Mi'Kmaq Iolo ac Indiaid America

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-I'm Iolo Williams and I'm travelling

-across North America...

-..visiting Native American tribes,

-from the Navajo to the Cherokee...

-..from the wild west

-to the mountains of the north.

-These were the inhabitants

-of this incredible continent.

-I'm here to learn about the people,

-their culture, language...

-..spiritual beliefs

-and harmony with nature.

-I want to know what we can learn

-from this unique way of life.

-Join me on a journey of discovery...

-..across one of the world's

-most striking continents.

-I've travelled all the way

-to eastern Canada...

-..and Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast.

-The Native American tribe

-that lives here...

-..has mastered both land and sea.

-Welcome to the land of the Mi'kmaq.

-This is the story of one of eastern

-Canada's most prominent tribes...

-..as they cross the threshold

-into the industrial world.

-They are experienced hunters

-and fishermen.

-Their expertise at sea

-has seen them develop...

-..from small-time fishermen

-to big businesses.

-But how does a nation,

-self-sufficient for centuries...

-..deal with the financial allure

-of the commercial world?

-They're murderers.

-I'm on a journey that will make me

-question my belief in humans...

-..and their treatment of nature.

-I'll meet believers and defenders...

-It's a trap, Tim!

-..hunters and fishermen...

-No, no, no!

-..as I try to understand these people

-and their future.

-This is the story

-of the little fish in the big pond.

-This is the story of the Mi'kmaq.

-My journey begins in Cape Breton,

-Nova Scotia...

-..on the outskirts

-of Bras d'Or Lake...

-..in the native town of Eskasoni,

-the centre of Mi'kmaq territory.

-It's a vast and picturesque area,

-dotted with lakes and woodland.

-The town is home

-to the largest Mi'kmaq community.

-The Mi'kmaq have always had

-an affinity with water...

-..coexisting with the marine world

-surrounding them.

-These supreme canoeists and anglers

-lived in seasonal camps.

-But during the 1940s...

-..following centuries of fighting

-for their territory...

-..the tribe was forced to move

-from their vast camps...

-..to small towns such as Eskasoni.

-The migration proved problematic.

-Houses and jobs were scarce

-in these new communities.

-Nowadays, the people

-control their own affairs...

-..and the atmosphere

-is far more positive here.

-I'm driving around Eskasoni...

-..and it seems to be

-a fairly wealthy area.

-The other towns I've visited

-in Native American territory...

-..have been very run-down,

-but this place is well looked after.

-I wonder where the money comes from?

-I'm passing through the town...

-..on my way to meet Lawrence Paul

-and his family.

-I don't know much about him...

-..but if I want to know more

-about hunting and fishing...

-..apparently he's the man.

-He's supposed to be

-an expert fisherman.

-I want to see

-how they live here now...

-..and how they fish and so on.

-He has invited me

-to stay with him tonight.

-He's going to take me

-to his lakeside hunting camp.

-Lawrence is a commercial fisherman.

-He spends most of the year

-fishing in the Atlantic Ocean.

-He's one of many who have transformed

-sustainable fishing...

-..into a very lucrative living.

-Hello, nice to meet you.

-It's a pleasure. Welcome to Canada.

-It's a pleasure. Welcome to Canada.

-

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Judging by the expensive machines,

-fishing clearly pays well.

-It's obvious you're doing well...

-..judging by the boat,

-the Harley and skidoos.

-I take it that fishing

-has paid for all this?

-Yes, it has paid for my house,

-my boat and everything you see.

-Can we go and have a look around?

-Yes, come and see

-where all the work goes on.

-Let's go in.

-As I step into his hunting

-and fishing workshop...

-..the first thing I see

-is a bear in the freezer.

-This is a bear I hunted recently.

-Bear and moose are our main sources

-of food. We keep the meat frozen.

-Long ago, the Mi'kmaq would have

-dried the meat in their camps...

-..but modern technology now controls

-the lives of people such as Lawrence.

-This is a huge tuna that I caught.

-It weighed 660 pounds.

