HALIFAX — According to a story by CTV News, several Halifax-area restaurateurs are showing solidarity to the Mi’Kmaq fishing community by taking lobster off their menus. The move comes as tensions continue to rise over the question of treaty rights.
Staff at Dear Friend Bar in Dartmouth, N.S., decided to stop offering lobster in September, citing incidents this fall in southwest Nova Scotia, including fires being set and threats being uttered against the Mi’Kmaq chief.
“We wanted to see if there was a way we could shine some more light on the issue but also directly support the Indigenous fisherman,” Matt Boyle, the bar and restaurant’s co-owner told CTV News.
A number of other restaurants have since followed suit. Boyle says while he alone might not have an impact, if others join in, the message gets stronger. “As one small restaurant, it’s hard to have a large voice, but as a community of restaurants, I think it helps the situation by doing something.”