HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Micmac chiefs from throughout the Maritimes have urged governments to extend treaty rights, including access to the fisheries, to Newfoundland’s Micmac.

During a Wednesday meeting, the chiefs signed a proclamation saying Ottawa and Newfoundland’s provincial government should recognize all Micmac in the region as covered by treaties signed in 1760-61.

“The Micmac nation is being shown disrespect by the governments of Newfoundland and Canada when they refuse to acknowledge our brothers and sisters from Newfoundland … and we feel this is wrong,” Micmac Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy said in a news release.

Other chiefs said the 1999 Donald Marshall decision, which gave tribe members the right to earn a moderate livelihood from fishing, should apply to the Newfoundland Micmac.

“The decision specifically stated all the Micmac, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy people of the East Coast had the right to fish, hunt and gather,” said Peter Barlow, co-chair of the congress.

“They didn’t say all but the Micmac of Newfoundland.”