MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND GRASSY NARROWS FIRST NATION FORGE NEW RELATIONSHIP

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2008

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND GRASSY NARROWS FIRST NATION FORGE NEW RELATIONSHIP
Backgrounder

Grassy Narrows First Nations and the Ministry of Natural Resources have committed to a new, positive relationship between the First Nation and the province, following six months of discussions between Grassy Narrows and the Honourable Frank Iacobucci.  Mr. Iacobucci was retained by the ministry in September 2007.  He met with representatives of Grassy Narrows to identify the community’s concerns related to forest management and provide advice to the ministry about possible approaches to address those concerns.

Through the discussions, Mr. Iacobucci identified opportunities for the ministry and Grassy Narrows to work together to build a positive, long-term relationship.  Mr. Iacobucci recommended that the ministry and Grassy Narrows enter into a shorter term working agreement to improve the understanding and cooperation between Grassy Narrows and the ministry on the sustainable management of forest resources in the Whiskey Jack Forest while respecting the rights and interests of others.

Mr. Iacobucci recommended that committees and working groups be established to carry out specific activities such as:

• Completing a traditional use study
• Completing an environmental inventory that includes traditional knowledge
• Identifying economic and capacity-building opportunities to increase the participation of Grassy Narrows First Nation in the forest economy and,
• Launching a pilot project to develop ways to integrate Grassy Narrows’ traditional uses and areas of cultural significance with forest management activities.

The ministry and Grassy Narrows have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to start negotiations toward this shorter term working agreement. The details and timeframes are expected to take the next three to six months to work out.  Establishing committees and completing activities to be undertaken as part of the talks are expected to take four years.  The results of this work will then be used as the basis for negotiating a long term agreement for the protection, management and use of the forest.

This is an important step in the efforts to forge a positive and long-term relationship between Grassy Narrows First Nation and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Whiskey Jack Forest is located in northwestern Ontario.  It covers about one million hectares. The forest is currently managed under a Sustainable Forest Licence held by Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada.

Grassy Narrows First Nation is located about 80 kilometres northeast of Kenora within the Whiskey Jack Forest.  The reserve is about 4,000 hectares in size.  There are approximately 800 residents on the reserve, with another 400 living off-reserve.

For More Information

Media Enquiries

David de Launay, Ministry of Natural Resources, 705-755-2800

ontario.ca/natural-resources-news

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Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)