-It took two and a half hours

-to haul it onto the boat.

-This is me on our crab boat.

-I caught so many crabs

-that the boat was full.

-Lawrence also explains...

-..that he enjoys hunting

-for animal fur...

-..and how important it is...

-..for his children

-to learn traditional skills.

-This is what I do for a living

-and I love it.

-He's quite a character.

-I've really warmed to him.

-He's very candid

-and honest about things.

-He's a bit of a bad boy

-who has mended his ways.

-That gives him character.

-He's a little

-on the mischievous side...

-..but he's nice enough.

-He's a very likeable chap.

-It's time for us

-to go to the fishing camp...

-..where we'll show you

-the Mi'kmaq way of life.

-Thank you very much.

-That would be lovely.

-I arrange to meet Lawrence

-at the camp...

-..so that I can take in

-the Mi'kmaq's landscape.

-Driving out of town,

-I appreciate the wooded landscape.

-It will be interesting...

-..to find out

-about the native fisherman's craft...

-..and whether the spiritual and

-sustainable traditions still exist.

-After an hour's drive

-from Eskasoni...

-..I reach the camp

-and step into a different world.

-The sweet sound of birdsong

-has replaced the drone of the town.

-Here, the front lawn is a huge lake.

-This is an incredible place,

-I must say.

-How did you come to own

-this plot of land?

-We're legally entitled

-to choose our own land now.

-Specific boundaries have been set...

-..but within them, we're free

-to hunt and fish as we please.

-The white man is not allowed

-to hunt or fish on this land...

-..unless he has been invited by me.

-Thank you for inviting me.

-It's a unique place

-and I'm looking forward...

-..to going hunting and fishing

-with you later.

-Sooner than expected, Lawrence shows

-the traditional fishing methods.

-They're going to concentrate

-on a small inlet...

-..a small area of the lake,

-but just look at the boat.

-This man has plenty of money

-but you'd never think it.

-He's an ordinary bloke

-with an ordinary boat.

-Fair play to him.

-I hope he doesn't ask me to row.

-I haven't rowed in years.

-I was no good then.

-I'm probably worse now.

-I'm a little uncomfortable

-as we leave the bank.

-I start to notice water

-flowing into the boat.

-The situation

-goes from bad to worse.

-This doesn't bode well.

-Take it down to there. South.

-Lawrence works me hard as I try

-to steer the boat to the right spot.

-At last, the nets are set.

-For my sake, I hope

-that it has all been worthwhile.

-It was a simple process.

-You obviously have to know

-your fish.

-My family have been fishing

-in this area for centuries...

-..so we understand the nature

-of the fish and the water.

-The tradition belief is to leave

-enough fish for tomorrow...

-..in order to secure the future.

-What's the principle

-behind commercial fishing?

-Is it to catch as much as you can...

-..or is it something else?

-If there are plenty of fish

-in the water...

-..and the quotas the government

-have given us correspond to that...

-..then I'll catch as many as I can.

-Lawrence's belief makes sense.

-They have the right to take as much

-as they want from the land as food.

-But how does this work

-in the modern world?

-Is it naive to believe this when the

-fishing industry is worth millions?

-It's difficult to marry

-these two characters.

-The man who is considerate

-to nature...

-..who only takes what he needs

-for his family...

-..and the man who goes out

-onto the open sea...

-..and makes a fortune

-from his yield.

-I don't fully understand it yet.

-I might come to understand it,

-but I don't at the moment.

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-I'm in Nova Scotia,

-on Canada's Atlantic coast.

-It's home to the Mi'kmaq tribe.

-Commercial fishing

-is the main industry here.

-I've come to discover whether

-the traditional mindset still exists.

-Lawrence Paul

-is a commercial fisherman.

-I've been invited

-to his fishing camp.

-I've got up in time

-for a traditional breakfast.

-The boys have been out

-catching wild oysters.

-I'm going to try one.

-Be careful,

-you'll get quite a kick from it!

-That was nice.

-It didn't taste of much,

-to be honest.

