CPT in Canada

Report On CPT Fact-Finding Mission To Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation)

by Wes Hare (Richmond VA), Cole Hull (Seattle WA), Doug Pritchard (Toronto ON)

Summary

Asubpeeschoseewagong, the Ojibway name for Grassy Narrows, is 80 kms north of Kenora in northwestern Ontario. The Anishnabek of Asubpeeschoseewagong have experienced several traumas in the last 40 years including relocation of their community, flooding of their sacred sites and wild rice beds, and contamination of their fish with mercury. Now the forest on their traditional land use area is being clear-cut by Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. under licence from the Ontario Government. A new 20–year cutting plan has just been approved by the government.

The community believes this clear-cutting activity violates their aboriginal and treaty rights, the exercise of which depends on undisturbed forest areas. Because their concerns have not been satisfactorily addressed, they have threatened road blockades, and have asked Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) and others to be present at the blockades to reduce the risk of violence. In preparation for such an action, the community’s Environmental Committee invited CPT to conduct a short “fact-finding” mission.

Based on what we have learned during this 2-week mission, we believe CPT should continue to be involved with the Anishnabek of Asubpeeschoseewagong. We should support them by informing and mobilizing action within the CPT network, and by providing trainers/observers for the community’s future direct actions if requested.

1. Background on the Community

   Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek, or Grassy Narrows First Nation, has a band membership of about 1,000 of whom roughly 300 adults and 400 children live on reserve. The reserve is 36 sq km situated around Grassy Narrows Lake in the English-Wabigoon river system 80 km north of Kenora ON near the Ontario-Manitoba border. Their traditional land use area of 6,500 sq kms surrounds the reserve. The reserve was established in 1873 when the Anishnabek nations in northwestern Ontario surrendered most of their lands to the Crown in Treaty No. 3.

   The Anishnabek of Asubpeeschoseewagong say that before 1950, they lived in peace and harmony with the land. Their livelihood was based on fishing and harvesting wild rice in the surrounding waters, and trapping, hunting, and berry-picking in the boreal forest. They also gathered medicinal plants from the forest.

   Then Ontario Hydro built two major dams on Anishnabek waterways at Ear Falls and Whitedog. Hydro manipulated water levels, raising and lowering them by several feet at unpredictable times. This caused serious damage to the wild rice beds, the feeding grounds of fur-bearing animals, and the spawning grounds for commercially-saleable fish. In winter, the raised water levels drowned muskrat and beaver and lowered water levels exposed them to freezing. Anishnabek homes, burial grounds and sacred sites were also flooded, and travel in the winter became hazardous due to unpredictable ice conditions.

   In 1963, the Anishnabek asked for a school in their community, so that their children would no longer have to go out to the residential school in McIntyre ON. The federal government’s Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) said it was impossible to extend the Jones Road into the scattered community, and so a school could not be provided at the “old reserve”. Instead, DIAND decided that the Anishnabek should be relocated to a smaller site on the Jones Road where a school and better houses with electricity, water and sewage would be provided. The site chosen by the government agent for the “new reserve” was on a small, stagnant lake with soil too poor for kitchen gardens. The promised houses were too close to each other and many had no water access. The agent also decided who would live where, heedless of family ties and friendships. It took another 20 years for the promised utilities to arrive. Many Anishnabek say this relocation undermined their social and cultural fabric to the point where “we ceased to function as a people”.

   But more was to come. In 1970 Ontario admitted that the English-Wabigoon river system had been seriously contaminated with mercury from the Reed Paper Co. pulp mill 90 kms away at Dryden ON. This led to the closure of the exclusive Ball Lake fishing lodge with the loss of 102 Anishnabek jobs and the closure of the commercial fishery with the loss of another 34 jobs. At least 20 current members of the Asubpeeschoseewagong community have permanent disabilities due to mercury poisoning (“Minimata disease”). Thirty years later, there are still severe restrictions on game fish consumption for both the Anishnabek and visiting anglers, and these restrictions will probably continue for several more decades. Unemployment has soared to 80% and many social problems have flowed from the loss of community self-sufficiency.

   Compensation for the injuries suffered by the community has been painfully slow in coming. After years of delay, Canada, Ontario, Hydro, and Reed Paper finally signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 1978 outlining a mediation process for dealing with the community’s claims. As a result of the process, in 1985, the community agreed to accept $10 million from Hydro for the water level problems, and $8.7 million, the remains of Ball Lake Lodge, and a mercury disability fund from Canada, Ontario and Reed Paper’s successor Great Lakes Paper for the mercury damage. In 1995, Ontario summarily withdrew from the mediation process leaving a number of issues still unresolved.

