Grassy Narrows Band Coun. Randy Fobister and Grassy Narrows Youth Group representative Billy Fobister were among protestors objecting to provincial plans to allow clear cut logging in the traditional land use area surrounding the First Nation community during a peaceful demonstration at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry offices on Robertson St. Monday, March 16. Reg Clayton/Daily Miner and News

The Grassy Narrows Youth Group, First Nation band members and supporters staged a series of peaceful protests at several locations in Kenora, Monday, March 16.

The youth, supported by band councillors, elders, trappers and accompanied by a drum group object to provincial plans to permit clear cut logging on their traditional lands. They want the province to remove the Grassy Narrows Traditional Territory from the Ministry of Natural Resource and Forests 2012-22 Forest Management Plan for the Whiskey Jack Forest Crown Unit. The protesters were also seeking commitments from Weyerhaeuser and Kenora Forest Products not to use wood harvested from their traditional lands.

The First Nation has maintained a symbolic blockade for more than a decade to prevent logging operations north of the community.

“What we like to see is everyone taking part with signs and drumming to let the ministry know why we’re protesting and hopefully to get them to stop allowing logging on our traditional territory,” youth group spokesman Billy Fobister explained.

Grassy Narrows Band Coun. Randy Fobister said the Grassy Narrows traditional land use area covers about 60,000 hectares of the Whiskey Jack Forest which surrounds the community.

“We want to protect the land from destruction. Our land is sacred territory, that’s where we hunt, play and go for healing. When that’s taken away it destroys our traditions and culture as Anishnwabe people,” Fobister said during the protest at the Kenora district MNRF office. “We also want to give our youth an opportunity to plan for the territory. We will continue to ask the province and federal government for funding to give our youth a chance to do their own plan for the forest. Forestry is not the only revenue making activity; there’s also tourism and eco-tourism.”

According to Fobister the band has invited ministry officials to meet with band members to address the issue and although they have received a positive response, no commitments have been made.

“They say they’re looking into it,” he said.

The protestors held similar demonstrations during the afternoon at the Weyerhaeuser plant on Jones Road and the Kenora Forest Products Ltd. sawmill in Keewatin.

Community member Crystal Swain said her decision to take part in Monday’s protests follows experiences from her childhood as well as her hopes for future generations of Grassy Narrows residents, including her infant daughter Honey who observed the proceedings from the comfort of a store-bought tikinagan.

“I understand (the ministry) is putting clear cutting in the plan and I’m against that,” Swain said. “When I was younger I saw the destruction of clear cutting and in my mind there’s no way to live a traditional way of life without the land. I’m here for my children.”

Ministry officials confirmed no logging activities will proceed in the Grassy Narrows area according to the annual work schedule for 2015 as logging permits for forest areas in the vicinity of the First Nation community have been deferred to the second phase of the 10-year forest management plan from 2017-22.

“The Ontario government has been working with Grassy Narrows First Nation on forestry-related matters for many years,” MNRF spokesperson Yolanda Kowalski stated in response to questions submitted by the Daily Miner and News. “We have made significant efforts to build a positive, productive relationship. We have explored ways to move forward that would provide opportunities not only for Grassy Narrows First Nation, but for other communities in the Kenora area who use the Whiskey Jack Forest.”

Kowalski noted in addition to Grassy Narrows, the ministry is also involved in preliminary discussions with Whitefish Bay and Wabauskang First Nations to establish a future Enhanced Sustainable Forest Licence for the Whiskey Jack Forest.

“These preliminary discussions are progressing positively with the forest industry and First Nations. It is expected that additional First Nations with an interest in the area will join the discussions,” Kowalski concluded.