-It's said that they're good for you.

-They're meant to be an aphrodisiac.

-That's why I got so many children.

-He said that's the reason

-he has so many children.

-From one tradition to another.

-We go back to the lake

-to pull up the nets.

-Lawrence hasn't held

-any kind of spiritual ceremony...

-..nor has he mentioned it.

-Normally, before you go hunting

-or fishing...

-..do you conduct

-any kind of ceremony?

-As a Mi'kmaq, I'm meant to thank

-the creator for giving me this food.

-The next fishing trip

-will then be even more successful.

-It shows respect for Mother Nature.

-As we pull the nets

-towards the boat...

-..our hopes are completely dashed.

-We've only netted

-one small fish today.

-Now I will do my offering.

-The traditional way

-of offering as Mi'kmaq.

-The way my ancestors have taught me.

-I'm asking the creator

-for a gift of food...

-..and to be generous to my family...

-..so that next time I go

-to the net, there'll be more fish.

-Lawrence sprinkles tobacco on the

-water as an offering to the creator.

-The belief is that tobacco unites

-the people with the creator...

-..and enables them

-to commune with his spirit.

-I doubt whether the same ceremony

-is conducted on the open sea.

-I've got off to a good start

-with the native fisherman.

-But is Lawrence a modern fisherman

-remembering old traditions...

-..rather than one believing

-in his ancestors' spiritual beliefs?

-It has been an interesting morning.

-I'm a bit disappointed...

-..that we only caught one fish.

-He has invited me

-to join him and his crew...

-..when they go industrial fishing

-at sea for tons of fish.

-To me, that doesn't fit in

-with the Mi'kmaq way of life.

-I'm looking forward

-to spending time with him...

-..and getting the chance

-to talk to him properly.

-Fishing has always been

-an integral part of Mi'kmaq life.

-A nomadic tribe, they lived

-in camps alongside the water...

-..fishing and hunting

-in rhythm with the seasons.

-But when European settlers arrived...

-..their traditional way of life

-was threatened.

-An agreement was drawn up between

-the Mi'kmaq and the Europeans...

-..that guaranteed the tribe's right

-to fish commercially.

-But as the white man

-became more powerful...

-..the agreement was ignored

-and the tribe betrayed.

-They were forced to move into towns

-and lost their fishing rights.

-In 1999, everything changed.

-Native fisherman Donald Marshall Jr

-won a crucial court case.

-It gave the Mi'kmaq the right to fish

-commercially without a licence.

-But is the power of their new wealth

-leading them to abuse that freedom?

-After leaving Lawrence,

-I'm given a day's work experience...

-..with Phil Prosper and Tim Cremo.

-They are fishery officers employed

-by Canada's federal government.

-They patrol Mi'kmaq waters...

-..and maintain amicable relations

-between the tribe and the government.

-Man, I wouldn't argue with you.

-Look at the size of you.

-Or you, because you've got a gun.

-I wanted to come along

-because they patrol the sea.

-It's obvious that this treaty

-is very important to the Mi'kmaq.

-I want to know how it works

-and its effect on the fishermen.

-I hope these lads

-have the answers for me. Off we go.

-Jump on board, is it, guys?

-Yeah, we're ready.

-The men patrol a vast expanse

-of water on Cape Breton.

-Bras d'Or Lake

-is Nova Scotia's largest lake.

-It's home to a wide variety

-of marine life.

-Only when you're out on a boat...

-..do you realize

-how vast this stretch of water is.

-There is big money to be made

-from lobster and crab fishing.

-You can see how difficult it is

-to patrol an area this size...

-..and how easy it would be

-for poachers to come out here...

-..and make thousands of pounds

-every year.

-There's a trap, Tim.

-The lads have spotted some traps

-up ahead.

-They're going to check them.

-I'm not sure

-whether they're illegal traps.

-We'll soon see.

-Oh, Tim,

-I think these are spat collectors.

-Yeah, spat collectors.

-It's for mussels. Oysters?

-So this is not a trap.

-It wasn't a trap after all.

