Ontario’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer is having talks with First Nation leaders in the Kenora area this week. Yesterday, he met with the leadership at Grassy Narrows.

“The only way we’re going to sort these issues out is by in fact having open lines of communication. The lines have to be open, but the communications also have to be frank. They have to be frank among all the parties, whether it’s government, First Nations or all of the industries involved,” he said.

The First Nation invited him up for a visit earlier this month. Long-standing issues involve logging, mercury polution and the legacy of residential schools.

“Seeing is worth a thousand words,” he said.

Back in July, the minister sent a letter to the First Nation committing to a visit. He also committed to work with the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Bill Mauro, as well as the minister responsible for Northern Development and Mines, Michael Gravelle, on a review of the Mercury Disability Board. 

They’re also recommitting themselves to the process involving mediator Frank Iacobucci, the retired Supreme Court justice, related to the management of natural resources.

Earlier today, the minister had breakfast with Steve Fobister, Sr., as well as former grand chief Leon Jourdain, as they offered solutions and suggestions for some of these deeply-rooted issues. 

Later today, the minister said he would be visiting Whitedog First Nation, where he will also be talking about the inter-generational effects of mercury contamination.

With the possibility of a restart at Kenora Forest Products in the New Year, Grassy Narrows members are concerned about the potential impact on their traditional lands in the Whiskey Jack Forest. 

Earlier in the week, youth from the First Nation went to the gates of the Weyerhaeuser mill in Kenora, where they presented the mill manager with a list of demands. They included the closure of the mill, along with an end to logging in their traditional lands.

In their response, Weyerhaeuser spokesman Wayne Roznowski said they didn’t expect to be taking wood from the community’s traditional lands, and he emphasized the management of the forest was the responsibility of the province. – See more at: https://www.kenoraonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10007&Itemid=160#sthash.zk2abKD9.0pUaRiV2.dpuf