625
and we have 15,000.

01:01:48.626 --> 01:01:53.708
The Band took their 5,000
and gave it to us.

01:01:53.709 --> 01:01:55.875
- Is this all down in writing?
- Yes.

01:01:55.876 --> 01:01:59.750
- I mean, I have to see this
in writing, you know.

01:01:59.751 --> 01:02:00.998
Everything will be photocopied.

01:02:00.999 --> 01:02:03.875
It\'s almost the same deal.

01:02:03.876 --> 01:02:05.875
[intermingled voices]

01:02:05.876 --> 01:02:08.249
- Yeah, it\'s the same deal.
One thing we gotta remember,

01:02:08.250 --> 01:02:13.249
you know, we can\'t conquer
the mountain, uh, immediately.

01:02:13.250 --> 01:02:16.291
We gotta... we gotta climb it.

01:02:16.292 --> 01:02:18.917
We got our foot in the door.

01:02:18.918 --> 01:02:21.541
I think we should settle
with that...

01:02:21.542 --> 01:02:24.583
so that
if it\'s not good anyway...

01:02:24.584 --> 01:02:26.791
they know what we\'re capable of.

01:02:26.792 --> 01:02:30.666
You know, we\'ve got all...
we have all winter,

01:02:30.667 --> 01:02:33.958
to make sure...
- We almost had a crush in \'81.

01:02:33.959 --> 01:02:34.998
We already showed them then

01:02:34.999 --> 01:02:36.917
that we weren\'t
gonna take it anymore.

01:02:36.918 --> 01:02:38.750
- Yeah, well, you know...
Yeah.

01:02:38.751 --> 01:02:39.998
And we\'re doing it again.

01:02:39.999 --> 01:02:43.998
And all the boys are anxious
to go back to work.

01:02:43.999 --> 01:02:47.959
Everybody wants
to go back to work.

01:03:01.375 --> 01:03:06.541
- The people have spoken,
and.... unanimously.

01:03:06.542 --> 01:03:12.999
But we\'re still dissatisfied
with 5,000 cubic metres.

01:03:13.000 --> 01:03:14.998
It\'s not a lot,

01:03:14.999 --> 01:03:19.750
because Gary Metallic
was saying that 140,000...

01:03:19.751 --> 01:03:21.999
- Oh, we\'re gonna
keep fighting...

01:03:22.000 --> 01:03:23.124
Got all winter.

01:03:23.125 --> 01:03:25.709
It\'s a start.

01:03:27.417 --> 01:03:28.998
The fight is not over yet.

01:03:28.999 --> 01:03:32.000
This is only round one.

01:03:46.999 --> 01:03:47.834
- We\'re so glad

01:03:47.835 --> 01:03:51.917
that it came to a peaceful
solution and all that,

01:03:51.918 --> 01:03:53.291
you know, I mean, uh...

01:03:53.292 --> 01:03:56.834
it\'s a very, very happy day,
you know.

01:04:04.209 --> 01:04:05.791
- We took the barricades down

01:04:05.792 --> 01:04:07.333
and, like I said, every since,

01:04:07.334 --> 01:04:10.166
we\'re still trying
to get over that feeling

01:04:10.167 --> 01:04:11.917
that we have in our hearts.

01:04:11.918 --> 01:04:13.958
Many didn\'t want them
to take them down.

01:04:13.959 --> 01:04:18.791
I know I still have the loss
in my heart to know that, uh...

01:04:18.792 --> 01:04:19.998
it should keep going.

01:04:19.999 --> 01:04:21.458
We never ceded our territory.

01:04:21.459 --> 01:04:24.291
We never signed it away
in a treaty.

01:04:24.292 --> 01:04:27.998
We never lost it in a war,
you know,

01:04:27.999 --> 01:04:30.875
so under all the rules
and regulations

01:04:30.876 --> 01:04:33.208
that Canada has and
the International Courts have,

01:04:33.209 --> 01:04:35.791
for territory, inherent right,
it\'s all right there.

01:04:35.792 --> 01:04:38.666
They say that you have to have
a connection to your land.

01:04:38.667 --> 01:04:40.374
Our people are so connected
to their land,

01:04:40.375 --> 01:04:43.542
that they\'d stand up
and they\'d die for it.

01:04:47.876 --> 01:04:50.708
- This land was taken away
from us illegally -

01:04:50.709 --> 01:04:51.542
and that\'s a fact.

01:04:51.543 --> 01:04:54.374
No one can deny that.
No one can deny

01:04:54.375 --> 01:04:58.666
that we were the first people
on this continent.

01:04:58.667 --> 01:05:00.998
Therefore,
if it was taken illegally,

01:05:00.999 --> 01:05:04.208
whether it was yesterday
or 300 years ago,

01:05:04.209 --> 01:05:06.998
it has to be returned to us.

01:05:06.999 --> 01:05:09.998
We\'re not here to, uh...

01:05:09.999 --> 01:05:11.875
chase anybody out.

01:05:11.876 --> 01:05:12.998
We have to live together,

01:05:12.999 --> 01:05:16.291
whether it\'s the English,
the French or the Mi\'gmaq.

01:05:16.292 --> 01:05:19.333
No, we know
we\'re all here to stay.

01:05:19.334 --> 01:05:20.708
Even when they began to settle

01:05:20.709 --> 01:05:22.999
on our shores
and when they began squatting,

01:05:23.000 --> 01:05:27.500
we still held out our hand and
said, \"We will share with you.\"

01:05:27.501 --> 01:05:32.333
And that\'s the message that\'s
got to be given to the people.

01:05:32.334 --> 01:05:33.998
Do not be afraid...

