Tuesday May 31, 2011

Three women from Grassy Narrows are currently blocking Ministry of Natural Resources staff from accessing Segeisse Road at Highway 671 in the community’s traditional territory.

The women – Judy Da Silva, Chrissy Swain and Adrienne Swain – are blocking the MRN from accessing the area so repairs – sanctioned and approved by chief and council – can continue uninterrupted, Da Silva said in a phone interview from the site.

“If they (the MNR) try and stop the work, we are going to tell them they can’t pass,” Da Silva said.

The road serves two purposes, Da Silva said.

It is the only emergency access that provides an alternate road out of Grassy Narrows in the case of forest fire or other emergencies. It also provides access to the traditional territory for hunters, campers and berry pickers.

“The road and the bridge gives us access to the forest and things that sustain us,” Da Silva said. “It is very important to us to have the bridge repaired. These roads haven’t been maintained since the logging companies pulled out.”

They had been maintained by the companies that used them but that is no longer the case, she said.

But getting the work done has proven to be difficult, according to Da Silva.

She said the MNR has threatened the community and its contractors with fines of $10,000 for work which could impact waterways.

The MNR is currently preparing a comment on the issue.

Da Silva said the women will stay at the site until the work is complete. It is expected to be at least Wednesday night before the repaired are wrapped up.

Last fall, a group of women performed a similar blockade when another road was being repaired.