The Supreme Court of Canada released its
decision in the Marshall case in the fall of
1999. In essence, the court said that Treaties signed in 1760 and 1761
by Mi'kmaq and Maliseet communities include a communal right to hunt,
fish and gather in pursuit of a 'moderate livelihood'.
To address the Marshall decision,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada set out to negotiate interim fishing
agreements that would give First Nations the opportunity to succeed in
the commercial fishery. Agreements have been successfully negotiated
with 31 of the 34 affected Aboriginal communities. |
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