01:05:33.999 --> 01:05:38.291
for this recognition
of our ancestral territory.

01:05:38.292 --> 01:05:40.708
I know it\'s gonna happen.
It\'s coming.

01:05:40.709 --> 01:05:44.541
It\'s gonna come -
sooner than what people think.

01:05:44.542 --> 01:05:47.083
[music]

01:06:08.125 --> 01:06:09.998
[narrator]: Changes did occur.

01:06:09.999 --> 01:06:12.998
In 1999,
the Supreme Court of Canada

01:06:12.999 --> 01:06:16.625
recognized the aboriginal right
to their resources,

01:06:16.626 --> 01:06:20.917
a turning point
for all aboriginal communities

01:06:20.918 --> 01:06:24.917
in their ongoing negotiations
with the government.

01:06:24.918 --> 01:06:27.998
Change also occurred
within Listuguj,

01:06:27.999 --> 01:06:32.250
when Allison Metallic
was voted in as chief.

01:06:50.999 --> 01:06:53.709
[chanting]

01:07:17.709 --> 01:07:21.291
- This date marks
a very, very special occasion

01:07:21.292 --> 01:07:22.998
for the Mi\'gmaq people

01:07:22.999 --> 01:07:24.583
of Listuguj.

01:07:24.584 --> 01:07:27.998
It\'s been 20 years...

01:07:27.999 --> 01:07:30.833
since the incident at Listuguj.

01:07:30.834 --> 01:07:34.082
You ask anybody
from this community,

01:07:34.083 --> 01:07:37.998
\"Where were you
on June 11th?\"

01:07:37.999 --> 01:07:41.998
and automatically, it just...

01:07:41.999 --> 01:07:43.041
comes right to you,

01:07:43.042 --> 01:07:46.166
because it had such
a drastic effect

01:07:46.167 --> 01:07:48.166
on our community.

01:07:48.167 --> 01:07:51.998
But it also united us

01:07:51.999 --> 01:07:53.917
as Mi\'gmaqs.

01:07:53.918 --> 01:07:56.708
Joining forces, together,

01:07:56.709 --> 01:07:58.998
we have accomplished something

01:07:58.999 --> 01:08:02.999
that is a start of native people

01:08:03.000 --> 01:08:03.876
across Canada

01:08:03.877 --> 01:08:08.999
fighting for our aboriginal
and treaty rights.

01:09:01.209 --> 01:09:04.958
I\'d like to welcome each
and everyone of you

01:09:04.959 --> 01:09:08.082
over here to our event,

01:09:08.083 --> 01:09:11.875
and that\'s the grand opening

01:09:11.876 --> 01:09:14.082
of our new wharf.

01:09:14.083 --> 01:09:16.998
You will see nine of our vessels

01:09:16.999 --> 01:09:19.875
and the launching

01:09:19.876 --> 01:09:22.998
of the boats, as well,

01:09:22.999 --> 01:09:27.708
because this is the official
launching of the Mi\'gmaq fleet

01:09:27.709 --> 01:09:28.584
in the commercial industry,

01:09:28.585 --> 01:09:34.834
in which we are gonna be major
players in the coming years.

01:09:36.292 --> 01:09:37.750
- I\'m proud to be here today

01:09:37.751 --> 01:09:40.833
to explain why I chose
the name Galqwasiet,

01:09:40.834 --> 01:09:41.459
meaning sunset.

01:09:41.460 --> 01:09:45.333
Many of our Mi\'gmaq fishermen
will be working on these boats,

01:09:45.334 --> 01:09:47.791
where they will live
through many sunsets

01:09:47.792 --> 01:09:49.750
to earn a living
for their families.

01:09:49.751 --> 01:09:52.500
My grandfather,
who helped me choose this name,

01:09:52.501 --> 01:09:54.041
explained that this type
of fishing

01:09:54.042 --> 01:09:57.416
is one of the most dangerous
jobs in the world

01:09:57.417 --> 01:09:59.750
and I hope and pray
to the creator

01:09:59.751 --> 01:10:02.998
that our Mi\'gmaq fishermen
will see many sunsets.

01:10:02.999 --> 01:10:04.876
Thank you.

01:10:10.542 --> 01:10:14.998
- The last time we had an
interview was across the bridge.

01:10:14.999 --> 01:10:18.166
- Yeah.
Near the train track, remember?

01:10:18.167 --> 01:10:20.125
- Yeah.

01:10:21.167 --> 01:10:24.082
God, a long time ago, eh?

01:10:24.083 --> 01:10:27.082
It was from here to the train

01:10:27.083 --> 01:10:30.166
when the warden
started talking French.

01:10:30.167 --> 01:10:31.998
It wasn\'t a warden,
it was a QPP.

01:10:31.999 --> 01:10:37.416
I didn\'t know. We didn\'t
understand what he was saying.

01:10:37.417 --> 01:10:38.998
So we stood aside.

01:10:38.999 --> 01:10:41.999
And he says get out of the way.

01:10:42.000 --> 01:10:44.998
But where can you go,
if you get out of the way?

01:10:44.999 --> 01:10:47.000
You can\'t jump in the river.

01:10:47.999 --> 01:10:49.791
So we stood there.

01:10:49.792 --> 01:10:52.583
They had enough room to go by.

01:10:52.584 --> 01:10:55.541
As soon as they came up to us,
they started beating us up.

01:10:55.542 --> 01:10:59.333
- They took Donald Germaine
and handcuffed him

01:10:59.334 --> 01:11:02.374
and beat him and dragged him

01:11:02.375 --> 01:11:03.292
to the beginning of the wharf.

