No logging on land, vow Lubicon officials

Page 1

The builders of $500 million pulp mill near Peace River, Alberta have singed a forest management agreement (FMA) with the province that includes the traditional hunting grounds of the Lubicon

Indian band.

Daishowa Canada Ltd. was given access to 25,000 square kilometres of timer land in northern Alberta for use in its bleach kraft pulp mill process. Construction of the mill is scheduled to be

completed in March 1991.

They may have signed something on paper, says Lubicon Lake band spokesman Terri Kelly, but it won't do them any good until the band is satisfied with its land claim settlement with the federal

government.

"The Lubicon's position remains constant. There will be no logging in that area until a settlement is reached."

She did not rule blockading of the logging reads.

"We understand this is the first cutting permit they've been given. But it's on the Lubicon's traditional area. We, of course, have not been consulted on that," she said.

The Lubicon Indians, living near Little Buffalo, Alberta, have been at odds with the Government of Canada for more than 50 years over the size of its land and the number of band members it has.

The Lubicon people say they will continue to claim 10,000 square kilometres of traditional Indian land around Peace River, located 600 kilometres north of Edmonton, until a settlement can be

reached with the federal government.

Negotiations are currently at a stalemate.

The vice-president of the Japanese owned pulp mill company praised the province of Alberta for entering into an agreement that could prove lucrative for the area.

"One of the strong features of this location is the excellent opportunity for future investment based on the abundant supply of timber available," Tom Hamaoka said.