Blockade may lead to hot summer, says grand chief

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The week-long blockade of a forestry road by members the Aroland First Nation has forced the logging company, Buchanan Group, back to the negotiating table with community leaders.

Aroland First Nation members were joined by about 100 First Nations people from Marten Falls, Fort Hope and Constance Lake, to block two access roads that run through the Aroland community when Buchanan refused to sign a forestry agreement that was negotiated more than three years ago.

"The people put up a public meeting when we saw logging trucks driving by with logs on them. We found out they weren't just building a road, they were clearcutting," said Sonny Gagnon, Aroland band councillor.

The blockade started March 5, and came down a week later when officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Buchanan Group and Aroland First Nation agreed to meet.

The ministry granted a license to the company on the condition it negotiated an agreement with Aroland for a working partnership in forestry development.

"We asked the Ministry of Natural Resources to come up with some arrangements and set April 12 as the final date to negotiate a reasonable agreement," said Gagnon.

The Buchanan Group is set to open a mill in Nakina, Ont., that, under the agreement, was to provide employment and business opportunities for Aroland First Nation members.

The agreement outlined terms to include the First Nation in the development and management of the forest in the licensed area.

Gagnon believes the Buchanan Group used the unsigned agreement with Aroland to secure a license from the ministry with no intention of pursuing a partnership with the community.

"Our agreement was negotiated, but for the last two-and-a-half-years we got the run around. Then they rejected our agreement and countered with one that was not what we negotiated," said Gagnon.

Ron Running, natural resource district manager for the Nipigon region, confirmed Buchanan rejected a draft agreement with Aroland, but he is hopeful the agreement will be re-negotiated by April 12.

"The ministry sat down with the three chiefs and Buchanan and agreed all the trees that had been cut could be hauled, but there would be no further harvesting or road construction until an agreement could be reached or both parties feel comfortable working on the agreement between themselves," said Running.

The three chiefs at the meeting represent the Aroland, Marten Falls and Fort Hope Aboriginal communities, he said.

The ministry is acting as mediator and there will be a review of the progress made at the discussions on April 12, said Running. If an agreement isn't reached by that date, the ministry will deal with that possibility at that time, he said.

"The leaders of the parties involved need to take advantage of this situation. This is an opportunity for economic and social development and it is clearly the responsibility of the ministry to work with them towards that," said Running.

Grand Chief Charles Fox of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation doesn't feel as optimistic as the ministry does about future land use agreements.

Fox took part in the blockade to support the First Nations communities in their protest.

"I'm not happy about the historical events that have happened here. These negotiations have been ongoing for years," said Fox.

Fox blames the Ministry of Natural Resources for granting a license to Buchanan without protecting the negotiated, but unsigned, agreement.

"We are just preparing ourselves for a long hot summer with the province of Ontario," said Fox. "The Aroland blockade is just the bubbling point."

Fox is also concerned with the Ontario government initiative, Lands for Life, an extensive public debate on land use and protection in Ontario, specifically Crown land.

First Nations leaders in Ontario were involved in discussions as stakeholders, but Fox said that is not the case now.

"We were involved until the 11th hour, that is until a report was submitted without our approval. Now what we want is gvernment-to-government negotiations," said Fox.

The consolidated report of recommendations on Lands for Life was completed last year. Recommendations in the report on Aboriginal peoples' participation included the Ministry of Natural Resources assurance that Aboriginal people are part of resource co-management and economic opportunities from Crown land and resources.

"The terms of condition 77 is supposed to provide First Nations with consultation and participation in forestry development," said Fox.

The Environmental Assessment Act in Ontario contains condition 77, which is to ensure Aboriginal communities are consulted on land use.

"The minister called and asked me what I wanted. I said I want Ontario back," said the grand chief.

Discussions will not go any further on the Lands for Life initiative until treaty rights are respected by the Ontario government, he said.

"We're getting ready for war," he said.