01:11:03.293 --> 01:11:06.875
They made him kneel down and
they had his head to the ground.

01:11:06.876 --> 01:11:08.500
He couldn\'t move anyway
if he wanted to.

01:11:08.501 --> 01:11:11.999
If he did, they banged him up
with \"nightclubs.\"

01:11:12.751 --> 01:11:15.291
And they were long sticks.

01:11:15.292 --> 01:11:19.166
- I have a hard time
walking around.

01:11:19.167 --> 01:11:22.416
I can\'t do any labour work.

01:11:22.417 --> 01:11:22.999
- No?

01:11:23.000 --> 01:11:27.042
I had two back operations
on account of \'81.

01:11:27.667 --> 01:11:29.082
That\'s why sometimes
I\'m so bitter

01:11:29.083 --> 01:11:32.667
and feel sorry for myself
a lot of times.

01:11:35.125 --> 01:11:36.000
It hurts.

01:11:36.001 --> 01:11:38.500
It hurts me a lot

01:11:38.501 --> 01:11:40.998
to do labour work,

01:11:40.999 --> 01:11:42.917
or physical labour.

01:11:42.918 --> 01:11:45.166
Unable to do that, eh.

01:11:45.167 --> 01:11:50.374
It\'s just like the government
took 20 years off my life.

01:11:50.375 --> 01:11:51.999
That\'s why a lot of times,

01:11:52.000 --> 01:11:54.998
when people ask me,
\"How do you feel?\"

01:11:54.999 --> 01:11:57.124
By the way, I feel hate...

01:11:57.125 --> 01:11:59.918
for what they did to me.

01:12:01.999 --> 01:12:04.501
[flute music]

01:12:05.250 --> 01:12:09.998
To me, it\'s just like
it happened last week.

01:12:09.999 --> 01:12:13.249
Every morning,
when you try to get up,

01:12:13.250 --> 01:12:15.333
you think about it, eh?

01:12:15.334 --> 01:12:17.334
And you feel it.

01:12:23.999 --> 01:12:26.125
I don\'t know.

01:12:33.083 --> 01:12:36.999
I wouldn\'t want
to see it happen again.

01:12:39.167 --> 01:12:41.751
[marching]

01:12:45.999 --> 01:12:47.374
- From \'81 to now,

01:12:47.375 --> 01:12:49.416
it\'s a giant of a change.

01:12:49.417 --> 01:12:50.833
It\'s a great big change,

01:12:50.834 --> 01:12:53.625
because we manage
our own fisher... fisheries,

01:12:53.626 --> 01:12:58.708
and we don\'t have no more
DFO people bothering us, or...

01:12:58.709 --> 01:13:01.917
Even our own wardens
don\'t bother us.

01:13:01.918 --> 01:13:04.998
We\'re not told what to do.

01:13:04.999 --> 01:13:07.458
We\'re not bothered by anybody.

01:13:07.459 --> 01:13:10.750
We just do our salmon fishing,

01:13:10.751 --> 01:13:11.998
which is not very long.

01:13:11.999 --> 01:13:15.124
It\'s only about a month,
a month and a half.

01:13:15.125 --> 01:13:19.791
I only fish four weeks, maybe,
sometime even shorter than that.

01:13:19.792 --> 01:13:23.875
\'Cause I don\'t need
that much fish.

01:13:23.876 --> 01:13:25.833
I leave the rest...

01:13:25.834 --> 01:13:28.124
to other people or whatever.

01:13:28.125 --> 01:13:30.208
I got hurt myself...
- I remember.

01:13:30.209 --> 01:13:33.709
- In \'81. I got shot.
- Yeah.

01:13:34.501 --> 01:13:37.666
It doesn\'t seem that long to me.
It\'s all...

01:13:37.667 --> 01:13:39.082
I just let it ride every day.

01:13:39.083 --> 01:13:44.834
But I\'m still doing what I did
at the time. I\'m still fishing.

01:13:46.999 --> 01:13:50.333
- In the past couple of years,
you know,

01:13:50.334 --> 01:13:51.791
we\'ve seen a major change.

01:13:51.792 --> 01:13:55.999
You know, we see ourselves
more involved with the industry,

01:13:56.000 --> 01:13:58.750
which will provide us, you know,

01:13:58.751 --> 01:14:00.208
with the tool to, uh...

01:14:00.209 --> 01:14:03.998
to let us hire
a lot more of our people.

01:14:03.999 --> 01:14:07.124
One of the major areas right now
that we see a future

01:14:07.125 --> 01:14:11.458
for our young people,
is in the commercial fisheries.

01:14:11.459 --> 01:14:15.750
And we have successfully
negotiated the first year

01:14:15.751 --> 01:14:19.416
of an agreement
with the federal government

01:14:19.417 --> 01:14:24.958
and we\'re very happy
with the agreement so far.

01:14:24.959 --> 01:14:26.374
It has provided us

01:14:26.375 --> 01:14:31.998
with a lot of opportunities
and a lot of growth.

01:14:31.999 --> 01:14:34.998
And, uh, we feel that, uh...

01:14:34.999 --> 01:14:36.833
in the coming year or two,

01:14:36.834 --> 01:14:41.082
we\'re gonna be a major player
in the commercial fisheries

01:14:41.083 --> 01:14:45.751
and a major employer
for this community.

01:14:47.667 --> 01:14:50.416
We offer a training program.

01:14:50.417 --> 01:14:51.998
We\'ve trained
over 100 people so far.

01:14:51.999 --> 01:14:54.998
It\'s something
that our ancestors did

01:14:54.999 --> 01:14:57.500
for years and years and years.

