Forestry management an issue

Page 10

A chance at managing the forestry is what Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan want. They will get the opportunity to submit their requests at the National Aboriginal Forestry Association's third annual conference, which will take place in Prince Albert in September.

"Aboriginal people want to show the government that First Nations people are very capable of managing the forests," said Duane Hiebert, forestry co-ordinator for the Prince Albert Grand Council. "They want more access to forest other than what's on reserves."

Hiebert said the council acts as a voice for 25,000 people in northern Saskatchewan, and will address several concerns at the conference.

He said forestry accounts for a majority of the employment in the northern portion of the province, and its extremely important local people see benefits from the industry.

He said years ago, Aboriginal people were excluded from any management of the forest industry. They have come a long way and continue to fight for more involvement.

"It used to be that all the revenue from the forest industry was going back into the large forest companies. This is why the Aboriginal people want more control, so they can begin to see some of the revenues go back into the communities. There has been progress in some communities, others have a ways to go. But there is improvement," said Hiebert.

This year, the Prince Albert Grand Council, Federation of Saskatchewan Indians, Meadow Lake Tribal Council and NAFA, will jointly host the conference.

Hiebert said Saskatchewan was chosen to host the event because of its success gaining access of large sections of the forest.

"We are ahead of other provinces in some areas. We've come along way."

He said Saskatchewan forestry industries, governments and First Nation organizations are also leading the rest of Canada in the area of forming partnerships, which is the theme for NAFA '98. Examples of partnership successes from all over Canada will be presented at the conference.

@@