ONTARIO: Government consultant supports concerns of Grassy Narrows community
CPTnet
18 July 2011
ONTARIO: Government consultant supports
concerns of Grassy Narrows community
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has recently released the results of an independent audit of the Whiskey Jack Forest, identifying numerous areas of concern in the forest's management. The audit is part of a regular monitoring process that tracks how logging companies are abiding by regulations and produces action plans to rectify bad practices and poor results. The Ministry of Natural Resources is engaged in land-use negotiations with Grassy Narrows First Nation (GNFN), whose traditional territory largely coincides with the Whiskey Jack Forest.
The report reiterates many of GNFN's concerns over the destruction of their territory. Since 2002, the community has blockaded a road used by logging trucks. CPT was invited to accompany the blockade, which supports a moratorium on clear-cut logging on traditional territory. The report, which covers much of the negotiation period, finds 'significant issues with management of the Whiskey Jack Forest, both in planning and in on-the-ground implementation of the plan' (page ii). Its primary message is that the MNR has not done enough to repair the damage caused by industrial logging or to help the forest heal.
Grassy Narrows Deputy Chief Randy Fobister commented, "If you look towards our peaceful blockade, I think this [audit] justifies it, [...] all we're doing is protecting the land." The necessity of this protection is summed up in the words of Roberta Keesick, trapper, grandmother and blockader: "Our culture is a land-based culture, and the destruction of the land is the destruction of our culture."
The environmental organisation Earthroots produced a press release that highlighted some of the report's areas of concern, including degradation of wildlife habitat and eradication of some tree species. Since that press release has gone out, the MNR has published an action plan that it will need to adopt in order to restore and maintain the health of the forest. More importantly, the Ministry must remain committed to the process with Grassy Narrows, respecting the community's right to say no to logging on their territory, and be prepared to move forward in genuine partnership.
The Aboriginal Justice Team (AJT) is taking two short-term delegations to this area: 12-22 August; and 24 September-5 October. The AJT seeks applicants who are interested in meeting the defenders of the land, willing to learn about their own role in colonial history, ready to engage in undoing colonialism, and committed to peacemaking.
