(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Saving the forest

First Nations communities in P.A. area fear forest management plan will destroy treaty territory

Jan 13, 2024 | 4:01 PM

Fearing the provincial government’s forest management plan will have a big impact on their ability to hunt and gather medicines, members of several First Nations in the Prince Albert area have gone to the source to uproot some answers and find out if there’s an opportunity for an appeal.

On Friday, over half a dozen people showed up unannounced at the forestry centre in Prince Albert. In turn representatives from the Ministry of Environment agreed to meet with them and spent roughly half an hour answering questions related to the Island Forest Timber Harvest Operating Plan (FOP) and the potential impact to the areas around Holbein and Crutwell.

Dave Rondeau, a spokesperson for the group, stated the Chief of Sturgeon Lake First Nation, has said no to any cutting occurring, adding there’s been no response by the government to any of his own emails or questions from chief and council.

“At this point, it changes the nature of the consultation in my opinion,” he said.

Dave Rondeau (far right) stands with members of Sturgeon Lake First Nation. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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Further raising concern with the archeological impacts, and disturbing burial sites, Rondeau noted the last heritage study done in the area was in 1969.

The proposed access trail for the harvest areas farther south of Holbien was once the migration path for the Original People and leads to a cluster of forts and posts associated with the first European fur traders to arrive in the territory.

The horrific effects of the smallpox epidemic from 1781-1783 are well documented and there were at least three First Nation Bands that disappeared altogether during this time: the U’Basquia, Beaver, and Pegogamow.

“You’re gonna erase the last of the history of potentially three different peoples that disappeared all together,” Rondeau said. “This is not consultation. This is one side dictating to the other. Period.”

Drone picture of a barren area directly east of the potential clear-cut event. (Submitted/ Dave Rondeau)

Several members of Sturgeon Lake First Nation attended the meeting and raised concerns related to the impact on treaty territory such as medicine and the animals they hunt for food, claiming all the animals are being pushed away. This will mean hunters and gatherers will then have to travel outside of their traditional use territories, thus causing additional financial burdens associated with farther travel distances.

“When you’re clear-cutting, you’re destroying all that”, Andrene Naytowhow Waditaka said. “We need this food to eat.”

The wood gathered from the sites will likely be used for future housing and construction projects and will help feed the province’s mills. While another member at the meeting stated her concern money was what this was all about, others stressed concern about what’s left for future generations.

“All we see is empty places where they used it to hunt,” Alora McLeod said.

Dave Rondeau talks with Chris Brown. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Chris Brown, Manager of Forest Operations, spoke for the government and explained that there is no appeal process, but added they are willing to engage and can alter an existing plan if there are concerns (burial sites) pertaining to a specific area.

“As far as just no cutting, that isn’t something that is considered simply because it is a license that has been given by the crown to those companies,” he explained.

Further clarifying the government has no intention to destroy any sort of cultural site, Brown explained their goal is to work at a sustainable level and won’t just be cutting all in one area. The actual area of the forest being cut is less than one per cent.

“We are looking at it for the sustainable management because they will burn. At some point they’ll burn,” Brown noted.

Following the meeting, Rondeau told paNOW, who has been involved in similar discussions in the past with other communities, hinted at a possible protest occurring at the clear-cutting sites and said he was tired of hearing the same words over and over.

“It is frustrating because the whole consultation framework is such a colonial process. You’re stuck. As soon as you enter it to it, it’s all of their rules,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell