In 1994, NAP received a request from the Nawash, who live on the Cape Croker reserve near
Owen Sound, Ontario, a few hours north-west of Toronto. The Nawash are in conflict over fishing rights.
In 1992, the Nawash won a court decision upholding their right to fish commercially on Lake Huron. This
decision was a recognition of the historical treaties signed by the Nawash, and their sister community of
Saugeen, with the government more than a hundred years ago. Those treaties ceded most of the land of that
area in trust to the government, but retained for the Saugeen and Nawash the right to continue fishing the
waters. However, the government did not uphold their part of the treaties, and most of the non-native
population were not even aware of the treaties or considered them lapsed.
The 1992 decision forced the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (the MNR is responsible for enforcing fishing and hunting regulations) to recognize this right in their fisheries policy. Nevertheless, a strong backlash against the native fishing rights was led by the non-native sport fishing and hunting lobby.