Matthew Cope, a Mi’kmaw lobster fisherman, faces federal charges for fishing for a “moderate livelihood,” which Canada’s highest court has recognized as his right. He advocates for his children’s ability to exercise their rights amidst allegations from commercial fishers that First Nations practices threaten lobster stocks, a claim unsupported by federal research. Cope argues that regulations infringe on treaty rights and aims to take his case to the Supreme Court. The ongoing conflict highlights deepening divisions between Acadian communities and First Nations fishers in Nova Scotia.
