by Crystal Dorey Director of Communications Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn

Mi’kma’ki – Maw-lukutijik Saqmaq (Assembly) is calling for meaningful consultation and immediate action on the Highway 101 Twinning Project.

Since the Province declared a state of emergency on June 1, 2023, and closed the Avon Causeway gates to create an artificial reservoir, the Assembly has repeatedly urged the use of avoidance and mitigation measures to uphold Mi’kmaw Treaty Rights, protected under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, and to ensure that fish passage is free and unimpeded. “Although Nova Scotia has publicly said they are open to conversations with stakeholders, they continue to overlook the Rights holders,” said Chief Sidney Peters, Co-Chair of the Assembly. “Our concerns remain, and despite trying to communicate that to the provincial and federal governments, they seem to be ignoring us completely.”

Recently, Strum Consulting conducted an independent review of water resources in the Pisiquid area (Avon River) and reported that alternative water sources do exist for wildfire suppression, despite what Nova Scotia continues to allude by their ongoing state of emergency. While Nova Scotia was made aware of many of these alternative sources in letters sent by the Assembly throughout this state of emergency, they have yet to be substantively discussed with the Mi’kmaq.

“We recognize that true emergencies require immediate solutions,” continued Chief Peters. “We communicated that to the Province and respected the eme ...

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