First Nations in Canada's Boreal Forest Unite
Ontario's Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Quebec's Grand Council of Cree Support Each Other in Softwood Lumber Dispute
Copyright 2001
Canada NewsWire
July 5, 2001
Several weeks ago, the 49 First Nation member Nishnawbe Aski Nation ("NAN") of Ontario met in Ottawa with the Grand Council of Cree from Quebec to discuss the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute. Days later, NAN filed a submission to the U.S. Department of Commerce in support of the Cree's earlier Petition. NAN claims that, like in Quebec, Ontario's weak environmental enforcement and violation of treaty and aboriginal rights are unfair subsidies to the Ontario logging industry (see GCC backgrounder).
The importance of the issue and the striking similarities between the First Nations in northern Quebec and northern Ontario compelled NAN to add its voice to the allegations raised by the Cree Petition to the United States to investigate the allegations of illegal subsidies provided by Canada and its provinces to the forestry industry. NAN Deputy Grand Chief Raymond Ferris states: "We share the same boreal forest, the same aboriginal and treaty rights under one constitution. We also face provincial governments that refuse to sit down with us and talk specifically about our rights." The industry players are also similar in that Domtar, Bowater, Tembec and Abitibi- Consolidated all have significant operations in both NAN and Cree territories.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation alleges that unfair subsidies are provided in Ontario to the forestry companies in the form of ongoing breaches of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, lack of meaningful compensation or consultation, and lack of enforcement of harmful forestry practices which greatly reduce their costs and impact negatively on First Nations' rights and traditional territories.
The softwood issue is of great interest and importance for Nishnawbe Aski Nation whose territory covers roughly 2/3 of the land mass of Ontario. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of square kilometres of forest have been harvested with little or no consideration for the NAN First Nations who have Aboriginal and Treaty rights in that area. "These companies are reaping excessive profits because our rights are being ignored," says Ferris. "This amounts to each of our trappers, our hunters, our communities subsidising those big companies with our moose, our caribou, our fish, our lands and our home. We can't pay this any longer", says Ferris.
According to Deputy Grand Chief Raymond Ferris, "The Harris government has always refused to discuss First Nations rights with the people living in NAN territory, yet the government of Ontario sees no problem with pushing ahead with resource development literally on the backs of Aboriginal people."
"Since the Conservatives have been in office in Ontario, several initiatives have been unilaterally imposed upon us" says Ferris. "For example the Lands For Life, Caribou Mosaic and forest management practices have been pushed through without any recognition of our rights and without any meaningful consultation with the affected First Nations" he said. NAN has repeatedly requested discussions with Ontario on Aboriginal and Treaty rights and consultation to no avail, despite what the provincial ministers might say about this issue.
Romeo Saganash, Director of Quebec Relations for the Grand Council of the Cree (Eeyou Istchee) noted "this was how the government of Quebec acted when it ignored the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, and ceded virtually all of the commercial forests (70,000 square kilometres) within Cree territory to logging companies 10 years ago. Not only have we been marginalized from meaningful participation in the forest industry, but many families of Cree hunters have been forced into welfare dependence because their hunting territories have been clear-cut." Romeo Saganash added: "We are here to support the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and warn of the consequences to the environment and the lives of Aboriginal Peoples if their rights are ignored."
Deputy Grand Chief Ferris says, "NAN will no longer tolerate the lack of respect the government of Ontario shows us, and we are prepared to take action to ensure our Aboriginal and Treaty rights are respected. We have been forced to enter the softwood lumber dispute because of Ontario's attitude toward our people, our land, and our rights."