01:14:57.501 --> 01:15:01.583
So it\'s almost logic
that we go back

01:15:01.584 --> 01:15:02.998
and we get involved

01:15:02.999 --> 01:15:05.998
in the commercial-fisheries
aspect of it.

01:15:05.999 --> 01:15:07.500
- It\'ll be another two years

01:15:07.501 --> 01:15:09.124
before we can get
our fishing maps...

01:15:09.125 --> 01:15:13.333
And then you have to get
your sea time for other things,

01:15:13.334 --> 01:15:14.042
captain and so on.

01:15:14.043 --> 01:15:19.583
You have to get your sea legs
and I got sick the first trip.

01:15:19.584 --> 01:15:20.998
Pretty rough.

01:15:20.999 --> 01:15:22.958
The waves are pretty high.

01:15:22.959 --> 01:15:26.333
- This is actually my first year
doing it and I love it.

01:15:26.334 --> 01:15:29.291
Yeah, I did lobster last year
and I loved that too.

01:15:29.292 --> 01:15:33.998
But, uh, I think snow crab
is where my heart is right now.

01:15:33.999 --> 01:15:37.875
Every year that we go to school
we learn different things,

01:15:37.876 --> 01:15:40.666
then we go on to learn it
on the boat.

01:15:40.667 --> 01:15:42.625
So this year,
it would be navigation,

01:15:42.626 --> 01:15:45.333
like learning the maps
and stuff like that.

01:15:45.334 --> 01:15:46.998
But when I was on the boat,

01:15:46.999 --> 01:15:49.041
my captain already showed me
a couple of pointers

01:15:49.042 --> 01:15:53.625
and what to do and how to turn
that dial and read the maps

01:15:53.626 --> 01:15:54.334
and stuff like that.

01:15:54.335 --> 01:15:57.998
- It\'s all new to us, but
we\'re getting the hang of it.

01:15:57.999 --> 01:16:00.791
We leave roughly about 2:00
in the morning

01:16:00.792 --> 01:16:03.416
and work 13 hours straight,
no rest.

01:16:03.417 --> 01:16:04.917
By the time we get back,

01:16:04.918 --> 01:16:07.998
it\'s roughly
about 6:00 in the evening.

01:16:07.999 --> 01:16:09.999
We had caught a good catch.

01:16:10.000 --> 01:16:13.249
We have over 5,000 pounds,
today, of snow crab.

01:16:13.250 --> 01:16:16.208
On average,
it is roughly about 5,000,

01:16:16.209 --> 01:16:20.875
but a good catch goes between
5,000 to 10,000 pounds.

01:16:20.876 --> 01:16:24.416
- In the beginning of the season
there\'s more places to go,

01:16:24.417 --> 01:16:27.416
but as the year progresses,
the zones start to close,

01:16:27.417 --> 01:16:30.124
so now we just move around
and charge our traps.

01:16:30.125 --> 01:16:34.458
Charging our traps is when we
move them from place to place.

01:16:34.459 --> 01:16:37.124
It could take
between 20 and 28 hours.

01:16:37.125 --> 01:16:39.124
But because we\'re in
a good spot right now,

01:16:39.125 --> 01:16:42.333
where we get nice-sized crabs
and there\'s no white crabs -

01:16:42.334 --> 01:16:45.166
that means they\'re not soft.
And when they\'re not soft

01:16:45.167 --> 01:16:48.875
and it\'s a good spot, we usually
stay until it\'s all done.

01:16:48.876 --> 01:16:51.791
So this trip,
we did about 13 to 14 hours.

01:16:51.792 --> 01:16:53.500
- It\'s my first time
lobster fishing.

01:16:53.501 --> 01:16:57.583
Normally in the summertime,
we fish for Atlantic salmon.

01:16:57.584 --> 01:17:00.583
We\'re doing that only part-time
right now,

01:17:00.584 --> 01:17:03.416
concentrating on
the lobster fishing for now.

01:17:03.417 --> 01:17:06.791
- Right now, we have
20 big traps in the water.

01:17:06.792 --> 01:17:10.958
That\'s the maximum we can use
on the Quebec side.

01:17:10.959 --> 01:17:13.082
In New Brunswick,
they\'re allowed 300.

01:17:13.083 --> 01:17:16.208
On the Quebec side,
it\'s only 250.

01:17:16.209 --> 01:17:17.708
- You have children

01:17:17.709 --> 01:17:19.166
besides this old man here?

01:17:19.167 --> 01:17:20.458
[laughter]
- Oh, jeez.

01:17:20.459 --> 01:17:23.334
Not that I know of.
[laughter]

01:17:26.999 --> 01:17:28.583
- Back in 1981,

01:17:28.584 --> 01:17:32.998
the government did not want
to recognize us

01:17:32.999 --> 01:17:35.998
as another level of government.

01:17:35.999 --> 01:17:36.999
And we said

01:17:37.000 --> 01:17:41.124
this is our territory,
this is our waters,

01:17:41.125 --> 01:17:43.416
we want a major area,

01:17:43.417 --> 01:17:46.458
from one end to the river

01:17:46.459 --> 01:17:48.082
to the other end.

01:17:48.083 --> 01:17:50.998
I think it was in 1994

01:17:50.999 --> 01:17:53.750
that we came out with a package.

01:17:53.751 --> 01:17:55.917
We took into consideration
conservation.

01:17:55.918 --> 01:17:59.500
We made a plan which stated
that our fishermen

01:17:59.501 --> 01:18:00.833
would fish certain hours

01:18:00.834 --> 01:18:03.875
of the day on certain days.

