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NEGUAC, New Brunswick, Canada - Two members of Christian Peacemaker Teams will begin a twenty-four hour fast in front of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office in Neguac, New Brunswick on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 at 12:00 noon. CPT is calling on the DFO and the Canadian Government to Honour the Treaties by recognizing the right of Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church) First Nation to fish without Canadian interference.

Mi'kmaq fishers have repeatedly lost their traps to the illegal confiscation practices of the DFO since the beginning of the spring lobster season. As a response to this continued theft, CPT will conduct a fast outside the DFO office to raise public awareness on the issues surrounding the native fishery, and to call the DFO to responsible and just action. "For far too long the Canadian government has dealt with the Mi'kmaq people in a dishonourable, unjust, paternalistic and deceitful manner. We cannot allow for the Canadian government to coerce us into signing a fishery agreement that will lead to the future extinguishment of our Treaty rights. Any parent would do whatever they could to protect the future well-being of their children. That is exactly what we are doing. We are protecting our children's and their children's future," says James Ward of Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church).

"We recognize this conflict as not just political, but also spiritual, in which the powers of evil are perpetrating centuries-old injustice on the Mi'kmaq people. By fasting, we are declaring this conflict, and prevailing on the Creator to break the spirits of domination and oppression that dictate the DFO's actions," says CPTer William Payne.

Team members William Payne and Lena Siegers will begin their vigil of fasting and prayer at noon, Tuesday and continue until noon, Wednesday.

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"Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: To loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, To set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:6