-They grow small oysters in them.

-They have to check everything,

-of course.

-Illegal traps

-dotted here and there...

-..catch hundreds of crabs.

-Tim spots something else

-further along.

-There are two traps here.

-Bring it right aboard.

-I'm not sure whether these traps

-are legal or illegal.

-They think this might be legal

-because there are tags on it.

-Is this one legal or illegal, Phil?

-This trap is fine.

-It belongs to a local

-commercial fishing company.

-This could catch

-up to 15 lobsters in a day.

-How much money could they make

-in a year?

-One man could make hundreds

-of thousands a year from this.

-That's a lot of money.

-Phil goes on to explain

-that poaching is relatively easy...

-..in a vast area like this.

-That makes me wonder

-about the seas beyond.

-Do you think the seas are suffering?

-The small, native fishermen

-aren't damaging the seas.

-They only catch 0.1% of the lobsters

-that the big companies catch.

-Commercial fishing

-is the problem, in my opinion.

-I'm starting to see

-the bigger picture now.

-I'm understanding how things work

-on land and at sea.

-It's becoming clear that whatever

-the Mi'kmaq do locally...

-..has no bearing

-on the animals or the fish.

-The problem is commercial fishing

-out on the open sea.

-It'll be interesting accompanying

-Lawrence on his huge boat...

-..to see how much fish they catch

-and how much damage they're doing.

-That's what goes against

-the Mi'kmaq's traditional beliefs.

-That's the thing that causes

-the most damage.

-Damage on a global scale

-in terms of the fish.

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-It's 5.00am and I've been invited

-to accompany a group of hunters.

-They're a group that hunt

-in the traditional Mi'kmaq way.

-They're hunting moose this morning.

-I'm meeting them here,

-outside the restaurant.

-There's no sign of them yet,

-but I hope they won't be too long.

-Here they are.

-After a five-minute wait,

-the men arrive and are half asleep.

-Danny? Iolo. Nice to meet you.

-Hiya, boys. Nice to meet you.

-There's Ron, Joe, Cliffy.

-How are you? Good to see you.

-Bright and early. Ready to go?

-Yes, sir.

-Do you need all that coffee?

-Hunters in this area do nothing

-without having a coffee first.

-I ignore everything I was taught

-as a child and follow strangers...

-..into the darkness.

-We have to cross the water

-to get to the forest.

-In days gone by,

-hunters would have crossed by canoe.

-Nowadays, the ferry and the car

-have made things easier.

-Before we reach the forest,

-the hunters pull over.

-This is rather strange.

-Usually, hunters wear dark clothing.

-But there are many, many hunters

-across Canada and America.

-They accidentally shoot each other

-and thousands die each year.

-Everybody now wears one of these.

-It's very bright

-to let other hunters know...

-..that it's a person.

-There are far fewer accidents

-as a result.

-The hunt is led

-by a man called Danny Paul.

-He's a builder by trade, but in his

-spare time, he teaches young men...

-..about the spiritual traditions

-associated with hunting.

-Before I have time

-to talk to Danny...

-..a ceremony begins.

-I watch as Danny fans smoke

-over the hunters.

-My turn approaches.

-It's like being at an altar.

-That's the intention.

-This is an offering to the gods.

-Food, drink and tobacco.

-He's burning sage here.

-He's using a golden eagle feather

-to fan the smoke over us all.

-What went on back there?

-We offered food to the creator

-and cleaned it with sage smoke.

-I then cleansed every hunter,

-so we're ready for the hunt now.

-Does everybody do this

-before going hunting?

-Danny explains that they

-are the only Mi'kmaq hunters...

-..to conduct

-the traditional ceremonies.

-Why doesn't everybody do it nowadays?

-I don't know.

-They've forgotten, lost their way.

-It's sad to hear...

-..that these are the only hunters

-who do it in this entire area.

-Of the thousands of hunters,

-these are the only ones who do it.

-He didn't know why others didn't.

-They just go out and shoot.

-They've forgotten

-the old traditions.

-But they live on in these people.