01:18:03.876 --> 01:18:06.708
And that one half of the river
would be open,

01:18:06.709 --> 01:18:07.334
so that the salmon

01:18:07.335 --> 01:18:10.998
would continue
their spawning areas.

01:18:10.999 --> 01:18:13.500
So when it came time

01:18:13.501 --> 01:18:16.750
to implement our plan and
to negotiate with the province,

01:18:16.751 --> 01:18:20.625
they absolutely didn\'t want
nothing to do with it at all.

01:18:20.626 --> 01:18:23.998
We were threatened
that if we went ahead

01:18:23.999 --> 01:18:25.998
and implemented
our management plan,

01:18:25.999 --> 01:18:30.124
they would cut off all funding.
And at that time,

01:18:30.125 --> 01:18:34.998
I think it was in the vicinity
of $500,000.

01:18:34.999 --> 01:18:36.998
So this was serious.

01:18:36.999 --> 01:18:37.999
But in the long run,

01:18:38.000 --> 01:18:42.208
we felt that it was something
that had to be done.

01:18:42.209 --> 01:18:46.750
We had to stand up
for what we believed in.

01:18:46.751 --> 01:18:48.666
We went ahead, implemented it

01:18:48.667 --> 01:18:52.917
and we told the province,
at that time,

01:18:52.918 --> 01:18:53.501
\"Keep your money.

01:18:53.502 --> 01:18:58.583
It\'s more important for us
to go ahead, implement our plan,

01:18:58.584 --> 01:19:03.998
because we feel that we have
the jurisdiction over this river

01:19:03.999 --> 01:19:06.998
and we are implementing
our management plan.\"

01:19:06.999 --> 01:19:10.041
- We managed the river right
from here to Port Duschene,

01:19:10.042 --> 01:19:13.500
past the bridge. Now we have it
right up to Matapedia.

01:19:13.501 --> 01:19:16.500
We do all the patrolling,
the Listuguj First Nation.

01:19:16.501 --> 01:19:19.333
We started out
with half of the river.

01:19:19.334 --> 01:19:21.374
- There\'s 36 rangers
all together,

01:19:21.375 --> 01:19:26.125
plus three supervisors
and one liaison officer.

01:19:27.417 --> 01:19:28.998
My father was John Condo.

01:19:28.999 --> 01:19:32.791
He was in the 1981 film
you guys made

01:19:32.792 --> 01:19:35.998
and he passed away
a couple of years ago.

01:19:35.999 --> 01:19:36.459
- Yes.

01:19:36.460 --> 01:19:38.625
- Him and his buddy,
James Gideon,

01:19:38.626 --> 01:19:40.666
they were fishermen over there

01:19:40.667 --> 01:19:42.998
and after
this incident happened,

01:19:42.999 --> 01:19:44.833
everybody kind of settled down

01:19:44.834 --> 01:19:48.082
and we got hired here -
what, five years ago?

01:19:48.083 --> 01:19:49.458
- Yeah.
- About five...

01:19:49.459 --> 01:19:51.416
- Five, six. Six years now.
- Yes.

01:19:51.417 --> 01:19:53.998
- But ever since
they\'ve put us as rangers,

01:19:53.999 --> 01:19:54.918
everything\'s been pretty quiet.

01:19:54.919 --> 01:19:58.998
We get along with the fishermen.
They get along with us.

01:19:58.999 --> 01:20:00.833
We keep
their guidelines straight.

01:20:00.834 --> 01:20:02.458
So everything\'s going
pretty good.

01:20:02.459 --> 01:20:04.998
- Since we developed
the management plan,

01:20:04.999 --> 01:20:08.833
not one individual has been
charged for illegally fishing,

01:20:08.834 --> 01:20:12.458
\'cause they are not illegally
fishing over there

01:20:12.459 --> 01:20:14.541
when they\'re out on the river.

01:20:14.542 --> 01:20:16.998
They\'re fishing
under the management plan,

01:20:16.999 --> 01:20:17.834
which they developed.

01:20:17.835 --> 01:20:23.333
- Here comes the Indian boys
now. They\'re fishing tonight.

01:20:23.334 --> 01:20:25.583
My good buddy there.

01:20:25.584 --> 01:20:26.625
[exchanging greetings]

01:20:26.626 --> 01:20:29.125
[speaking native language]

01:20:32.334 --> 01:20:34.999
[laughter]

01:21:45.459 --> 01:21:48.458
- And in 1995, surprisingly,

01:21:48.459 --> 01:21:51.208
we received an award

01:21:51.209 --> 01:21:55.917
for the best-managed river
in Quebec.

01:21:55.918 --> 01:21:59.998
This is why, finally,
the government gave in to us,

01:21:59.999 --> 01:22:00.834
getting fully funded.

01:22:00.835 --> 01:22:04.166
We have a fisheries building
with a new Marshall Agreement.

01:22:04.167 --> 01:22:09.374
By this summer again, we should
have over 80 people employed

01:22:09.375 --> 01:22:12.666
through the fisheries program
in our areas.

01:22:12.667 --> 01:22:17.082
- Now we decide
on how we gonna fish

01:22:17.083 --> 01:22:20.666
and how everything
is gonna work.

01:22:20.667 --> 01:22:21.501
And, like I said,

01:22:21.502 --> 01:22:23.998
20 years ago,
we didn\'t have that.

01:22:23.999 --> 01:22:26.500
- So what happened to your net?

01:22:26.501 --> 01:22:30.791
- It got completely destroyed.
Run over by two boats.

01:22:30.792 --> 01:22:35.374
And, uh, my buddy\'s net here
got, uh, confiscated.

