I HIGHLY recommend everyone tke a look at the DFO "aboriginal fisheries" section of their web site:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/tapd/default_e.htmI think one of the largest problems is that indeed FN are treated differently. But thats not the basis of the problem. The biggest problem IMHO is that we continue to conduct ourselves (whiteman/government) based on accords, treaties, etc that were penned 200 years ago!!!! Frankly I think that FN due deserve some special consideration...right now they are getting far too much consideration.
Our friggin supreme court continues to make DFO's life way harder with literal interpretations of treaties that in some cases are 200 years old!
Look at the Sparrow Decision or the marshal decision to understand why managing the fraser is such a gong show now.
Sparrow decision: (
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/bp341-e.htm)
marshall Decision: (
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communic/marshall/marshall_e.htm : "In essence, the court said that Treaties signed in 1760 and 1761...BLAH BLAH BALH")