New strategy puts Pikangikum in the driver's seat

Pikangikum First Nation has taken a huge step forward in its efforts to preserve its natural resources while providing opportunities for future generations thanks to the provincial government?s approval of Keeping the Land, a land-use strategy for the Whitefeather Forest and surrounding area. The strategy received the stamp of approval from Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay on June 26.

Keeping the Land is a ground-breaking strategy, the first of its kind prepared under the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Northern Boreal Initiative, which was established in 2000 to provide northern First Nation communities with opportunities for resource-based economic development. Through the initiative, First Nation communities like Pikangikum can take on a leadership role in community-based land use planning, allowing for the creation of strategies that strike a balance between economic development, effective environmental stewardship and respect for Aboriginal values, traditions and way of life. A number of other First Nation communities located within Ontario?s vast northern boreal region are involved in the Northern Boreal Initiative, but Pikangikum is the first to get to this stage in the process.

The Keeping the Land land-use strategy was developed by Pikangikum in partnership with the MNR. The input of First Nations organizations, environmental groups, representatives from the tourism, forestry and mining industries, local hunters and anglers and the local municipalities were considered in drafting the strategy, as was input from Pikangikum Elders, who shared Indigenous knowledge and provided information about what activities should take place on the lands.

?Keeping the Land embodies the wisdom of our Elders and the vision of the people of Pikangikum for the future of this community and our children,? Pikangikum Chief Dan Owen said when the province?s approval of the strategy was announced. ?In partnership with Ministry of Natural Resources staff we?ve ensured the strategy reflects our Anishinaabe values and highlights our shared responsibilities for the land.?

The land in question is the Whitefeather Forest, 1.3 million hectares of northern boreal forest located north of Red Lake that falls within the traditional territory of the people of Pikangikum.

Pikangikum and the MNR began the community-based land use planning initiative in 2003, but the roots of the new strategy go back a decade to 1996, when former Pikangikum chief Jonah Strang wrote to the ministry requesting that discussions begin regarding the creation of community-based forestry opportunities for the young people of Pikangikum.

Making a future for future generations is particularly important for Pikangikum, a community where about 75 per cent of the 2,000-plus members are under the age of 25.

Although the land-use plan does include strategies for using the Whitefeather forest for commercial forestry, it also includes other usage for the area, including non-timber forest products, mineral development, tourism and recreation. It also looks at customary uses of the land and creation of protected areas.

The land-use strategy could result in adding more than 400,000 hectares of land to the province?s protected areas system through a new partnership between Pikangikum First Nation and Ontario Parks.

The strategy also addresses the need to protect species at risk, such as the woodland caribou, identifying protected areas suitable for caribou habitat, calving areas and travel corridors.

?This strategy, prepared in partnership with Pikangikum First Nation, will lead to a brighter future for First Nation youth and benefit all Ontarians,? Ramsay said. ?We are working hard on behalf of Aboriginal communities and the North and I congratulate Pikangikum First Nation for taking a leadership role in land use planning and look forward towards a brighter future for its young people.?