Winnipeg Free Press

First Nation threatens legal action against Weyerhaeuser

January 18, 2007

A spokesman for the Grassy Narrows First Nation says lumber giant Weyerhaeuser is risking legal action if it continues to violate the community's moratorium on industrial activity on its traditional territory.

David Sone said the Grassy Narrows moratorium applies to all industrial activity on a 2,500-square-mile area north of Kenora.

Sone said the Indian band issued the moratorium Wednesday to put pressure on Weyerhaeuser and the government of Ontario on a related court action.

Sone said Grassy Narrows is challenging Ontario's power to issue logging licences to firms that operate on traditional aboriginal land.

He said the logging activity is incompatible with provisions of Treaty 3, which give the band exclusive use of the land for hunting, trapping and other cultural activities.

A Weyerhaeuser spokesman said it doesn't carry out any logging operations on the Grassy Narrow traditional territory, but conceded trees cut in that area are shipped to its mill in Kenora. The spokesman said the company won't comment on the band's action, adding it preferred the band resolve its differences directly with government.

The band questioned the decision to approve a new five-year cutting plan it says increases the amount of wood Weyerhaeuser receives from cutting operations during a period when the industry is closing mills in the area and there has been a decline in demand for wood fibre.

Weyerhaeuser recently issued layoff notices to its 210 employees at its Kenora mill, where 100 employees are on temporary layoff and 41 were permanently let go.