Grassy Narrows youth are rejecting the new logging plan for their territory.

“If the logging begins in our territory, I am certain there will already be planned strategies on our part to bring it to a complete halt,” says Taina Da Silva, a Grassy Narrows Youth organizer.

“Our organizing is connected through bloodline relations and teachings. Our mothers fought so we could have this land, so we will continue to fight for it,” says Edmond Jack, another Youth organizer in the community.

 

Public Statement, March 1, 2014.

This coming April 2014, The Ontario Government’s new 10 year logging plan for the Whiskey Jack Forest, comes into effect. The Whiskey Jack Forest roughly overlaps with what the Ministry of Natural Resources calls the Grassy Narrows Traditional Land Use Area. We call it Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishnabe Territory – our homeland.

The new clearcutting plan threatens our home, including lands that our decade long blockade has protected. Our community’s leadership, both grassroots and Band Council, have firmly rejected the new cut plan and contested the Government’s right to make decisions regarding our Territory.

Families in Grassy Narrows are making preparations for spring.

“If the logging begins in our territory, I am certain there will already be planned strategies on our part to bring it to a complete halt,” says Taina Da Silva, a Grassy Narrows Youth organizer.

Current youth organizing in Grassy Narrows is part of a long history of grassroots resistance in the community. We see protecting the land and cultural resurgence as a single inseparable process.

“Our organizing is connected through bloodline relations and teachings. Our mothers fought so we could have this land, so we will continue to fight for it,” says Edmond Jack, another Youth organizer in the community.

“Not only does the plan threaten my family trapline, but it also threatens the traditional knowledge of future generations who cannot yet speak for themselves,” Jack says.

“It’s important to stop the new logging plan because our traditional way of life depends on the health of the environment,” says Da Silva.

Our People have been dealing with the impacts of logging for decades. Our rivers have been poisoned and many traplines have been destroyed. Now, still dealing with mercury poisoning (from the Dryden Paper Mill’s industrial dumping in the 60s), and facing new threats from mining expansion in Asubpeeschoseewagong Territory, the Government is coming back for our trees.

Over the years, Grassy Narrows has been fortunate enough to have support from some Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and organizations in Ontario and across Turtle Island. This spring, that support will likely be more important than ever and Grassy Narrows organizers expect to call on renewed support from allies. Please be ready to answer our call and to back us up.

“One thing we can ask from our Grassy Narrows supporters is to create as much awareness as possible about our fight as Anishnabek living on the land,” says Da Silva. “The most important thing supporters can do is to be ready, and commit to both physical and political support should the Province begin logging operations,” she says.

 

Miigwetch

– Grassy Narrows Youth Group