-It's great that young people

-are learning from him too.

-On we go. It's getting light.

-Within minutes, one of the hunters

-spots a moose in the trees.

-It's looking right at me.

-HE FIRES GUN

-It's all happened at once.

-There was a young male moose here.

-It has run that way

-and one of the lads has chased it.

-We're going to cut through here

-to head it off.

-GUNSHOT

-He's here!

-GUNSHOT

-He was lying here.

-It's still warm where he was lying.

-GUNSHOT

-GUNSHOT

-Got it!

-They've got it.

-As I realize

-that the moose has been shot...

-..a sense of sadness washes over me.

-OK, he's done.

-This is a two-year-old bull.

-He's already a big animal.

-I have mixed feelings

-about things like this.

-Fair play to them,

-they're traditional hunters...

-..despite using guns.

-But these are very dignified animals.

-And unique - there are no animals

-like them in the world.

-He's ready to conduct

-another ceremony now.

-I remember going on a trip once

-to South Georgia, near Antarctica.

-An American on the same trip

-was about to shoot a caribou.

-He shot the animal,

-and I had nothing against that...

-..because he was going

-to eat the meat.

-But the disrespect he showed

-for the animal has stayed with me.

-He was laughing

-and taking photographs.

-The contrast between that

-and the respect shown here...

-..is very striking.

-What's the significance

-of the smoke?

-The ceremonial smoke

-helps the moose's spirit to depart.

-It's time for it to return now.

-As the hunters

-finish the ceremony...

-..I say goodbye to the moose

-in my own way.

-Are you at all saddened...

-..by the fact

-that you've taken a life like this?

-Yes, that's why

-I perform the ceremony.

-I'm asking forgiveness

-for taking the animal's life.

-There is regret

-but also happiness...

-..because we have food

-and hides for our drums.

-As the body is dragged away,

-the moose stops being an animal...

-..and becomes sustenance

-for the community...

-..especially for those

-who have no men to hunt for them.

-Evan, the young man,

-is called on to gut the animal.

-This is the first time

-that he has been given the honour.

-It's a vital step

-in his spiritual education.

-It's the first time you've gutted

-a moose. How do you feel?

-I'm gonna feel pretty tired after,

-but I still feel good though.

-It's a big animal

-for your first one too.

-Oh, yeah.

-Oh, yeah.

-

-Good lad.

-Do you want me to hold the leg?

-You gotta skin it open.

-Evan begins the process...

-..while the others help.

-It's the same procedure...

-..as his ancestors

-carried out centuries ago.

-Starting from the neck...

-..he'll open it up and skin it...

-..before gutting it.

-It's an unforgettable experience

-for Evan.

-Danny guides him

-every step of the way.

-I ask him about his own experiences.

-Who taught you to do this?

-My father taught me

-to dissect the animal in this way.

-Danny recalls doing the same thing

-to a deer.

-He said that it was

-a very important day for him.

-Today, he is happy to enrich

-Evan's life with his expertise.

-It's good to see that you

-use every part of the animal.

-But what do the other hunters do?

-White hunters take the trophy head

-and leave the animal.

-But the Indians, we take everything.

-The guts will be to feed the eagles.

-Every part of this animal

-will be used.

-How does that make you feel

-when people shoot the animal...

-..take the head

-and leave all the meat?

-I feel sorry for the animal

-that's been left there like that.

-Makes me sad.

-Them ones, they're not

-the providers or the hunters.

-They're committing murder.

-I understand now that the future

-of traditional hunting...

-..lies in the hands of these men.

-These are the last ones

-to kill an animal...

-..not for a trophy

-or financial reward...

-..but for the sake of the community.

-I never like to see

-wild animals killed...

-..but there is a purpose to this.

-They're going to use the meat

-and distribute it.

-It's great to see the old traditions

-being practised.

-From the beginning,

-with the ceremony...

-..right through to the end.

-It's great that the young lads

-are learning from Danny.

-He's passing on his knowledge

-to them...

-..so that they too

-can pass it on in time.

