Chiefs accuse Ontario of violating their right to resources
Copyright 2001 Associated Press
July 5, 2001
TORONTO - First Nations leaders are accusing the Ontario government of violating their right to have a fair share of resource revenues and a fair say in how their land is mined and forested.
Leaders of Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, the top native political organization in northern Ontario, said Thursday that the Tory government's plans to open the region north of the 50th parallel to resource extraction is bulldozing the interests of the people who live there.
"The current government has consistently refused to acknowledge or even discuss the fact there are inherent and constitutionally protected treaty rights to this forest," said deputy grand chief Raymond Ferris at a news conference in the Ontario legislature.
Ferris, who represents 49 remote communities extending as far north as Fort Severn, said the expiration of the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber agreement in April has increased the pressure on First Nations to give in to Ontario government demands.
"In recent years, the removal of trees from our homelands has accelerated," he said.
He added his government supports a Quebec Cree petition to the U.S. department of commerce to impose a tariff on incoming Canadian lumber.
Ferris described the negotiation process with the Ministry of Natural Resources as one-sided. "Yes there have been a handful of meetings and some dialogue with some government officials, but never about the core of the issue - the treaties and the constitution as it applies to this forest," he said.
An aide to Natural Resources Minister John Snobelen said Thursday his ministry was blindsided by the accusations.
"We have made all kinds of effort to sit down with NAN (Nishnawbe-Aski Nation), talk to NAN, and so we're just baffled by the statements today," said Brett Kelly, citing meetings with leaders dating back to April 2000. "For them to say that they haven't been consulted really gives us cause for concern because we really have made quite an effort."
Ferris said communities want a share of profits and other benefits, such as jobs. "We want to be included in any decision-making - where to cut, how much to cut in our homelands and to provide real meaningful involvement in the benefits of the resources that we share," he said.
The Nishnawbe-Aski Nation territory is known for 80 percent unemployment, high rates of suicide, diabetes and premature death.