The Green Party of Nova Scotia is alarmed at the recent passage of Bill 127, named the “Protect Nova Scotians Act” ironically enough, in a woefully short eight-day sitting of the NS Legislature. This bill criminalizes the actions of Mi’kmaw land defenders asserting their treaty rights at Tqamuoweye’katik (Hunter’s Mountain), where they’ve gathered to oppose destructive and unilateral clearcutting practices on Mi’kmaw territory. It also criminalizes important citizen science work in our forests, including the forest lichen camp run by author and activist Nina Newington.
We agree with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs: this bill is enacted in flagrant disregard of established, duty-bound consultation practices between the province and the Mi’kmaq people. Our treaty is foundational to our presence on this land, and is not to be discarded or subverted at the first sign of economic trouble. It is also a potential violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms section 2(c), which protects peaceful assembly.
As Greens, we honour the ongoing and ancient stewardship of Mi’kma’ki by its people, and we express our solidarity with the land defenders at Tqamuoweye’katik. Land acknowledgements which are uttered while the land is abused for profit are meaningless. There can be no hope for reconciliation – nor for Nova Scotian democracy – if the Houston government stays its course on Bill 127.
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