Algonquins step up logging protests

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The Algonquins of Barriere Lake are braced to keep up the pressure in a logging dispute that could stop logging in the area of La Verendrye Park in Quebec.

They have taken their grievances about the federal government's unfulfilled contract obligations to Ottawa. A delegation from Barriere Lake is now occupying Victoria Island near Parliament Hill, which they refer to in a news release as "unsurrendered Algonquin territory."

More than two months ago, Canada walked away from a trilateral forestry agreement to complete an Integrated Resource Management Plan with the Algonquins and the Quebec government. The agreement was supposed to ensure the Algonquins' traditional way of life is protected while also permitting commercial forestry operations.

The government said the plan was taking too long to complete and costing too much. It told the Algonquins to take money from their capital budget to complete the resource management plan themselves.

The Algonquins claim that bad faith on the part of the federal government is the main reason the forest management plan is behind schedule and they say they can't afford to reallocate money that is meant to pay for their social needs.

Chief Harry Wawatie wrote to Quebec's Native Affairs minister Guy Chevrette to remind him how important it is to get the resource management plan completed and implemented. It is the technical part of the agreement that the province and Barriere Lake must work out.

"Your government and corporations operating within the region, including Hydro Quebec, are benefiting almost exclusively from the economic benefits of resource development within the region, which we estimate to be probably in excess of $100 million," Wawatie wrote. "We receive the least amount of benefits, no share of resource revenues and no jobs."

At least two of the logging companies that are affected, Domtar and Davidson Industries, also wrote to Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault asking the federal government to return to negotiations. So did the World Wildlife Fund.

In mid-September, Algonquin leaders, including Wawatie and Grand Chief Carol McBride, met with Chevrette.

"He was supportive that this trilateral agreement get back on track," McBride said.

The minister suggested a new financial arrangement that would complete the resource management plan in four months instead of 16. Wawatie said his people wanted to co-operate with Quebec to end the impasse, but only if the work could be done right.

"I must admit to being shocked by the four-month estimate, given that our work plan was based on a detailed joint assessment undertaken by [the] Ministry of Natural Resources official and the Trilateral Secretariat official, both of whom are highly competent foresters," he said.

The grand chief added that she thought the community would say they are ready to look at options, "but they have to be realistic options."

For instance, "There is a section in the trilateral agreement that says if they get into any kind of disputes that they would have a group, a panel that would help them resolve the dispute. So this is what they are suggesting as well, that they go back to that section and put in a panel that could oversee."

McBride indicated the community was not eager to embrace the four-month time frame since the delays in completing the resource management plan have been "very rarely, if at all, brought on by the people of Barriere Lake."

She said in one instance she is aware of, Barriere Lake waited eight months for feedback from the province about a document.

"It definitely can't be done in four months-no . . . unfortunately it is unrealistic."

Chief McBride also said she appreciated the support they had received from the forestry companies, but the area in which "harmonization measures have been completed" and where logging is currently permitted was rapidly diminishing, and soon there would be no forest left that the Algonquins could allow to be cut.

She said after 1 years of waiting to benefit from the resource management agreement, the Algonqins are "frustrated." In a Sept. 20 statement she said that with more than 90 per cent unemployment "Our people are running out of patience. It looks as if the federal government is pushing the people of Barriere Lake to show their resolve."

Wawatie admits the occupation of the island "is going to be very disruptive to the people of our community and we recognize that it will be a disruption for users of Victoria Island. It is unfortunate that we have to come here to get Ottawa to act, but our peoples' future is at stake."

McBride said she was "very, very disappointed" in the federal government's lack of good faith in honoring its fiduciary responsibilities towards the people of Barriere Lake.

Wawatie said they would remain on Victoria Island until they get a meeting with the deputy minister of Indian Affairs.