FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2025
Mi’kma’ki – On March 7th members of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs (Assembly) met with Premier Tim Houston and Minister Leah Martin to discuss concerns with, and opposition to, Nova Scotia lifting bans on hydraulic fracturing. Following that meeting, Premier Houston publicly commented to the media that a meeting occurred, leaving the public to speculate that the Mi’kmaq were properly consulted and/or on board with these recent provincial decisions. These implications are inaccurate and skirt the truth about how discussions with the Mi’kmaq are really going.
“We have made it clear to the Premier that the Mi’kmaq have always opposed hydraulic fracturing and that there has been no meaningful consultation on provincial decisions to reverse bans on hydraulic fracturing,” said Chief Michelle Glasgow, Co-Lead of Health, Wellbeing and Elders portfolio for the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs.
Today, the Assembly met and reaffirmed a resolution passed in 2014 which stated that, “the Assembly of Nova Scotia does not support any hydraulic fracturing activity in Nova Scotia and will continue to oppose any and all hydraulic fracturing activity until such time all environmental concerns have been addressed adequately with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia”.
At their meeting, the Assembly had in-depth conversations on their concerns that Nova Scotia has been dismissing the self-governing rights of the Mi’kmaq and that decisions are being made about the lands and waters in the unceded and traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq, without any real consideration of the Rights holders. As a result, the Assembly is now looking into filing an injunction into Nova Scotia’s law-making process on hydraulic fracturing and uranium mining.
“Environmental racism is a real thing. The Province of Nova Scotia and Premier Houston are making decisions and moving at a speed that appears to be rooted in racist and colonial practices. They continue to marginalize the voices, position and concerns of the Mi’kmaq,” continued Chief Glasgow.
“Although Nova Scotia has publicly said they are open to having conversations with stake holders, they are forgetting to have conversations with Nova Scotia’s stake owners – the Mi’kmaq,” said Chief Terrance Paul, Fisheries Co-Lead for the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs.
The Assembly also has grave concerns about what this could mean for project sites that they have already fought to protect in the past, such as the Alton Gas and Lake Ainsley sites.
“If technology has changed, as Premier Houston claims, we invite him to share that evidence and data with the Mi’kmaq,” continued Chief Paul. “Until then, we will continue to be against fracking in our territory”.
“Over a decade ago, the Assembly worked hard to ensure that safeguards were put in place to protect the interests of everyone who calls Mi’kma’ki home. Fracking is a destructive, irreversible and exploitative industry, and the moratorium put in place kept this harsh practice out of our lands and waters. It is our responsibility to use our Rights and Title claim over these lands and waters to help protect it from this harmful industry,” said Chief Glasgow.
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