By: Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: Cape Breton Post

October 5, 2025

Eskasoni First Nation Chief Leroy Denny – seen in this file photo – joined other Mi’kmaw leaders last week in condemning the action of Premier Tim Houston and L’nu Affairs Minister Leah Martin for supporting the passage of Bill 127. Denny says the government is making unilateral decisions and passing legislation with hidden agendas. Photo: CONTRIBUTED

In a strongly worded news release sent out late Friday afternoon, the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs expressed anger with the Nova Scotia government over its lack of attention to environmental matters and treaty rights.

The assembly spoke out quickly Friday when the Nova Scotia Legislature wrapped up its fall session after sitting for only eight days. The session ended with the passing of Bill 127, which, among other things, makes way to criminalize Mi’kmaw land protectors and others seeking to save the environment from logging practices.

Premier Tim Houston defended the short sitting, saying the government was “efficient and productive” in bringing forward several pieces of legislation he says will benefit the public.

Members of the Assembly of Chiefs are outraged at what they perceive as the lack of consideration and respect for traditional treaties and understandings. They are calling for a meeting with Houston as soon as possible. They also expressed disappointment with the Minister of L’nu Affairs, Leah Martin.

Sipekne’katik First Nation in Shubenacadie even called for Martin to resign.

“Minister Leah Martin’s support for this legislation demonstrates a fundamental disregard for Mi’kmaq rights and a failure to uphold the province’s legal and moral obligation,” said Sipekne’katik First Nation Chief Michelle Glasgow in a statement.

Port Hawkesbury Paper suspended logging operations a month ago after Mi’kmaw protesters began setting up camps on Hunter’s Mountain in Cape Breton. Conversations are continuing among the Mi’kmaq, provincial government and the logging company. Photo: Aaron Beswick/Saltwire

 Bill 127   

Glasgow echoed the assembly’s press release in strongly opposing legislation to criminalize Mi’kmaw who gather to protect their Treaty lands by blocking logging roads.

The assembly’s press release also took aim at Martin, who was an executive assistant to the premier in 2023 and became the first Mi’kmaq MLA less than a year ago in 2024. She serves the constituency of Cole Harbour and is the Minister of L’nu (Mi’qmaw) Affairs.

The press release from the Mi’kmaw Chiefs expressed their concern about the minister and bureaucrats “believing they can speak on behalf of the Mi’kmaw Nation, and how Premier Houston and his government are changing things for the convenience of government, yet ignores processes long-established with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia.”

Nova Scotia’s L’nu Affairs Minister Leah Martin has angered the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs by her support of a bill that could criminalize people taking part in Mi’kmaw protests against logging and other environmental concerns. Photo:  CONTRIBUTED

Bill 127 now makes it illegal to block access to logging roads on Crown land. It comes at a time when Mi’kmaw from across the province have travelled to Unama’ki (Cape Breton) to support those gathered at camps set up on Hunter’s Mountain, where logging companies have long provided lumber for Port Hawkesbury Paper and other companies.

Cape Breton MLA and Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said the decision to bundle several amendments into single legislation — called omnibus bills — was nothing but an attempt to limit full debate and confuse the public.

We not only hold Treaty Rights, but also Aboriginal Rights, Jurisdictions and Title, as we never ceded or surrendered our lands, waters and resources,” said Chief Terrance Paul of Membertou First Nation. Photo: CONTRIBUTED

Rightful owners

Eskasoni Chief Leroy Denny, co-chair of the assembly, said: “We were gathered for the past two days at a Treaty Education Conference, talking about our rights and our rightful place on these lands and waters, while Nova Scotia was making unilateral decisions and pushing through legislation with hidden agendas to stifle the voices of our Nation.”

In its release, the assembly – which is made up of 13 chiefs of each of Nova Scotia’s First Nation communities – said it wants to make clear that “as the Rightful owners of these lands and resources, other levels of government need to understand that the Mi’kmaq also have a jurisdiction over how their territory is used.”

The assembly said Nova Scotians should be frustrated with a government they feel is circumventing systems built with the Mi’kmaq to push through changes – legislative or otherwise – to make things easier for themselves, yet ignores responsibility to the environment.

“Premier Houston and his government need to know that they are not the only ones calling the shots here in Mi’kma’ki. We not only hold Treaty Rights, but also Aboriginal Rights, Jurisdictions and Title, as we never ceded or surrendered our lands, waters and resources,” said Chief Terrance Paul of Membertou First Nation. “Making decisions without us is unconstitutional and wrong.”

Meeting sought  

The assembly wants to meet with Houston immediately.

“He must be reminded that his government is bound by Peace and Friendship Treaties with the Mi’kmaq,” the press release says. It calls on the premier to live up to and respect the nation-to-nation obligation reconciliation efforts call for.

The historic Peace and Friendship treaties were signed in the Maritimes and Gaspé among the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqey, and Passamaquoddy Nations before 1779. Those treaties said nothing about the surrender of lands and resources. Rather, they recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was intended to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

According to an initiative in PEI called “L’nuey,” the Peace and Friendship treaties guarantee the Mi’kmaq right to hunt, fish, gather, and earn a reasonable living, and still stand today.’

“While these treaties sought to achieve a peaceful coexistence, the Mi’kmaq were never conquered and never surrendered, gave up or ceded their land. Mi’kma’ki is still Mi’kmaq territory.”

Against historic treaties

Chief Sidney Peters of Glooscap First Nation and also co-chair of the assembly expressed frustration at the provincial government’s speed of this last sitting and says it goes against the historic treaties.

“Making decisions at this speed, while clearly dismissing our Mi’kmaw voices and concerns, is not peace and friendship. Premier Houston and his government need to build a better understanding of what it really means to be Treaty partners,” said Peters.

In its statement, the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’qmaw Chiefs said that as the Chiefs continue to push to meet with Premier Houston, they will also be looking into all possible legal remedies and mechanisms that can be taken to ensure they can protect Mi’kmaw people, communities and collective rights.

In the meantime, the gathering on Hunter’s Mountain has been ongoing since Sept. 4. Daily prayers and ceremonies have been held at camps set up on the side of the road by Mi’kmaw who say they are prepared to stay for the winter or “as long as it takes.”

IN A NUTSHELL   

Mi’kmaw concerns

Mi’kmaq land protectors are against the clear-cutting of forests on Hunter’s Mountain, asserting that it harms crucial moose habitat, disrupts water flow, and is occurring without the “full, prior and informed consent” of the Mi’kmaq people, as required by the treaties.

Logging company concerns   

Port Hawkesbury Paper directly employs approximately 325 people, with a total of nearly 700 additional indirect jobs created in related businesses and services. The facility is a significant economic contributor to Cape Breton.

It suspended its operations on Hunter’s Mountain at the beginning of the Mi’kmaq protest as it remains open to discussions about environmental safeguards with the Mi’kmaq leadership.

To read the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs news release, click here.

This story from the Cape Breton Post was written by Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Rosemary Godin.