01:22:35.375 --> 01:22:38.999
They took it right off
from the boat.

01:22:40.751 --> 01:22:44.500
Twenty years ago,
I didn\'t have children.

01:22:44.501 --> 01:22:45.666
I got three now.

01:22:45.667 --> 01:22:51.998
And it\'s not only their rights,
but their children\'s rights,

01:22:51.999 --> 01:22:52.999
as well.

01:22:53.000 --> 01:22:55.541
So...

01:22:55.542 --> 01:22:59.124
I\'ll have to pass it on to them.

01:22:59.125 --> 01:23:01.792
[music]

01:23:04.876 --> 01:23:09.041
- The medicine wheel
has four colours

01:23:09.042 --> 01:23:11.500
and represents the seasons.

01:23:11.501 --> 01:23:12.998
Like if you\'re a shawl dancer,

01:23:12.999 --> 01:23:16.998
you should wear that colour
which is your favourite season.

01:23:16.999 --> 01:23:21.333
It\'s, like, there\'s red,
yellow, black and white.

01:23:21.334 --> 01:23:22.042
- Yeah?

01:23:22.043 --> 01:23:24.082
Did you ever see one?

01:23:24.083 --> 01:23:26.998
- Yes, my dad has one
in his truck.

01:23:26.999 --> 01:23:29.333
- Yes?
Do you learn your language too?

01:23:29.334 --> 01:23:32.999
- I learn Mi\'gmaq,
English and French.

01:23:35.999 --> 01:23:38.125
- What\'s your favourite?

01:23:39.042 --> 01:23:40.791
- Uh, Mi\'gmaq.

01:23:40.792 --> 01:23:42.959
- Yes, why?

01:23:44.751 --> 01:23:45.998
- I dunno.

01:23:45.999 --> 01:23:47.291
Like, our ancestors,

01:23:47.292 --> 01:23:50.625
they speak Mi\'gmaq,
so we should learn.

01:23:50.626 --> 01:23:53.125
[music]

01:24:09.834 --> 01:24:12.041
- Since 1998,

01:24:12.042 --> 01:24:17.833
we haven\'t seen much increase
in the areas of forestry,

01:24:17.834 --> 01:24:21.917
you know,
as we were promised back then.

01:24:21.918 --> 01:24:26.166
But in the same time, you know,
we see forestry companies

01:24:26.167 --> 01:24:31.542
just clear-cutting our woods.

01:24:33.459 --> 01:24:34.998
Our territory,

01:24:34.999 --> 01:24:37.998
where the province says
that we don\'t have a right.

01:24:37.999 --> 01:24:42.998
And clear-cutting is something
that has to be examined

01:24:42.999 --> 01:24:43.834
very carefully,

01:24:43.835 --> 01:24:46.998
because of the damage
that it causes the environment.

01:24:46.999 --> 01:24:49.541
The wild animals, you know,

01:24:49.542 --> 01:24:55.791
and even the fish in the brooks
are all affected,

01:24:55.792 --> 01:24:57.750
you know,
and the clear-cutting happens.

01:24:57.751 --> 01:25:00.708
So we want to do...
selective cutting.

01:25:00.709 --> 01:25:05.541
And selective cutting means
that, yes, we are harvesting,

01:25:05.542 --> 01:25:08.998
but in... in a...
in such a way

01:25:08.999 --> 01:25:13.583
that it does not deteriorate
or harm the land.

01:25:13.584 --> 01:25:14.998
We use machinery, chainsaws.

01:25:14.999 --> 01:25:19.082
We don\'t use harvesters,
what the non-natives do,

01:25:19.083 --> 01:25:20.541
because it takes away

01:25:20.542 --> 01:25:24.958
from the employment
opportunities of the Band.

01:25:24.959 --> 01:25:28.416
If we really wanted
to make money -

01:25:28.417 --> 01:25:30.666
you and I or anybody -

01:25:30.667 --> 01:25:32.458
we\'d just hire one machine,
one guy,

01:25:32.459 --> 01:25:34.291
just to go and clear-cut
the whole forest.

01:25:34.292 --> 01:25:39.124
We\'re interested more in
managing the forest better

01:25:39.125 --> 01:25:41.999
than how it\'s being managed now.

01:25:42.000 --> 01:25:45.166
- When they cut down
all the trees, I was really sad

01:25:45.167 --> 01:25:47.500
because the animals
wouldn\'t have any place to live.

01:25:47.501 --> 01:25:52.833
People wouldn\'t be able to hunt
there, no more trees...

01:25:52.834 --> 01:25:54.082
Gives us air, so...

01:25:54.083 --> 01:25:57.458
it would be pretty hard
to breathe.

01:25:57.459 --> 01:26:01.875
- I went in the woods,
with my dad and my friend,

01:26:01.876 --> 01:26:05.208
and we just saw
all the broken trees

01:26:05.209 --> 01:26:07.041
that are just left there.

01:26:07.042 --> 01:26:09.416
And we want to stop it,

01:26:09.417 --> 01:26:11.666
so we made a petition.

01:26:11.667 --> 01:26:12.875
We presented it

01:26:12.876 --> 01:26:14.750
to the different classes
of the school.

01:26:14.751 --> 01:26:17.500
- We had to explain why we
were doing this,

01:26:17.501 --> 01:26:21.291
how we came up with this idea,

01:26:21.292 --> 01:26:23.291
and then they said,
\"We will sign.\"

01:26:23.292 --> 01:26:26.416
And so they each signed
their name on the paper.

01:26:26.417 --> 01:26:28.833
- How many signatures
did you get?

01:26:28.834 --> 01:26:32.125
- A hundred and eighty-two,
just kids.

