Forest Congress focuses on Aboriginal initiatives

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"One heart, one mind, one love, one determination for the protection of Mother Earth." These words from William Commanda, Elder of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, marked the opening of the 10th National Forest Congress held by the Canadian Forestry Association from Sept. 24 to 27 in Gatineau, Que.

More than 50 speakers from government, industry, conservation groups and a substantial number of First Nations shared perspectives on how Canada's vast boreal forest can be both protected and used wisely.

More than one quarter of the world's intact frontier forests are found within Canada's boreal, which covers almost 60 per cent of the country's land mass, from the Yukon to Newfoundland. It is the breeding ground for hundreds of species of songbirds and waterfowl, and contains a large percentage of the world's wetlands.

It is generally agreed that protecting intact areas of the boreal while ensuring minimal ecological impact of development must be achieved. Decisions made in the very near future will affect this forest for centuries to come, and therefore must be inclusive, wise and well-informed.

Commanda provided the opening prayer and smudge ceremony. During his address, he quietly noted that he had not intended to attend the congress, but had agreed to once he learned "so many of my Native brothers and sisters were taking part."

Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, gave the keynote address on the first day. In his presentation, he stressed the importance of the boreal to Canada's Aboriginal peoples.

"The majority of our First Nation communities are in the boreal," he stated. "Our constitutional rights must be respected and accommodated by government and industry" with regards to protection and wise use of the boreal forest.

He also called on Canadians to "ensure that any development of the boreal is done in a sustainable way."

Many presenters at the congress touched on a major shift in thinking that is on the rise with regards to land-use planning. Instead of proceeding with development in a given area of the boreal (such as a mine, timber harvest or oil extraction) with a focus afterwards on how much land can be conserved, decision-makers are moving to a planning process wherein all information on the ecology, geology, history and social value of an intact area is considered with an eye to how much development should be permitted and in what context.

Several speakers pointed to the land-use plan developed by the Deh Cho First Nation of the Northwest Territories as a prime example of this new way of thinking. Grand Chief Herb Norwegian led a team that spent seven years consulting with Elders about hunting and fishing grounds, sacred sites and burial grounds, adding the information to geologic and ecologic data, and creating a plan wherein half of their boreal land is preserved. Limited, careful development will take place in some of the other parts.

During his congress presentation, Parks Canada chief scientist Stephen Woodley called the Deh Cho plan "an astonishing piece of work."

A significant number of presenters also stressed the need for involving local residents in boreal land-use decisions that directly affect them, and for educating the general public about the boreal.

In addition, there was overwhelming consensus that a great deal more knowledge about the boreal forest is required, but also agreement that despite gaps in knowledge, the time has come to use what we know about protection and wise use of the boreal.

Many organizations are taking action already. For example, the Forest Products Association of Canada has joined the Canadian Boreal Initiative in agreeing that land-use planning in a given area of the boreal should occur before any new forest tenders are given. Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is taking an active role in providing extensive amounts of data on water, wetlands and waterbirds to decision-makers. For example, DUC data on the habitat range f boreal waterfowl is being used in increased efforts to establish new protected National Wildlife Areas in the Deh Cho and Sahtu-Dene territories.

Other Aboriginal presenters included Leonard Thomas of the BC First Nations Forest Council, who described the organization's victory in gaining a significant share of the funding allocated to fight Mountain Pine Beetle to use specifically for First Nations to handle this "massive slow-moving natural disaster."

Harry Bombay, director of Strategic Initiatives with the National Aboriginal Forestry Association, explained the steps required in creating institutional support for the engagement of Aboriginal peoples in forestry and resource management, including the creation of Aboriginal criteria for Sustainable Forest Management practices.

On behalf of Alex Peters, president of the Whitefeather Forest Management Corporation (Pigangikum First Nation, northern Ontario), two speakers explained how their progressive forestry plan wastes nothing of harvested timber.

Innu Nation member Valerie Courtois, a registered professional forester, explained that while traditional knowledge of the land cannot be integrated with science, it must continue to be respected and examined in parallel with science for processes such as site classification of a forest.

Peggy Smith (Cree), an instructor in the Forestry department at Lakehead University, noted it is time that space in the boreal land-use planning process is created for First Nations.

Larry Innes, acting executive director of the Canadian Boreal Initiative and a busy Aboriginal land claims lawyer, said that of the five major steps on the path to sustainability of the boreal, "Advancing Aboriginal rights is the first step."

He stated that the wisdom of the Elders in addition to industry and science will assist Native peoples "in finding solutions which work for them."