Pulp mill industry misunderstood, says Native

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The Canadian Pulp and Paper Association held a meeting in Edmonton Oct. 19 to explain the benefits of having forestry projects in northern Alberta.

Pulp mill Native liaison Elmer Ghostkeeper expressed his concern for companies to include Native people in the process.

"Your industry has taken centre stage in Alberta in this past year. The pulp and paper industry has largely been misunderstood and misjudged by the Aboriginal people of Canada for a number of reasons," he said.

"They have unfairly categorized forestry development with other industries that have had negative economic impacts on their communities. It stands to reason Aboriginal people are anxious and afraid that forestry development could jeopardize

their future and affect their Aboriginal rights to self-government and sustainable development."

Aboriginal people are concerned with the impact of forestry development on their culture and society, he said.

"Their traditional livelihood and their view of belonging to the land is being jeopardized and threatened by external forces that they cannot control and have no input in to," Ghostkeeper said.

Ghostkeeper assists pulp mill companies in dealing with Aboriginal people.

He said there are three issues that concern Native people the most.

He found that most big businesses have neglected to inform Native people about any developments.

"It seemed that they (Natives) were the last to know about development taking place in their backyards," he insists.

He advised the pulp and paper companies to open and maintain clear lines of communication.

While only a handful of Natives are prospering in business in the North, Ghostkeeper said that Native people and area residents want to benefit from the pulp mills in a long-term basis.

Some northern Natives take an active interest in business while others continue to survive by hunting, fishing and trapping.

Ghostkeeper advised that a cross-cultural program be integrated so non-Natives can become aware of the different Native cultures that could be affected.