Grand Chief Gabriel Sylliboy (1875-1963).

Gabriel Sylliboy, a late grand chief of the Mi’kmaq, remembered for defending his people’s right to hunt and fish, received a posthumous pardon and apology from the province, today, Feb. 16, for his conviction for hunting illegally almost 90 years ago.

Grand Chief Sylliboy was 44 years old in 1927 when he was arrested and convicted under the Lands and Forests Act for hunting muskrat and possessing pelts out of season. He faced racism and discrimination throughout his court challenge.

Grand Chief Sylliboy died in 1964.

In 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the Sylliboy decision. Chief Justice Dickson stated then that “…the language used… reflects the biases and prejudice of another era in our history. Such language is no longer acceptable.”

“The wrong ...

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