-It has been a real eye-opener

-and a very interesting morning.

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-I'm in Mi'kmaq territory

-in Canada's Nova Scotia...

-..to learn more

-about their affinity with nature.

-The Mi'kmaq are masters

-of the lakes and seas.

-Many have used their skills...

-..to create a powerful

-commercial fishing industry.

-But I worry that there may be storm

-clouds on the horizon for the tribe.

-This is the port of Pubnico.

-It's the busiest fishing port

-in eastern Canada.

-As you can see,

-the boats are all moored here.

-They'll be setting off shortly.

-I've been invited to go fishing

-with Lawrence.

-Between all of these vessels,

-catching fish, crab and lobster...

-..they bring 40 million

-worth of seafood into the country.

-It's a very important place,

-and I'm going on that ship there.

-It's one of the biggest here.

-I don't usually get seasick

-but wait and see.

-Lawrence. Hello.

-How are you doing?

-How are you doing?

-

-Very good. How are you, alright?

-Very good, myself.

-Looking forward?

-Looking forward?

-

-Yes, looking forward to going out...

-..and going trawling, yes.

-Lawrence is one

-of the tribe's fishing crew.

-Since regaining

-their fishing rights...

-..they have worked closely

-with other fishermen...

-..to learn how to use

-the modern technology.

-The lads are getting ready.

-This ship is heading to one of the

-most dangerous places in the world.

-Out to sea,

-where there are major storms.

-They have forecast fine weather,

-but things can change.

-Everybody knows

-exactly what their role is...

-..so it's best

-I stay out of the way.

-The crew fish for crabs

-throughout summer...

-..but since the season has ended,

-they now fish for haddock.

-As we wait for the rest of the crew

-to arrive...

-..I'm lucky enough to get invited

-to the ship's most important spot.

-Is this where the captain is?

-This is where he takes care

-of the helm.

-It looks like a spaceship.

-Yes.

-Lawrence shows me the different

-screens and modern software...

-..that are essential on a ship

-that fishes in open waters.

-The rest of the crew

-finally arrives...

-..and everybody is eager

-to begin the journey out to sea.

-This is the last time

-that I'll see land for three days.

-It'll be exciting when they start

-reeling in the net.

-I've never been on a fishing boat

-such as this one...

-..out at sea for a long time,

-so I'm looking forward to it.

-As we sail off into the night...

-..I'm aware of the autumn moon

-lighting the way for us.

-It's a sign of plentiful fish,

-according to Lawrence.

-As a man who has spent his life

-on the water...

-..I wonder how he feels about it.

-How do you feel

-when you first board the ship...

-..and sail off into the open sea?

-When I'm on the ship, I look around

-and see myself surrounded by water.

-It's an incredible feeling. For

-a moment, I'm at one with the sea.

-Though I'm caught up

-in the excitement...

-..it's time to go to bed.

-We'd better go to sleep.

-Yes, get plenty of sleep tonight.

-There's a lot to do tomorrow.

-For safety reasons...

-..the camera crew and I must sleep

-aboard the support boat...

-..and rejoin the ship

-in the morning.

-Twelve hours and 100 miles later...

-..I wake up in the middle

-of the choppy Atlantic.

-The weather has changed and crossing

-from the support boat is impossible.

-Both crews are trying their best

-to bring the two boats level...

-..as the waves knock us about.

-Suddenly, I spot a chance

-and go for it.

-Wait! No, no, no, no!

-No, no, no!

-I realize

-that it's far too dangerous.

-These aren't rough seas

-for the fishermen...

-..despite being rough for us.

-It just shows you

-how dangerous this job can be.

-Two or three ships

-are lost every year.

-Dozens of trawlermen have drowned

-while doing their job.

-I take my hat off to them.

-They're very brave.

-But time is money

-in this business...

-..and the big ship

-with Lawrence on board...

-..drops its nets

-and starts trawling for haddock.

-The ship is kitted out

-with software...

-..that guides it to shoals of fish.

-The ship trawls for four hours

-until the nets are hopefully full.

