A group of protesters gathered at the front gates of the Weyerhaeuser mill in Kenora this morning. They were demanding an end to logging in the Whiskey Jack and the closure of the mill.

Thirteen year-old Corissa Swain stood at the front gates to the Weyerhaeuser plant in Kenora this morning. That’s where she delivered a letter on behalf of the youth of Grassy Narrows, demanding the closure of the mill.

“Over the past 10 years, they’ve been planning to take away our trees from our sacred territory, and the youth in Grassy are starting to wake up and not allow that to happen,” she said.

Swain noted most of the members of their youth group are in the range of 13 years old and up. In previous media releases, the group has said they were willing to disregard the Supreme Court ruling, which allowed the province the right to issue permits in traditional lands, under certain conditions. The group has also said they were willing to use ‘direct action’ to back their demands, but didn’t specify what that might mean

In the past, supporters of Grassy Narrows have blocked a part of the Trans-Canada at the by-pass to Kenora. They’ve also blocked the Separation Bridge. After delivering her note this morning, Swain was optimistic.

“Well, I’m glad that they got the note — or the letter — that me and my cousin made. I just hope that in the future, they do get a response — or we do get a response — from them (Weyerhaeuser) and I hope that they make that promise that they’re not going to take trees from our territory,” she said.

This morning, they were joined by a group called On to Ottawa. They had about a dozen members, who also attended the short rally.

In a prepared statement, company spokesman Wayne Roznowsky noted the Whiskey Jack Forest is managed by the province of Ontario, and the forest is important to the long-term viability of the mill. 

Roznowsky added there are many First Nation employees among their 200 workers at the facility, and there are other First Nations, who have interests in the operation of the mill.

For more information:
Press release from Youth of Grassy Narrows

Statement from Weyerhaeuser:
We do not manage the Whiskey Jack Forest. It is managed by the government of Ontario, after fulfilling its duties to consult with and accommodate the Grassy Narrows First Nation. The Whiskey Jack Forest is important to the long-term viability of several forest products operations, including Weyerhaeuser’s Kenora facility, which together provide direct and indirect employment for approx. 200 workers, many of them First Nations.  Deliveries of wood to Weyerhaeuser are through First Nations that also assert interests in the Whiskey Jack Forest. – See more at: https://www.kenoraonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9988&Itemid=160#sthash.GaOKEl6h.tsHMylcU.dpuf