Grand Manan fires appear not to be racially motivated

Two Grand Manan boats, the P'tit Walton owned by the Tobique band, and the Sea Watcher owned by Peter McLaughlin, burned on April 13 and 14. "The first boat, the P'tit Walton, appears suspicious and is under investigation," says Corporal Andy Cook of the Grand Manan RCMP. The Grand Manan Fire Department was able to contain the fire, which was reported at around 6:30 a.m., and the boat only suffered fire damage to a bunk area and smoke and heat damage to the wheelhouse. The fire originated in the bunk area, and there was no visible cause noted when the scene was examined.

The second boat, not a Native fisheries boat, burnt in the Ingalls Head boat compound just one night later at around 3:30 a.m. "It is believed to have started from an electrical problem," says Corporal Cook. The fire appears to be accidental, but RCMP investigations of both fires are continuing.

Neither fire is considered racially motivated, as was earlier reported on CBC Radio. Jerry Johnson, who has been hired to put the Tobique fleet back in the water, says it was unfortunate that one of the new Tobique recruits had spoken on the radio and said he felt the fires had been racially motivated. "It's just not the case," Johnson says. "A few people who like stirring the pot led the new men to believe that there was a lot of racial tension on the island and used the fires to fuel their gossip circuit."

"There are a lot of things to be worked out in this fisheries, especially if it is going to be built in a way that will benefit both the Tobique and Grand Manan Island," says Johnson. Common ground and a good working relationship are the footings, Johnson says. He hopes to lay out as the foundation for a fishery that will benefit the Grand Manan community as well as the Tobique First Nation.

A processing plant, value-added products and processing jobs for up to 150 people and 75 fishermen are targets that Johnson is aiming for. "We will be doing a lot of stuff ourselves until we get our bills squared away," says Johnson, when asked who would be doing the repair work on the Tobique boats.

At an April 10 meeting of Grand Manan fishermen and the government representatives of the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative, it was announced that the government will continue to assist the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet First Nations in managing and maximizing access to the commercial fishery. The federal government, through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, has made a commitment to put $20 million of new support funding into Atlantic Native fisheries in the next two years. To many Grand Manan fishermen, this means they will be competing against the government to hold their place in the fishery. Some islanders would like to see an economic audit of the Tobique fishery on Grand Manan to ensure the money put into this fishery is actually helping the communities.

"It's something we need to work out to everyone's benefit," says Johnson.

Klaus Sonnenberg, general manager of the Grand Manan Fishermen's Association, says any problems are being created by the federal government injecting funds in the Tobique fishery's business plan. "The fishermen don't want to accept more money being put into the operation of the [Tobique] fishery because they can't turn a profit." He stresses, though, that any frustration is not against the First Nations but is disaffection with the government. "The fishermen have stood by this initiative," he says of the Tobique fishery on the island.

Edwin Bernard holds the Tobique fisheries portfolio and is being aided by Candice Paul, chief of the St. Mary's First Nation. Tim Bear and Nick Paul are acting as facilitators, while Jerry Johnson from Black's Harbour will be in charge of the licensing and repair of the fleet. "We hope to have boats in the water for spring fishing," says Johnson. "And that's just a start.