N.S: 'Lobster wars' escalate to new heights as fish pound is destroyed in fire
The tensions between Nova Scotia Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishermen have reached new heights as a lobster pound holding Indigenous catches was completely destroyed in a fire early Saturday morning.
The pound, owned by a non-Indigenous fisherman who had been allowing Mik'maw fishers to store their catches there, was located in the tiny community of Middle West Pubnico. On Thursday, two Mik'maw fishermen had been barricaded inside the pound after a mob descended on the property. One of the men's trucks was set ablaze. Their lobster catches were also targeted, with oxygen being cut off to the crustaceans.
On Saturday, the same pound was set ablaze. Dramatic footage of the fire was captured by community members and posted on social media.
This has gone TOO far. Fire crackling woke us up. Middle West Pubnico tonight 🥺 #MikMaq #TreatyRights pic.twitter.com/62M6l5B8o3
— Pierrette dEntremont (@PAdEntremont) October 17, 2020
The local fire chief stated the building was a "lost cause" by the time fire crew arrived on site, where they battled the blaze for over 2 hours.
Sergeant Andrew Joyce of the Yarmouth RCMP detachment said a man who is considered a person of interest in the fire is in hospital with life threatening injuries. He said police are still on the scene and the investigation is ongoing.
On Friday, the chief of the Sipekne’katik First Nation said between 150 and 200 lobster traps were lost after non-Indigenous commercial fishers cut lines and destroyed buoys.
Footage was uploaded Friday which purported to show non-Indigenous fishermen blocking the path for Indigenous trucks to enter the pound and collect their catches. RCMP was on the scene to prevent violence and allow the Indigenous fishermen to pass, but fights broke out within the crowd, with one non-Indigenous fisherman assaulting a female RCMP officer.
— One Dish One Mic - We now have a PATREON account (@OneDishOneMic) October 15, 2020
Other footage showed non-Indigenous fishermen making spike strips with the alleged purpose of laying them in front of the Indigenous truck paths.
Non - Indigenous Fisherman making spike strips pic.twitter.com/Ykye5ZSKU8
— One Dish One Mic - We now have a PATREON account (@OneDishOneMic) October 16, 2020
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