This study analyzes the media coverage surrounding the Supreme Court of Canadäs landmark decision in the Donald Marshall Junior case and its subsequent clarification in 1999. This study also probes the media coverage surrounding the Burnt Church fishing dispute that occurred throughout the year 2000, which was a direct result of the Supreme Court¿s decision and clarification. The Globe and Mail and The National Post are the two national newspapers used in this study. The Halifax Chronicle Herald and The New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal are the two provincial newspapers selected. Windspeaker and The Mi¿kmaq Maliseet Nations News are the two Native newspapers being examined in this work. Moreover, this work underscores the similarities and differences in coverage among mainstream media and Native media outlets.

Paul Fitzgerald has nearly 20 years of experience working as a journalist. His work has appeared in a large number of newspapers, magazines and online news outlets, which include The Toronto Sun, The Edmonton Sun, The Globe & Mail, Maclean¿s Magazine, The Daily News, MSNBC.com, Google News, The Digital Journal, and The London Free Press.