AJAs 2024 Finalists
Justice, traditions and title claims for N.B.'s First Nations
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| Date Aired or Published | Jan., Aug, Oct. 2024 |
| Media outlet where first aired or published: | Telegraph-Journal |
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| Location: | Fredericton, N.B. |
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Short explanation of the story and how it developed: Indigenous issues have been thrust into New Brunswick’s public spotlight for the first time since the infamous Burnt Church fishing dispute more than two decades ago. In 2021, the Wolastoqey First Nation — a collection of communities along the St. John River — launched a lawsuit declaring Aboriginal title to their traditional territory, including more than half of New Brunswick. Immediately, we understood this was a significant, even generational story. Yet at our newspaper, we had little expertise on the subject. We set out to create an Indigenous affairs beat for the first time — with the goal of providing unique, insightful coverage to our readers they weren’t getting anywhere else. John Chilibeck, a senior journalist decorated with a Michener Award and Atlantic Journalism Award for team reporting, took on the assignment understanding the challenges. The fruits of his work make clear that John has made inroads in bridging the gap. He has spoken to the leadership of all First Nations in the province and has developed a personal relationship with many of them and their people. He has reported from reserves, spent weeks at a time following court proceedings on the title case, and built respect among readers, experts and government officials as an authoritative voice on the file. The attached three stories are emblematic of his work, showing New Brunswick’s path in 2024 from conflict with First Nations to a more conciliatory approach. The first provides a unique perspective from a First Nations chief on the killings of three Indigenous people in separate violent incidents and an in-depth look into the demands for a public inquiry on racism and the justice system, given the high rate of incarceration of First Nations people. Chilibeck’s starting point was a report, but he banked on the relationship he had built with a chief to give it a personal perspective. The second story gives insight into the fight over the baby eel industry. Most media reports from the region focused on the fight between Ottawa, the traditional industry and Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey Nations that want to harvest the lucrative creatures. This was the first article that focused on an Indigenous Nation that thinks differently, asking everyone to take a pause to let the creatures recover. The Passamaquoddy were willing to provide Chilibeck this exclusive story because he had already spoken with the chief and his people from southwestern New Brunswick about their other concerns, such as the Point Lepreau Nuclear Plant and their Aboriginal title fight. The third article features an exclusive interview with then Attorney General Ted Flemming, who spells out the case of the Progressive Conservative government in its fight against Aboriginal Title in the courts. Chilibeck convinced the politician to provide an exclusive interview because he had reported on the issue so closely, interviewing several chiefs about their cause. He was also the only reporter in the province who attended every court proceeding in the Aboriginal Title case. Flemming and the Tories would go on to lose last October’s provincial election, with a majority of voters seemingly embracing the idea of a Liberal truce with First Nations people. |
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Resources of the newsroom (money and time) available to complete the story: Since beginning the Indigenous affairs beat, John Chilibeck has travelled the province, from the northwestern corner near Edmundston to the southeast near Moncton to meet and interview chiefs and Indigenous people about their most important issues. No other reporter in the province from any news organization has taken on such a task. This has meant spending hundreds of dollars on car rentals, hotels and meals. He also devoted a significant amount of time researching, interviewing, writing and photographing these stories. For the three stories submitted from Chilibeck’s canon, he had to travel to Miramichi, Fredericton and Saint John and spent up to a week working on each one. It is a demanding job, considering that Chilibeck also covers the legislative assembly in Fredericton and other provincial affairs. This work was supported by the Local Journalism Initiative. |
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