   There has been a Mennonite presence in the community since 1958 when two Mennonite missionary couples settled in the old reserve. One of their daughters still lives beside the new reserve and teaches at the community’s school. The small church they established, Gospel Believers Church of Grassy Narrows, now has an Anishnabek pastor, Simon Fobister, and the current band chief, William Fobister Sr., is a member. The Catholic church in the community has closed. Pentacostals and Anglicans (?) come in monthly to hold meetings at the school. There are also two traditional drum groups active at the moment.

2. Forestry Issues

   Logging has gone on in the area since a pulp mill was built in Kenora in 1925. The mill has changed hands several times and was largely rebuilt in 1985. It is now owned by Abitibi-Consolidated Inc., the world’s biggest newsprint maker, headquartered in Montreal, with 19 pulp mills in North America and the UK and interests in 7 sawmills in Canada. Abitibi sells newsprint to newspaper publishers around the world including “The New York Times”, “The Washington Post”, and the Knight Ridder newspaper chain.

   Logging on Crown Lands in this part of Ontario is carried out under an ongoing Sustainable Forest Licence for the Whisky Jack Forest granted to Abitibi and supervised by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The boundaries of the Whisky Jack Forest are almost the same as the Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek’s traditional land use area, so a conflict of interests is inevitable. With recent cutbacks in the MNR’s budget, they now rely on “self-regulation” by the industry, and have only a single compliance officer left in the Kenora office to monitor Abitibi’s activities. Every 5 years Abitibi must submit its 20 year cutting and “regeneration” plans for approval by the province. The approval process is supposed to take account of “aboriginal values”, include meaningful consultation with affected aboriginal communities, and provide economic opportunities for those communities. Abitibi’s latest plan for 1999-2019 was approved by the MNR on Feb. 23, 1999.

   Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek says that their concerns were minimized or ignored throughout the process of approving this plan. Therefore several individuals plus an Environmental Committee from the community applied for a “bump-up” review of Abitibi’s 20-year plan by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MoE). This MoE review is a narrow one looking only at whether the specific points raised by the objectors were considered during the planning process and whether an environmental assessment of those concerns is warranted. Even while the MoE review was in progress, the MNR recommended that logging proceed. The MoE ruled that, during their review, logging could only proceed outside or near the perimeter of the Anishnabek’s traditional land use area. Ironically (or intentionally?) the only logger currently affected by this moratorium is the one logger from Asubpeeschoseewagong!

   On June 11 the community was informed that the MoE had decided an environmental assessment was not warranted. It seems that the cutting plan for 1999-2000 might now proceed. The MoE did say that Abitibi and the Anishnabek had “agreed to work with a professional facilitator” to articulate their differences and develop a formal process for resolving the community’s concerns. The Environmental Committee is not aware of any such agreement. MoE also said that before MNR approves the 2000-2001 cutting plan, MNR must be satisfied that “best efforts to understand and deal with mutual concerns have been put forward” by both Abitibi and the Anishnabek This puts MNR in the role of judge of “best efforts” despite the belief in the community that MNR always sides with Abitibi.

   The Anishnabek say that cutting has accelerated in the 1990s and only a few patches of old growth forest are left. Many of their 27 licenced traplines have been cut so extensively that trapping has been ruined and hunting has declined. Abitibi’s replanting operations produce monoculture tree plantations instead of natural forests. Scarification of the land in preparation for replanting, and subsequent aerial spraying with herbicides, destroys berry and medicinal plants. Loggers sometimes cut too close to shorelines, traplines, cabins, eagle nests, and sacred sites. Cut logs and limbs are often wasted and left rotting. When band members gathered some of the slash for firewood, they were arrested. Loggers leave machine oil and garbage strewn through the forest. The clear cuts are now so extensive that tourist operations at the community’s Ball Lake and Grassy Narrows’ lodges and Ojibwe marina are threatened. When the community has complained to Abitibi or the MNR about these problems, they feel they have been ignored or brushed off. We saw evidence of all of the above problems during several visits to the forest and clear-cuts.

   This damage to their traditional land use area has been offset by very little economic benefit to the community. Only one band member, Alan Quoquat, and his few employees have a cutting contract from Abitibi. This contract represents just 1 percent of Abitibi’s total cut. Abitibi refuses to increase the amount because they say it would have to come at the expense of their other (non-aboriginal) contractors. Some community members also occasionally get a few weeks casual work planting or thinning trees.

