After the reaction to the lawsuit, a new regional head in N.B. calls the premier a “ding dong”

Key takeaways:

• The incoming Assembly of First Nations’ Reginal Chief Joanna Bernard was forthright in her evaluation of Premier Blaine Higgs’ attitude on the Wolastoqey Nation’s lawsuit.

Reginal Chief Joanna Bernard of the new Assembly of First Nations was blunt in her assessment of Premier Blaine Higgs’ position on the Wolastoqey Nation’s lawsuit.

“He’s a ding doing Bernard told APTN News, “He just doesn’t know what he’s doing.” “In fact, he’s making things worse for the province’s residents.”

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Higgs told reporters last week that the Wolastoqey title claim will risk residents’ property.

On the other hand, Bernard expects that the claim may aid the Mi’kmaw nations of New Brunswick in their hunt for a title claim region.

“What sets a precedent for the Wolastoqey claim will eventually fall over upon the Mi’kmaq,” she predicts. “So, whether they do it jointly or not, I believe it is for the good of the entire province.”

Bernard was chosen regional leader of the AFN on Dec. 2 from the Madawaska First Nation, one of the communities involved in the title dispute.

She received 80% of the vote and will succeed Roger Augustine, who has held the position since 2008.

Bernard said she’ll talk with the chiefs about the problems she’ll be bringing to Ottawa.

“Well, there are some priorities that I believe we should be focusing on, and this is only my opinion; of course, I’ll consult with my chiefs,” the regional chief tells APTN. “Fisheries, truth and reconciliation, and land claims are all very serious issues that we need to focus on to move forward.”

Bernard served as chief of the Madawaska First Nation for ten years before being imprisoned in 2008 for fishing without a license to sue the government over treaty rights. Later, the charges were dropped.

Source: National News

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