New docuseries opens a window into the lives of eastern Mi'kmaw fishers

Four thousandpeople strong, the territory of Gespe'gewa'giis the seventh and largest district of theMi'kmawNation.

The traditional lands encompassmuch of what is known today as the Gasp peninsula, northwestern New Brunswick, and the easternparts of mainland Quebec.

The community of Listuguj, overlooking the mouth of the Baie des Chaleursabout a six-hour drive from Quebec City, is the largest in the district and thehome port for many Mi'kmawcommercial fishers.

The Mi'kmaw know these waters well. For generations they relied on harvestingresources from the territory, fishing being one of their staples.

A new documentary series called Gespe'gewa'gi: The Last Land provides a window into the fishers'daily lives.

WATCH | Producers Ernest Webb and Lisa Rothtalk about the making of the series.

The first episode follows Rodney Barnaby and Peter Martin as they prepare their boats for the newseason.

In Listuguj, fishing stops for the winter. Many of the commercial fishers spend the cold months with their families, in school learning how to be a captain, or finding work in the forestry industry. When spring rolls around, they are buzzing to get back on the water.

Ernest Webb, who is Cree, is the director and executive producer for the show. He learned about the fishing community in Listuguj through a conversation with acolleague.

He andco-producer Lisa Rothhope the docuseries will give audiences a new perspective onMi'kmawfishers.

"I hope that people realize we are all human," said Webb.

"It's important to tell these stories," said Roth. "A lot of people hear about Indigenous communities out east in the news only, but they don't get to meet the people."

Rothwas referring to headline-makingviolencetargetingtheIndigenous fishery in Nova Scotia last year.

In October, a mob descended on a lobster pound used byfishers from the Sipeknekatik First Nation, a Mi'kmawcommunity in the central part of the province,and burned it to the ground.

In December,shots were fired at a Mi'kmawboatfrom Pictou Landing First Nation. Four peoplewere laterarrested.

A straight line can be drawn from thoseconflicts to a police raid in Listuguj in 1981, where the Mi'kmawwere accused of catching salmon out of season. The resultinglegal battle eventually landed beforethe Supreme Court of Canada in 1999.

That's when the Court first ruled that Indigenous fishers had the right to earn a "moderate livelihood" under federal law. The debate over the appropriate interpretation of those words continues.

Gespe'gewa'gi: The Last Land illustrateshow echoes of the raid resonateinListuguj to this day.

The 13-partseries airs in English onSaturdays at 7 p.m.EST on APTN. It also airsin Mi'kmawat 7 a.m. on Thursdays.