Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw First Nation bans province premier justice minister from Indigenous land in wake of cannabis crackdown

A Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw First Nation has banned the province’s premier and two of his ministers from their lands as “undesirables” in the wake of a recent directive from the province for police to crack down on illegal cannabis sales.

“Sipekne’katik First Nation has signed a Band Council Resolution declaring that Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, Justice Minister and Attorney General Scott Armstrong, and Minister of L’nu (Indigenous) Affairs, Leah Martin, are banned as undesirables from ALL Sipekne’katik band lands,” said a press release from the band.

It goes on to say, “The Nova Scotia Provincial Government has no jurisdiction on reserve lands.”

When asked about the Sipekne’katik ban, which comes with the threat of a $50,000 trespassing fine, Houston said, “It’s still Canada. To have somebody banned from a community with an ‘or else’ statement is kind of bizarre for me.”

During his time in office, Houston hasn’t “come to my community to develop relationships with the Sipekne’katik elected leadership,” Chief Michelle Glasgow said in the release. “He has continued to radicalize colonial practices to suppress our community and fellow Mik’maw by forming Laws that direct harm against us. He appointed a Justice Minister and Attorney General who does not follow the highest law of Canada, the Constitution, and appointed a disrespectful person who has no right to speak on our behalf, as the Minister of L’nu Affairs, Leah Martin — he should be deeply ashamed of these actions.”

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/nova-scotia-premier-tim-houston-sipeknekatik-first-nation

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