01:27:29.083 --> 01:27:31.249
- The workforce
more than doubled.

01:27:31.250 --> 01:27:32.167
We hired almost 50 people.

01:27:32.168 --> 01:27:35.666
It\'s a lot of people to work.
A lot of people were happy.

01:27:35.667 --> 01:27:37.625
- It\'s come a long way.

01:27:37.626 --> 01:27:40.917
It\'s changed just in the
three years I\'ve been here.

01:27:40.918 --> 01:27:41.918
So it\'s good to look ahead

01:27:41.919 --> 01:27:44.998
and say, \"Well, it\'s changed
drastically in three years,

01:27:44.999 --> 01:27:46.625
what will it be in 10 years?

01:27:46.626 --> 01:27:49.708
- It was given to us
in bad shape.

01:27:49.709 --> 01:27:52.625
And now it\'s our responsibility
to bring it back.

01:27:52.626 --> 01:27:55.374
Just from debris
falling off the road

01:27:55.375 --> 01:27:57.333
and old trees dying and falling

01:27:57.334 --> 01:28:00.124
and silt and garbage
falling in the river,

01:28:00.125 --> 01:28:03.583
it actually plugged the river
and it redirected it.

01:28:03.584 --> 01:28:08.500
So it really changed the whole
ecosystem in that one spot.

01:28:08.501 --> 01:28:11.124
So the reserve went in

01:28:11.125 --> 01:28:12.083
and they thinned everything up,

01:28:12.084 --> 01:28:14.750
got the river going back
to where it used to go,

01:28:14.751 --> 01:28:17.999
and they turned it back
to its normal state.

01:28:18.000 --> 01:28:19.208
Obviously, if you\'re a person

01:28:19.209 --> 01:28:22.998
that loves the woods,
you do want to take care of it.

01:28:22.999 --> 01:28:27.500
Did we discuss salary?
- Oh, yeah. We want a raise.

01:28:27.501 --> 01:28:29.750
We want a raise.
[laughter]

01:28:29.751 --> 01:28:30.709
Hear that, Jeff?

01:28:30.710 --> 01:28:32.750
- Now everybody else
is working now,

01:28:32.751 --> 01:28:35.999
even the young kids are working.
The young generation,

01:28:36.000 --> 01:28:37.458
they\'re starting up and...

01:28:37.459 --> 01:28:38.167
Like, uh, this spring,

01:28:38.168 --> 01:28:41.458
we had about 15 or 20 students
cutting this.

01:28:41.459 --> 01:28:43.998
They were taught
how to cut wood,

01:28:43.999 --> 01:28:45.082
how to stack wood,

01:28:45.083 --> 01:28:49.625
how to operate machinery.
Like skinners and all that,

01:28:49.626 --> 01:28:52.998
they showed them all that
this summer.

01:28:52.999 --> 01:28:54.875
They pick it up now

01:28:54.876 --> 01:28:57.751
and they\'re doing
a good job of it.

01:28:58.751 --> 01:29:00.918
- Whoa-oa!

01:29:01.375 --> 01:29:04.833
- Now we can work the Crown land
and nobody bother us

01:29:04.834 --> 01:29:06.500
and we\'re not molested
or nothing at all.

01:29:06.501 --> 01:29:10.500
We do... A lot of us are making
a good living out of this.

01:29:10.501 --> 01:29:13.958
And it should\'ve been done
a long time ago.

01:29:13.959 --> 01:29:18.541
But we gotta create big trouble
or something like that,

01:29:18.542 --> 01:29:19.167
or block roads.

01:29:19.168 --> 01:29:23.791
Every time we want something,
we gotta go to extremes,

01:29:23.792 --> 01:29:24.999
and then we get it.

01:29:25.000 --> 01:29:28.625
I don\'t see why
they shouldn\'t give it to us.

01:29:28.626 --> 01:29:30.333
It\'s coming to us.
It\'s our land.

01:29:30.334 --> 01:29:34.998
- With the commercial fishery,
the first year that we started,

01:29:34.999 --> 01:29:38.541
we cleared the sum of $900,000

01:29:38.542 --> 01:29:39.666
just in snow crab.

01:29:39.667 --> 01:29:45.917
And in shrimp, I forget
how much it was at that time.

01:29:45.918 --> 01:29:47.124
It was about 300,000.

01:29:47.125 --> 01:29:49.917
It\'s for the whole community,
and what we do,

01:29:49.918 --> 01:29:53.041
how we disperse the profits...

01:29:53.042 --> 01:29:55.208
We set aside dollars

01:29:55.209 --> 01:29:56.541
for education.

01:29:56.542 --> 01:29:58.998
We\'re able to increase...

01:29:58.999 --> 01:30:01.958
post-secondary allowance
for our students.

01:30:01.959 --> 01:30:03.291
We use some of the dollars,
also,

01:30:03.292 --> 01:30:06.458
for housing repairs.
As you see around the reserve,

01:30:06.459 --> 01:30:09.875
there is a lot of houses
being repaired

01:30:09.876 --> 01:30:10.876
and just built...

01:30:10.877 --> 01:30:12.998
So the money is all generated

01:30:12.999 --> 01:30:15.917
back into our community.
It doesn\'t go off the reserve

01:30:15.918 --> 01:30:17.541
and it employs

01:30:17.542 --> 01:30:19.998
quite a few people.
Last year, we employed

01:30:19.999 --> 01:30:22.500
about 600 individuals.
And this year,

01:30:22.501 --> 01:30:25.998
we\'re looking at the same,
maybe even higher.

