Native groups approach forest issues differently

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After an Ottawa-based group of 52 provincial forest associations, governmental and environmental groups known as the National Forest Strategy Coalition (NFSC) hosted consultation workshops in six cities in October to set the direction for a renewed National Forest Strategy (NFS), some Aboriginal groups decided they didn't like the direction the strategy was headed and formed their own coalition. The non-incorporated Ontario Aboriginal Forestry Coalition (OAFC) has been created to put together an Aboriginal position on the NFS that will be renewed in May.

The National Aboriginal Forestry Association (NAFA), the only group affiliated with the national coalition that represents Aboriginal interests, has now also become affiliated with OAFC.

Following NFSC meetings in Fredericton, Quebec City, Sault Ste. Marie, Edmonton, Vancouver and Whitehorse in October, OAFC held its own meetings in Thunder Bay in November and December, which were hosted by the Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association (OMAA). Several sources who have attended those meetings said membership in OAFC so far includes OMAA and NAFA, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) representing Treaty 9, the Manitoulin United Chiefs, and other First Nations and organizations.

The five-year mandate of the current National Forest Strategy titled Sustainable Forests: A Canadian Commitment expires in the spring. It carries nine strategic directions, of which the seventh, called Aboriginal Peoples: Issues of Relationship, is considered the key component so far as OAFC is concerned. The Aboriginal coalition wanted assurance the seventh strategic direction would remain in the national strategy that will be replacing the current one, but they were told it will not be kept in its present form. In addition, the dissenting Aboriginal groups say it's one thing to be included on paper; it's another thing to have the provisions affecting them implemented, which they say hasn't happened.

OMAA vice-president Henry Wetelainen said the Aboriginal coalition believes that Aboriginal inclusion in the National Forest Strategy is being watered down.

"Our view is to get our people participating . . . and guarantee in a policy our participation in managing, and sustainable harvesting methods of the forest."

According to Terry Wilson, NAN's forestry co-ordinator, "The new strategy is talking about taking out that section (strategic direction 7); they're not going to have a separate section on First Nations issues. They want to take the issues and water them down and spread them out amongst the other sections. NAFA was opposed to that."

Regardless of NAFA's view, he said, the national coalition decided to take out strategic direction 7.

"NAFA was basically only one voice on that national coalition board, and they weren't being listened to. They made the concerns known but I guess they were basically overruled by everybody else."

He added that the formation of the Ontario Aboriginal coalition is the latest attempt to get around the government's divide-and-conquer strategy.

Wilson also said the intention is to keep the Ontario coalition active after the forest strategy issue is over "because there are so many other issues that have come up over the years that needed to be dealt with. And it's better that First Nations deal with them as a group than on an individual basis."

Harry Bombay, executive director of NAFA, agreed.

"Historically, Aboriginal organizations in Ontario seemed to have had difficulties working together in the past, and this (formation of OAFC) is an effort to try to bring some collective action and perspective on forestry in Ontario through one voice," said Bombay.

"Aboriginal issues were identified in the national forest strategy, but no one acted on them, no one actually took them and said-say in the province of Ontario-that they would develop forest policy in accordance with what was contained in the national forest strategy. So therefore, what was said really didn't ean heck of a lot. The new strategy now is supposed to be more accountable.

"All those issues are coming to a head right now because of the national forest strategy process, because in May there is going to be a National Forest Congress in Ottawa, where the Canada Forest Accord will or will not be signed off by all the stakeholders depending on their points of view," said Bombay.

The National Forest Congress will take place May 1 and 2.

"As well," Bombay continued, "Canada in the fall of 2003 is going to host the World Forestry Congress. So in September, 5,000 people from 150 different countries are coming to Canada for the World Forestry Congress, and Canada wants to put on a good show there and they want to say that Canadian forests are being managed sustainably, but if the needs of Aboriginal communities are not being met then one can argue."

Mike Apsey, the National Forestry Strategy Coalition chairman, said NAFA has been involved in the NFS process.

"The coalition is formed by members who signed Canada Forest Accord. However in this process-our developing the new strategy-we have reached out to all groups whether they're the members of the coalition or not . . . so we're hearing from more groups than just NAFA, and we're hearing from First Nations, Metis, Inuit.

"There is a workbook that has been prepared that will now be discussed at a National Forum in Winnipeg on 20-21 of January where the input from all groups, government and non-government, will be considered and debated," said Apsey.

"What I'm hoping is that there will be a good turn-out of Aboriginal groups at the Winnipeg meeting. As I understand, they've been invited," he said.

Apsey said the format of the new forest strategy may be changed, but the content will remain. He said Aboriginal issues are contained throughout the strategy, not only in one direction.

The Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO), probably the largest Metis organization in the province, has not been invited to participate inOAFC, said MNO president Tony Belcourt.

"If we get involved in any kind of a coalition, it would be with the legitimate representatives of First Nations," he said. "We've had our own discussions with Anishinabek Nation, with Treaty 3 and with the Chiefs of Ontario. But on forestry policy we've not been involved with this so-called coalition."

He said, however, that MNO is working on its own submission regarding the forestry strategy. "Of course, I mean the national Aboriginal forestry policy affects all First Nations, Metis people, and we have to make sure we have input."

Treaty 3 has not joined OAFC either.

"Treaty 3 is not a part of that coalition," said Joe Kuhn, natural resources co-ordinator with the Grand Council of Treaty 3. He said Treaty 3 has talked to OAFC, which he described as an "informal discussion group." He added that he had not attended the past couple of meetings, but he does plan to go to Winnipeg as an observer.

The National Forest Strategy and the Canada Forest Accord are available on the NFSC Web site: http://nfsc.forest.ca/publication.html.

Updates on the Ontario Aboriginal Forestry Coalition meetings can be viewed at OMAA's Web site: http://www.theoafc.com.