From: Chris Milley - Executive Director (email:mfwc2@istar.ca)
Subject: Your article on the Mi'Kma'ki Aboriginal Fisheries Service

This note is to inform you that your information on the Mi'Kma'Ki
Aboriginal Fisheries Service is sorely outdated.  In the past two years
the MAFS has become the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission and is
only responsible for fisheries/wildlife matters for Eskasoni.  Similar
community organizations are being set up in all of the 13 Bands in Nova
Scotia.  This work is being undertaken under the direction and
coordination of the Mi'Kmaq Fish and Wildlife Commission which was
established by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Chiefs to manage natural
resource activities on behalf of the Mi'Kmaq and their institutions in
Nova Scotia.  In this regard, natural resources are defined to include
coastal, marine and freshwater fisheries; hunting, trapping and other
wildlife related activities; and all activities related to the
collection or harvesting of terrestrial resources including forests, and
mineral resources. A priority area for the Commission is to enhance
natural resource management planning and implementation for the Bands
within the province.  In particular the Commission is working to
increase the role of the Mi'Kmaq people in Nova Scotia in management of
the region's fishery and wildlife resources.  This is necessary to
improve management of the  food fishery for the benefit of communities
today and for Mi'Kmaq in generations to come.  It is also important  to
improve capabilities to effectively participate in the commercial
resource industries to create employment and income necessary for
community development.

The Commission works under the direction of a Board consisting of the
Grand Chief, the Vice Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and all 13
Band Chiefs.  Its offices are located in Paqtnkek (Afton).

We are presently developing and negotiating a new fisheries management
agreement with the Government of Canada that will recognize and reflect
our rights and commitment to management of our fishery resources.  This
Agreement will be based on the Mi'Kmaq Resource Harvesting Accord which
was signed by all Band Chiefs in January 1997.  The Accord is a document
that states Mi'Kmaq commitment to fishery management and defines the
Mi'Kmaq fishery management structure and processes.

We would appreciate it if you would update your references to the MAFS,
which no longer exists in the form and structure you describe in your
article.