01:30:25.999 --> 01:30:27.998
So there are a lot of benefits

01:30:27.999 --> 01:30:31.541
from what\'s going on
in the commercial fisheries.

01:30:31.542 --> 01:30:32.583
[narrator]: The last agreement

01:30:32.584 --> 01:30:37.583
on commercial fishing
was signed March 15th, 2002,

01:30:37.584 --> 01:30:41.333
for the approximate amount
of $41-million,

01:30:41.334 --> 01:30:45.998
after which the Mi\'gmaq
of Listuguj will be on their own

01:30:45.999 --> 01:30:49.458
and will implement their own
commercial fishing plan.

01:30:49.459 --> 01:30:52.333
- Finally, we can grasp
onto something

01:30:52.334 --> 01:30:55.998
and watch it grow
into an economic force.

01:30:55.999 --> 01:30:59.124
It\'s like something that,
you know,

01:30:59.125 --> 01:31:02.124
we\'ve hoped for all our lives.

01:31:02.125 --> 01:31:05.291
The philosophy we use
is that nothing comes to you,

01:31:05.292 --> 01:31:10.000
you have to go out
and you have to go get it.

01:32:13.751 --> 01:32:17.542
- I\'m happy
with the way things are now.

01:32:17.959 --> 01:32:21.500
There\'s still a lot of room
for improvement,

01:32:21.501 --> 01:32:24.292
but... change comes slowly here.

01:32:25.999 --> 01:32:28.791
It took 20 years to get here.

01:32:28.792 --> 01:32:32.124
It\'ll probably take 20 more
to...

01:32:32.125 --> 01:32:34.708
to really realize, you know...

01:32:34.709 --> 01:32:39.542
the full right
of this new decision.

01:32:40.876 --> 01:32:43.625
But I look forward
to the journey.

01:32:43.626 --> 01:32:47.291
- Something good
has gotta come out of this.

01:32:47.292 --> 01:32:51.998
Well, it did already
with the marina project

01:32:51.999 --> 01:32:54.998
and guys not having to, uh...

01:32:54.999 --> 01:33:00.042
watch out for DFO
or MLEP or QPP.

01:33:00.626 --> 01:33:04.917
With the Mi\'gmaq
controlling us now,

01:33:04.918 --> 01:33:06.917
we can control ourselves.

01:33:06.918 --> 01:33:10.374
Don\'t have to be afraid
of the white man anymore.

01:33:10.375 --> 01:33:11.334
- After what happened in 1981,

01:33:11.335 --> 01:33:14.166
our reserve has only progressed
further and further.

01:33:14.167 --> 01:33:17.041
I mean, we come together
as a strong nation.

01:33:17.042 --> 01:33:20.124
We stuck together,
came together as a people,

01:33:20.125 --> 01:33:21.208
and look at what we have now.

01:33:21.209 --> 01:33:23.999
We progressed into what we are
today because of what happened.

01:33:24.000 --> 01:33:28.333
We guaranteed it would never,
never happen again.

01:33:28.334 --> 01:33:30.998
[music]

01:33:30.999 --> 01:33:34.666
- One of the things
I remember about 1981,

01:33:34.667 --> 01:33:35.791
is fishing was something

01:33:35.792 --> 01:33:39.708
that stopped me
from going to school.

01:33:39.709 --> 01:33:43.333
We slept and ate salmon
every day

01:33:43.334 --> 01:33:46.833
and our life revolved
around salmon.

01:33:46.834 --> 01:33:48.875
It had a life.
It had a life

01:33:48.876 --> 01:33:49.417
in my life.

01:33:49.418 --> 01:33:54.750
I had a role in the salmon\'s
life, you could even say.

01:33:54.751 --> 01:33:58.208
We have a right
to live this way,

01:33:58.209 --> 01:33:59.999
and we use the language

01:34:00.000 --> 01:34:01.583
of what we call the colonizer
today.

01:34:01.584 --> 01:34:05.875
You know, we have to go to court
and we have to talk like lawyers

01:34:05.876 --> 01:34:08.416
and we have to defend ourselves
like lawyers

01:34:08.417 --> 01:34:14.208
and speak that language. As soon as
we change those words into English,

01:34:14.209 --> 01:34:15.998
we change the meaning.

01:34:15.999 --> 01:34:17.999
We no longer communicate
with our ancestors.

01:34:18.000 --> 01:34:21.374
I don\'t want to validate or
affirm who I am

01:34:21.375 --> 01:34:23.666
through the eyes
of the Canadian government.

01:34:23.667 --> 01:34:25.998
I don\'t want to affirm
and validate myself

01:34:25.999 --> 01:34:27.998
through Canadian society\'s image
of who I am.

01:34:27.999 --> 01:34:30.541
I want to validate myself as a
Mi\'gmaq person,

01:34:30.542 --> 01:34:32.374
but I want to do it
with Mi\'gmaq people

01:34:32.375 --> 01:34:35.541
and in a good way,
so I could say to my children,

01:34:35.542 --> 01:34:37.583
\"Be proud to be a Mi\'gmaq.

01:34:37.584 --> 01:34:40.666
Be proud that you dream
in Mi\'gmaq.\"

01:34:40.667 --> 01:34:41.791
The fire\'s been lit.

01:34:41.792 --> 01:34:46.166
We have to make sure
that the fire stays lit.

01:34:46.167 --> 01:34:48.541
[music]

01:34:48.542 --> 01:34:51.500
- The Mi\'gmaq people
are like a sleeping giant

01:34:51.501 --> 01:34:55.999
and the giant
is finally waking up.

01:35:00.083 --> 01:35:03.959
Captioning by CNST, Montreal