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First off, I would like to say thanks to Dan for opening this up. By posting, I don't want to create a war of words, just some food for thought. I have read the posts, and heard the stories many times before. What you need to know, it's not just the Mohawks spearing fish, it's an Aboriginal and Treaty right afforded to all First Nations (the Anishinaabe here in my area do it as well), a right that's in-shrined in the Constitution Act, 1982. While they may not "need" the fish for living, as some pointed out, living in town, or working at GM, they continue to exercise their rights as protected by treaty. While all members have the opportunity to exercise the right, not all choose to do so, and the fear is that if they do not continue do so, the practice and tradition will be lost. It's a right that is protected through the continuity of the practice prior to European contact, that has been practiced until present. The harvest is for social and communal purposes and many communities keep food freezers that are open to all members of the community in time of need- in aspects, no different than using the food bank because times are hard. I am sure there are animal activists or non anglers out there that have similar views on sport fishing- why are they out there doing that, they don't need to, the store is right around the corner. While we may not see it as ethical, or "harvesting too much" we could say similar about commercial netting, many 'unwanted, un-targeted' species ending up being caught, and killed. Just some food for thought, and as Angler and Hunter tv used to say, "we are all anglers and hunters by nature"
So, all the best out there, and good luck come opening day.
_________________
Cheers,
"I would never lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation"
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