Dear Editor:

In the Thursday, March 28, issue of The Western Star, the headline "Governments urged to recognize treaty rights of Newfoundland Mi'kmaq", caught my attention.

Mi'kmaq chiefs across the Maritimes urged governments to extend treaty rights to Newfoundland's Mi'kmaq.

Mi'kmaq Grand Chief Ben Shylliboy, asked government to recognize 800 to 1,000 Mi'kmaq who live on the Conne River reserve. For Shylliboy not to include the thousands of non-status Mi'kmaq people who live in other parts of this province was to me disrespectful to his off-reserve brothers and sisters.

The treaty of 1760-61 was for all the Mi'kmaq people. Not just for those today, who live on reserves. All Mi'kmaq people should be treated equal.

The non-status people have been denied our rightful identity by government, and now by the looks of things, by some of our own people. A wrong that seriously needs to be corrected.

As I search deeper into our past I see what has happened to the Mi'kmaq people of Newfoundland was not only unconstitutional, but in 1977 became a violation of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

And in 1985 became a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The non-status Mi'kmaq people have been denied their constitutional right for too long.

I think it's time for governments and status chiefs to give back to our people a right that has been taken.

The non-status people here, now thousands in numbers, deserve nothing less.

Frank Russell,

Stephenville.

As Appeared in the Wester Star, April 8, 2002