-Lawrence told me that when the net

-is fully extended...

-..you could fit a football pitch

-inside it.

-That's how big it is.

-The nets are reeled back in...

-..and I see how many fish

-they have caught.

-The crew works quickly to haul

-4,500 worth of fish on board.

-It makes you wonder

-about the Mi'kmaq's way of life.

-They've gone from just taking

-what they needed from the land...

-..whether it was deer,

-moose or fish...

-..to commercial fishing,

-where they clean out the sea.

-If the Mi'kmaq of times past

-were to come back now...

-..I'm sure

-that they wouldn't be happy.

-In a way,

-they're disrespecting the sea.

-In recent years, the global

-commercial fishing industry...

-..has produced 100m tons of fish

-every year...

-..to feed the world's population.

-That fact alone is very sobering.

-It's hard to see

-how it can continue at that level.

-As the crew begins

-its second trawl...

-..thick fog descends

-and nature shows them who's boss.

-Things are going from bad to worse.

-Though the seas have calmed,

-there's a storm brewing.

-The fog is so thick

-that you can barely see the trawler.

-We're going to try

-to get Lawrence off that ship...

-..and onto here with me.

-They'll carry on fishing

-while we head back to shore.

-Conditions are far from perfect.

-As another net is reeled in...

-..I ponder over what's happening

-in front of my eyes...

-..and across the world.

-I know that the government

-and the scientists say...

-..that as long as you stay

-within the quotas, it'll be fine.

-But it wouldn't surprise me to hear

-in a decade that there are no fish.

-They'd be forced to give up

-or move on to somewhere else.

-But that's humans for you.

-We're no good at preserving

-the environment and food supplies.

-It's all about making money

-and getting as much as we can.

-It seems that the Mi'kmaq

-have gone down the same road.

-That net is packed with fish.

-The captain will be happy with that.

-The net has caught

-about 10,000 pounds of haddock.

-The two yields

-have made a sum total of 9,000.

-It has been a profitable morning

-for Lawrence and the crew.

-But as the weather worsens,

-my time is up.

-Lawrence decides to leave the ship

-to come and see me.

-As Lawrence climbs aboard...

-..I realize just how much

-I've enjoyed my time with him.

-Welcome back.

-It's time to ask Lawrence to explain

-his feelings about his work.

-How does commercial fishing fit in

-with the old ways of thinking...

-..of just hunting for what you need

-and leaving the rest?

-At home, I fish for food.

-At sea, it's about making money.

-What we make from fishing

-goes into our government's coffers.

-It goes towards our people's

-housing and education.

-I'm happy to see you back

-in one piece and nobody's injured.

-I'm glad I could show you our way

-of life and share my story with you.

-Lawrence's words make me think

-of the Mi'kmaq's story...

-..and their reasons

-for fishing commercially.

-The money is ploughed back into

-the tribe to help the community.

-In that respect, you could say

-it's like the old, traditional way.

-They took what they needed

-and provided for everybody.

-You could argue

-that they're taking too much...

-..but that money goes towards

-helping thousands of people...

-..some of whom are very poor.

-It's very difficult to argue

-that point.

-We sail back

-to the calm of the harbour.

-My journey into the Mi'kmaq world

-has been unforgettable.

-A real eye-opener.

-It has made me ponder the complexity

-of the situation here...

-..and the future of the people

-who walk these shores...

-..and tread anxiously

-into the modern world.

-My time with the Mi'kmaq

-has come to an end.

-It has been quite an experience.

-I knew nothing of the tribe

-before coming here.

-The people are very friendly...

-..and it was refreshing to hear

-the language spoken in the home...

-..at school and on the street.

-Locally, this tribe is doing better

-than the white man, which is unique.

-They have always been

-traditional hunters and fishermen.

-They only took what they needed

-from the land and sea and no more.

-But I feel as though

-they have moved on from there.

-In terms of their commercial fishing,

-they have joined the modern era.

-I worry that they have lost

-some of the connection...

-..with their traditional ways.

-S4C Subtitles by Eirlys A Jones