Dozens of members of Sipekne’katik First Nation and Millbrook First Nation organized protests on Thursday morning within hours of the news that Nova Scotia RCMP raided a cannabis dispensary on Potlotek First Nation.*

Heavily armed RCMP officers raided the Sikku Shop on Highway 4 around 7:30am. A group of people blocked part of the highway shortly after the raid. The RCMP vehicles were blocked and the officers left on foot with their weapons in hand. The Micmac Rights Association posted photos of the RCMP officers in this post on Facebook.

Within hours of that raid, Chief Michelle Glasgow at Sipekne’katik First Nation organized a protest at exit 10 on Highway 102. Glasgow made the announcement in this post on Facebook.

On March 4, Nova Scotia RCMP raided five dispensaries in across Nova Scotia: Eskasoni First Nation, Potlotek First Nation, Paqtnkek First Nation, We’koqma’q First Nation, and Digby.

That same day, Chief Glasgow and Sipekne’katik set up a checkpoint at the entrance of its community.

As Jennifer Henderson reported in this story from March 5, Houston and Justice Minister and Attorney General Scott Armstrong said First Nations communities weren’t being singled out.

 A young smiling Indigenous man with a blue hat, and hold a red and white First Nations flag at a protest. Behind him is a tractor trailer.Joey Brooks at the protest at exit 10 on Highway 102 on April 2, 2026.

During the protest on Friday, Joey Brooks said he took part in the protest at exit 10 of Highway 102 near the Sipekne’katik First Nation to stand for Indigenous rights and in support of his community.

“They keep saying our weed is laced, there are bad drugs being sold — all because we have better weed than them,” Brooks said. “It’s them trying to take over our industry.”

In December, Premier Tim Houston claimed that illegal cannabis, including that sold at Indigenous-owned truckhouses, was laced with fentanyl. Nova Scotia RCMP said that claim was false.

While the southbound traffic was slowed down for about 12 kilometres on Friday, most of the drivers who went past the protest honked their horns or waved in support. RCMP officers were on site and had pylons and cars along the outside lane.

‘It’s not about the weed; it’s about our rights’

A Indigenous woman with silver hair peeking out from under a black winter hat and wearing a teal jacket over a burgundy fleece stands on the side of a highway during a protest. There is a lineup of vehicles in the background.Marilyn Francis at the protest at exit 10 on Highway 102 on April 2, 2026. 

Marilyn Francis stopped into the protest at Sipekne’katik on her way from Cape Breton and home to Yarmouth. Francis, who is from Wasoqopa’q First Nation, said she’s been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“Our people have always been put to the lowest. They don’t respect our treaties, they don’t respect our people, they don’t respect that they’re on the land of the original people,” Francis said. 

Three Indigenous women at a protest. The woman on the left holds a sign that says "Honour our 1752 treaties" while the woman in the centre, who is in a wheelchair covered in a blanket, holds a red and white flag. The woman on the right wearing an orange safety jacket has her fist in the air.Sheri Julien-Brooks, left, Ducie Howe, and Amy Maloney at the protest at exit 10 on Highway 102 on Friday, April 2, 2026. 

Francis said the Indigenous cannabis industry isn’t an issue.

“It’s not about the weed; it’s about our rights,” Francis said. “It’s about how people think they can just come into our territory and do what they please and nothing is going to happen.”

Francis, who’s a L’nu grandmother, said she’d like to see other grandmothers from all nations take part in protests.

“Our voices have to be heard. It takes all voices to get it done,” Francis said.

‘We’re a sovereign people’

A young Indigenous woman with long dark blonde hair in decorated braids and wearing a dress of bold white, red, blue, green, black, and orange stripes dances on a blocked highway as protesters hold up signs behind her. A tractor trailer slowly drives past.Kenzie Mckearney dances during a protest at the Millbrook First Nation exit off Highway 102 on April 2, 2026. 

Meanwhile, Millbrook First Nation organized its own protest near the community’s northbound exit on Highway 102.

Matt Cope was at the protest at the exit off Highway 102 to Millbrook First Nation. Cope, who is from Millbrook and owns a shop in Cole Harbour, said Indigenous people in Nova Scotia have a protected right to trade, according to section 4 of the 1752 Peace and Friendship Treaty.

“I’m just basically showing support to the reserves that are also making a stand today,” Cope said.

 A protester holds up a sign that says "Mi'kmaq week chills, NSLC kills."   A protester at the Millbrook exit on Highway 102 on Apr. 2, 2026.

Cope said the issue is about the Houston government trying to maintain a monopoly over cannabis sales. Cope said Houston needs to be educated.

“They’re trying to assert their dominance as a community, but we’re a sovereign people,” Cope said. “[Houston] needs to look at the law he’s sworn to uphold and he needs to realize we’re protected. It’s only a moral dilemma here in Nova Scotia where the government wants to maintain a monopoly.”

Seven Indigenous people stand at a highway-side protest in rural Nova Scotia. One of the men is holding up a yellow sign that says "We are all treaty people." The woman to the right is hold a hand drum.Members of the Julien and Johnson families at the Millbrook First Nation protest on April 2, 2026. 

Cope called out Houston’s allegations that cannabis sold at dispensaries is laced with fentanyl.

“That is fearmongering. He says trigger words such as fentanyl because he’s trying to build public support to prevent what we’re doing,” Cope said.

“I think they need to spend their energy on more serious crimes going on because there really is organized crime taking place, but it’s not in our industries.”

As in Sipekne’katik, drivers who drove past the protest in Millbrook showed their support by waving and honking their horns. One driver yelled out, “fuck the government!”

A young Indigenous woman with long dark blonde hair in decorated braids and wearing a dress of bold white, red, blue, green, black, and orange stripes dances on a blocked highway as protesters hold up signs behind her.Kenzie Mckearney dances during a protest at the Millbrook exit on Highway 102 on April 2, 2026. 

On late Friday, Chief Bob Gloade of Millbrook First Nation published this statement on Facebook, saying the Houston government is using force to take control over cannabis sales in Mi’kmaw communities. From the statement:

The Mi’kmaq Nation has already experienced significant colonial violence at the hands of the justice system. This is an unacceptable threat to our right of selfdetermination, our right to engage in trade, and the safety of our communities. Millbrook will take the necessary steps to protect our community from the actions of the police and provincial government.

The Mi’kmaw Chiefs, as duly elected representatives, have repeatedly urged the Provincial Government to work collaboratively to develop a regime for the sale of cannabis that respects our rights of self-determination, and our treaty rights, including the right to trade to earn a livelihood.

The Minister of justice issued direction to police without any consultation or cooperation with the Mi’kmaq, which shows a shocking lack of understanding of Mi’kmaw rights, and the Province’s constitutional obligations.

The Minister’s directives appear to be an attempt by the Province to protect its profit margins and its private monopoly over the sale of cannabis, rather than to protect public safety.

Millbrook Chief and Council stand in solidarity with other Mi’kmaw communities in opposing these colonial actions. Millbrook continues to work to develop its own Cannabis Law, with fulsome community engagement, and will govern the sale of cannabis in our community in accordance with Mi’kmaw laws.

*As originally published, this article incorrectly stated the protest was Friday. The protest was on Thursday.

Suzanne Rent covers City Hall, contributes to Morning File, and more.

suzanne@halifaxexaminer.ca 

Join the Conversation