Indigenous Sustainable Fishing vs. Non-Indigenous Unsustainable Licensed Fishing Off the Western Nova Scotia Coast

There was recently news of a contentious dispute between the Miqmaq and Miqmaw groups and the non-indigenous groups over the licensing factor in Nova Scotia.  There was also news of lines being cut by the non-indigenous fisheries in protest against the treaty rights being exercised by the indigenous communities.

What I've often wondered is why such a non-indigenous community would oppose such sustainable practices.   It would appear on the surface as though these non-indigenous fishers feel that their rights are being infringed upon when it has initially been the reverse; that the indigenous groups' rights were violated.

Why is there this holier-than-thou mentality by non-indigenous groups towards the Miqmaq, Miqmaw, and other indigenous communities?  This question has often crossed my mind on more than one occasion.  Additionally, why have we bothered to think in that mindset?  The answer is simple: we are jealous that these indigenous groups have such wonderful land to draw from food, clothing, and shelter.  We were historically jealous of the fact that they have have been traditionally capable of living a simple, idyllic lifestyle without endangering any species that co-exist with them.

In conclusion, I think that there is no longer any room for debate on whether indigenous communities are being sustainable or not. Maybe, we should rethink our own unsustainable practices as a non-indigenous consumerist society, whether in Nova Scotia or elsewhere in North, Central, or South America.