   Abitibi’s Kenora Division Woodlands Manager, Dale Munro, said to us that the aboriginal community was consulted and that their current objection is only “a political move to get the government to recognize their traditional land use area”. He says the Grassy Narrows people are “in a very advantageous position and have nothing to lose by raising objections”, but “it is not their forest because the treaty does not speak to it”. He did acknowledge that trapping is a “quandary” since not all trappers are affected to the same extent by cutting operations. Nevertheless he says trapping activity is “insignificant”. Replanting of trees is relatively recent and it takes at least 50-60 years for these new trees to mature. Therefore it will be at least another 20 years before Abitibi cuts any of their replanted trees. Abitibi recently wrote to the community, “We realize the way we manage the forest may be considered catastrophic, but we also believe that in the long run it is best for the forest. If the forest were left with no cutting or with no large scale catastrophe, it would become old and would not renew itself.”

   The MNR’s Kenora East Area Supervisor, Shawn Stevenson, told us that he believes the public consultation on Abitibi’s plan was “adequate in that it met all the requirements”. There is no requirement to protect animal habitat for individual trappers. He admitted that, on an overall forest basis, the MNR’s own guidelines for preserving habitat for pine marten are not being met. Pine marten is a “bell-ringer” species for monitoring the health of animal habitat and an important fur-bearing animal for trappers. Nevertheless the MNR has approved further cutting, with only minimal delays on two contested traplines. Stevenson said, if pine marten are in short supply, trappers need only switch to lynx. When challenged on the practicality of this, he promised to send us statistics on the numbers of lynx trapped in recent years. Trappers insist that lynx are rare and their fur prices are low anyway. The statistics received later from MNR prove this. In 1997-98 only 5 lynx were trapped in the entire Kenora District compared to 3,515 beaver and 1,473 marten!

   MNR requires that replanting be done by Abitibi, one hectare replanted for every hectare cut. The MNR has charged Abitibi with 11 infractions since 1997, although the fines levied were small. The MNR does not recognize the Asubpeeschoseewagong traditional land use area–“that could only be done by the Ontario cabinet”. Nor will the MNR deal with treaty rights–“that is a federal government responsibility”. The nearest federal Indian Affairs office is 560 kms away in Thunder Bay. While the treaties guarantee aboriginals the right to hunt and fish on lands surrendered to the Crown, Stevenson says the MNR is not obliged to ensure that there is anything left to hunt or fish on those Crown lands!

3. Work of the Grassy Narrows Environmental Group

   Recently, the Anishnabek of Asubpeeschoseewagong have started to take a stand against clear-cut logging on their traditional lands. After several community members attended environmental workshops in 1997, they organized their own Environmental Gathering in the community in April 1998. One trapper had already been documenting Abitibi’s logging infractions and the damage to his trapline, and some others communicated their own concerns to Abitibi and MNR during public information sessions on the proposed 1999-2019 Whiskey Jack Forest Management Plan. These communications were either ignored or answered late and cursorily.

   As a result, members of the community began to organize public witness events. On Dec. 28, 1998 they protested at the MNR offices in Kenora when Abitibi was due to submit its updated 20-year cutting plan. Then, on Jan. 16, 1999, about 50 community members protested outside a gala dinner in Kenora celebrating the start of Kenora’s year as the “Forest Capital on Canada”. Following the MNR’s approval of Abitibi’s cutting plans in Feb. 1999, Chief Fobister of Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek asked government officials for a meeting to discuss the community’s concerns, failing which “road blockades would be the only recourse”. A 9-member Environmental Committee from the community, and three individuals, then submitted “bump-up” requests for review of the cutting plan by the MoE. On Apr. 1, members of the Environmental Committee organized a traffic slowdown and leafleting on the TransCanada Highway followed by a press conference.

   In response to the Chief’s earlier request, a meeting was held on May 3 with Abitibi, MNR, DIAND, band officials, and two members of the Environmental Committee. Pressure was put on the community to withdraw its objections in return for vague promises of “more economic opportunities”. DIAND supported the community’s objections, but said DIAND has no jurisdiction over forests. However they are responsible for treaty rights, which include the right to hunt and fish on Crown lands. A follow-up meeting of the same parties was scheduled for May 28 but has since been postponed.

   The Environmental Committee is working to build a wider understanding and consensus within the Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek. On May 18, they began to circulate a petition among community members calling for a stop to the logging on their traditional land use area and agreement that, should logging continue, a blockade will be the only recourse. By May 26, more than 150 members had signed the petition.

