CPTNET
May 12, 1999
Kenora ON - CPT FACT-FINDING MISSION TO VISIT GRASSY NARROWS FIRST
NATION

The Environmental Group at Grassy Narrows First Nation near Kenora
in northwestern Ontario has asked CPT to visit and learn more about
their concerns over proposals for clear-cut logging on their
traditional land use area by Abitibi Consolidated Corp.

Three CPTers will arrive in the community on May 13 and over the
next 2 weeks hope to meet with First Nations people, government
officials, church leaders, and forestry workers.

Members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation say they have
experienced several traumas in recent years: relocation of their
community by the government, mercury poisoning from paper mill
operations, and flooding of burial grounds and sacred sites by
Ontario Hydro. Now they are concerned that plans for more clear-
cutting of trees will damage their land-based culture irrevocably
and have threatened to blockade roads if their concerns are not
addressed.

CPTers on this fact-finding mission are Wes Hare (Richmond VA),
Cole Hull (Seattle WA), and Doug Pritchard (Toronto ON).