Grassy Narrows Chief and Council are strongly denouncing the Long Term Management Direction (LTMD) for the Whiskey Jack Forest recently released unilateraly by the Province.  The LTMD plans for new clearcutting in Grassy Territory against the will of Grassy Narrows.

 

Read the Band Council resolution denouncing the LTMD.

Read the Band Council`s Letter to the Minister.

Press Release                 December 21, 2011

 

Grassy Narrows Rejects MNR’s “Long Term Management Direction” for the Whiskey Jack Forest

Grassy Narrows First Nation, also called Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (ANA), has rejected a “Long Term Management Direction” (LTMD) for the Whiskey Jack Forest developed by Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources. The LTMD, released by the MNR last week, is part of a Forest Management Plan that the MNR plans to put into effect on April 1, 2012. The LTMD represents the same old process and targets wood supply as the primary objective that led to the blockade on ANA territories.

“This document was developed without our participation or consent, and entirely outside the good faith negotiations we have undertaken with MNR since the 2008 Process Agreement,” said Chief Simon Fobister. “It sets the stage for more clearcutting throughout our traditional lands, contrary to our Treaty and inherent rights. And we have not given our consent.”

The First Nation does not accept any application of the LTMD to the community’s traditional lands. The Chief & Council along with community Elders stand united on this issue and are determined to protect the community’s way of life.

Following mediation last year, the community had expected that any forest management planning affecting their traditional lands would be “carried out in harmony” with their negotiation process, as recommended by former Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci. “But there was no harmonization,” noted Councillor Bill Fobister Sr. “We are very disappointed.”

Grassy Narrows has called on the Minister of Natural Resources to meet, but has not heard a response. Chief Simon Fobister urged Minister Gravelle to work together with them: “Instead of releasing its own plans, we would like to see Ontario work these issues out with us through government-to-government discussions. That’s why we opened up a negotiation table with Ontario a few years ago. I hope that table will be used and taken seriously by the MNR.”

Community Elders made the following statements:

Elder Eveleen Petiquan: “Elders have direct our leadership to pursue the harmonization of the ANA Ontario Process with the focus on the protection and management of ANA’s traditional lands and the Whiskey Jack Forest.”

Elder Susan Fobister: “We are determined to protect the land for generations. We need to maintain our way of life including the protection of our medicinal plants, harvesting of our sustenance such as wild rice, berries, and medicines.”

Elder Rita Kokokopenace: “We chose and are determined to maintain our way of life by protecting and maintaining the ANA traditional lands, every place that our people, our ancestors have lived. We continue to live in the same way of life which was given to us – the right to live our way of life on the land that is inherently our land – "Katanakiiying" translates to ~ the land we live our way of life by right and inherent right.”

Elder Evelyn Pahpasay: “We stand by the Chief and Council in their decision to protect the ANA traditional lands and the Whiskey Jack Forest. The Elders have the same vision and determination – this means no harvesting, no clearcuts, no disturbance of the land of the ANA traditional lands until we are understood, respected and there is harmony between our determination for the ANA traditional lands with the Minister of Natural Resources.”

Elder Margaret Keewatin: “We need a face to face meeting with the Minister as soon as possible as per decisions of the Chief, Council, Elders and our community.”

This LTMD will ultimately place our Anishinabe way of life at risk and seeks to undermine our existence on the land.

Contact:

Simon Fobister, Chief email simonfobister@gmail.com

Bill Fobister Sr., Councillor (807-925-2115)

Joseph Fobister, trapper and representative in the negotiation process (807-407-2745)