4. Allies

   The Anishnabek have already made connections with a number of supportive allies including:

   1. Aboriginal Rights Coalition, Ottawa - this national coalition of Christian denominations includes Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). One of their staff, Dan Berman, has already visited Asubpeeschoseewagong and will go again in late June. He has offered to assist with communications during any future action. It was Dan who first suggested to the community that they have groups such as CPT present at any blockades.

   2. Wilderness Heritage and Community Keepers of Ontario (WHACKO) - this loosely organized environmental group in Kenora has 75 interested persons on its mailing list. Some members have visited Asubpeeschoseewagong to hear about forestry concerns. One of their leaders, Dave Schwartz, said “some” members would probably be willing to assist the Anishnabek.

   3. Boreal Forest Network, Winnipeg - is a broad coalition of environmental groups concerned about the destruction of boreal forests around the globe. Their North American Coordinator, Don Sullivan, has visited Asubpeeschoseewagong several times, including three days while we were there. He says the Whisky Jack Forest is the Network’s “number one hotspot”. He brought an environmental photojournalist, Garth Lenz, to help with their next promotional materials and said he and a couple others from Winnipeg could come for 1-2 days at the start of any action.

   4. Delaney Lake Lodge - owners Tom and Donna Bruning are similarly concerned about the impact of Abitibi’s logging on their high-class, fly-in fishing lodge. Tom was willing to join the May 28 meeting with Abitibi, MNR and DIAND. He said there may be other supporters among his 650 guests, and within the Northern Ontario Tourist Organization (NOTO).

   5. Kenora Metis Council - President Ted Biggs works closely with MCC’s worker, Ren Amel, in Kenora. Together they started a race relations committee in town. They offered to recruit a several Kenora Aborignal and non-Aboriginal people for training as observers and peacekeepers for future actions.

   6. Manitoba Mennonites - Asubpeeschoseewagong is only a 3-hour drive from Winnipeg and other parts of southern Manitoba where there are many CPT supporters. It is hoped that some of these persons could provide short-term assistance at a blockade.

   7. Media - the community has good relationships with reporters at the “Enterprise”, a supportive weekly newspaper published in Kenora. They also have connections at the “Miner and News”, a less-supportive daily newspaper in Kenora. CBC Radio interviewed an Environmental Committee spokesperson during the highway slowdown.

5. Future Involvement by CPT

   We believe that CPT should continue to be involved with the Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishnabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) because:

   this First Nation community has been backed into a very tight corner by the actions of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and the Ontario government; they are experiencing systemic violence and there is a possibility of physical violence at any future blockade(s) they might erect in defence of their traditional land use area; the community has demonstrated its willingness and capacity to act publicly in its own defence; we have a trusted welcoming body (the Environmental Committee) who may ask us to come again to assist; there is a direct linkage to other oppressed First Nations in Canada and the USA.

   We recommend that CPT act as follows in support of Asubpeeschoseewagong:

   1. Prepare an Urgent Action request for CPTNET asking DIAND to intervene with Ontario and Abitibi on behalf of this First Nation.

   2. Contact the Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility in Toronto and urge them to take up this issue with Abitibi.

   3. Obtain and send copies of various action-organizing handbooks to the community.

   4. Prepare to be present in the community again, if invited, to undertake any of the following: assist those planning future actions; maintain observer/peacekeeper presence at blockade or other action; recruit/train other observers from outside the community; contact NOTO for supportive statements/actions; support Abitibi shareholder actions: presence at annual meeting, boycotts, pressure on other shareholders or funds; research the forest industry’s impact on other nearby First Nations and their responses; organize a short-term CPT delegation from Manitoba or Ontario.

   5. If CPT is to return, we need to arrange: a laptop computer/printer with a local Internet account. The AOL account we tried to use could not cope with the microwave relays in the phone system. A local provider (voyageur.ca) seems to cope much better. A videocam would be useful. A satellite phone is probably too expensive, but a cellphone compatible with the Manitoba Telephone System would also be useful up to 30 kms out from Kenora. Investigate whether a car is really needed or whether rides to/from Kenora might be obtained from others. Assume that accommodation and cooking facilities are available.

   6. Contact Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) about the longer-term possibility of supporting one or more Anishnabek persons as CPTers in this community. Be prepared to follow this up: recruiting local persons, working out details with MVS and CPT, establishing a supervisory and support structure.

Compiled by Doug Pritchard 99-6-16