Mohawk communities in Quebec rally to show support for Mi'kmaw fishers

The twoMohawk communities near Montreal organized convoys along major highways on Sunday to show supportfor Mi'kmaw fishersin Nova Scotia.

Dozens of vehicles including diggers and ATVs left the Mohawk community ofKanesatake, northwest of Montreal, around noon and headed east along Highway 640.

Drivers in the convoy honked, wavedthe Mohawk warrior flagandshouted slogans, including "We don't stand for hatred, and we don't stand for racism."

Around 1 p.m., a similar convoy leftKahnawake, aMohawk community southwest of Montreal,and headed toward the Mercier Bridge along Highway 132.

Mi'kmaw fishersin Nova Scotia have been the target of increasingly violent protests since launching alivelihood fishery inSipekne'katik First Nation last month.

Though the Supreme Court has recognized the right ofMi'kmaw fishers to earn a "moderate living" through fishing, commercial fishermenopposethe practice.

Commercial fishermen, angry at off-season lobster fishing, raided a facility on Tuesdaywhere Mi'kmaw fishers were storing their catch.

The chief ofSipekne'katik First Nation was assaulted on Wednesday. The lobster pound was destroyed early Saturdayin a fire that police have labelled "suspicious."

'Wewant justice to be served'

KatsenhaintonLazare, from Kahnawake, said he took part in the demonstration as a show of solidarity, and to bring attention to the violence happening in Nova Scotia.

"There's a lot of ignorance. Isee all this violencebeing thrown around against our people," he said. "It's been happening for years, not only in Nova Scotiabut in the entire country."

ForKaronhairokwas Whitebean, also from Kahnawake, the demonstration on Sunday was a way to criticize federal law enforcement for failing to protect theMi'kmaw fishers.

"I feel the RCMPshould be playing a bigger role in stopping the people who are terrorizing the Mi'kmawnation," she said.

"I know that if Indigenous people were to do these typesof actions, we would definitelybe incarcerated.We would be charged. Idon'tunderstandwhy the RCMPis not doing a betterjob of protecting people on the ground."