Sipekne’katik First Nation chief calls directive a direct threat to communities
Mi’kmaq chiefs and a former Nova Scotia justice minister are criticizing the provincial government for directing police to crack down on illegal cannabis, saying the order undermines relations with First Nations Peoples.
Sipekne’katik First Nation Chief Michelle Glasgow said in a statement on Friday she and her council are “appalled” by the province’s directive, which she calls a direct threat to their communities’ safety.
“The province’s actions through the minister of justice are acts of systemic racism and inciting hate against Mi’kmaw people, labelling us the problem, and this narrative is absolutely disgusting,” Glasgow wrote.
Her comments are in reaction to Justice Minister Scott Armstrong’s directive on Thursday for all Nova Scotia police agencies to prioritize cannabis enforcement by identifying and disrupting illegal operations and distribution networks. The minister also wrote to 13 Mi’kmaq chiefs requesting their co-operation as they direct police to tackle illegal cannabis sales, saying there are at least 118 illegal dispensaries operating in their communities.
However, later on Thursday, a spokesperson with the government said they would issue a correction to the chiefs, explaining that the province didn’t know how many of the 118 stores are on or off First Nations territory.
Armstrong’s directive has sparked criticism that the government may be interfering with law enforcement to target First Nations communities.
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