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Grassy Narrows requests environmental assessment of logging plan
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- Created on Tuesday, 28 January 2014 21:14
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Clearcutting will elevate mercury poison in fish
Grassy Narrows – Grassy Narrows First Nation is calling for a thorough environmental assessment of the newly approved plan for clearcut logging on their Territory – an important test of Ontario’s environmental laws. Grassy Narrows is concerned that the planned logging could harm the health of their families by raising mercury poison levels in local fish. The logging plan makes no mention of mercury, even though Grassy Narrows Territory is the site of Canada’s most infamous case of mercury poisoning arising from 9,000 kg of mercury that was dumped into a local river by a paper mill upstream in the 1960’s. Scientific studies indicate that clearcut logging in the boreal forest can raise mercury in fish to unsafe levels.
“Ontario has ignored our voices, and is planning to force more devastating clearcuts on our people,” said Joseph Fobister, a Grassy Narrows hunter and businessman. “Our people will become even more sick if the government knowingly allows the logging industry to poison the fish that we eat.”
Grassy Narrows’ request is an important test of Ontario’s environmental laws. Logging plans in Ontario are generally exempt from Environmental Assessment, but concerned people and groups can request an Individual Environmental Assessment (IEA) of a plan if they believe that environmental and human health are not being protected. Such requests have almost ever been granted.
Guest Speaker Panel on Human-Canid Interactions
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- Created on Friday, 14 March 2014 00:03
Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, Saint Catharines, Ontario
Earthroots Year in Review
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- Created on Saturday, 28 December 2013 04:58
2013 Campaign Highlights
Toronto Star editorial supports Earthroots' stance against old growth logging in Temagami. Earthroots brings together a coalition of conservation organizations and local camps to oppose the proposed logging plan for Temagami.
Minister makes false statement on logging in Grassy Narrows
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- Created on Wednesday, 06 November 2013 20:20
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Will Wynne force clearcuts on Grassy Narrows knowing that they release mercury poison?
Grassy Narrows - Today Grassy Narrows Chief Fobister is calling out Minister Orazietti for false statements made yesterday about planned logging in Grassy Narrows Territory.
In a written statement sent to news media the Minister of Natural Resources said:
http://www.kenoraonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6982&Itemid=160
"The minister's statement is false, and completely misrepresents Ontario's plans for another decade of clearcut logging on our territory against our will," said Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister. "It is time for the Minister to clear up the confusion that he has cause with his false statement and to answer once and for all: Will the Wynne government force logging on our community against our will, knowing that logging would release more mercury into our food chain?"
Liberal government’s changes ‘undermined’ Endangered Species Act
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- Created on Tuesday, 05 November 2013 20:06
Rob Ferguson Queen's Park Bureau, The Star
Ontario's environmental watchdog warns endangered species at risk because of changes made by minority Liberal government
Endangered species such as the grey fox and dwarf iris are at greater risk because of changes Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government made behind closed doors, Ontario’s environmental commissioner warned Wednesday.
By revising regulations to grant “broad exemptions” on requirements for land development permits last July, the province “undermined” its widely hailed Endangered Species Act passed in 2007, Gord Miller said in a new report.
Grassy Narrows First Nation’s anti-logging battle with province heats up
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- Created on Thursday, 31 October 2013 13:40
Donovan Vincent, The Star
Grassy Narrows' Chief and council members tell the Toronto Star's editorial board they're girding for battle against Ontario's forestry plan.
Members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation say Ontario’s logging plans would adversely affect forests in their community and worsen the mercury poisoning issues residents have been grappling with for decades.
Chief Simon Fobister, “clan mother’’ Judith Da Silva, and band councillor Rudy Turtle met with the Toronto Star’s editorial board Wednesday and spoke out against the province’s long-term forest management plan for their area.
Grassy Narrows rejects Forest Management Plan for the Whiskey Jack Forest 2012 – 2022 on the basis of failure to consult and infringes on Aboriginal and Treaty Rights
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- Created on Thursday, 31 October 2013 13:25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today Grassy Narrows Chief and Council sent an open letter to Premier Wynne rejecting Ontario's Forestry Management Plan 2012 - 2022 for another decade of clear-cut logging on Grassy Narrows Territory. The Forest Management plan for the Whiskey Jack Forest 2012-2022 is in the final stages of approval and is currently posted for public comment.
The plan sets out a schedule to clear-cut much of what little mature forest remains on Grassy Narrows Territory after decades of large scale industrial logging. This will further erode the Aboriginal, Treaty Rights and the ability of the community to sustain their families and to practice their culture through fishing, hunting, trapping, medicine harvesting, ceremony and healing for all generations.
"Premier Wynne, it is within your power to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated at the expense of another generation of Grassy Narrows children," said Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister. "I call on you to ensure that never again will Ontario attempt to force decisions on our people and our lands."
Journey with Jim: Paradise found at Wolf Lake
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- Created on Sunday, 13 October 2013 13:54
Jim Moodie, The Sudbury Star
An excerpt from Jim's article about his journey to Wolf Lake:
"At the moment, Wolf Lake is still very much a grey area in the overall greenery of the Chiniguchi wilderness -- it's protected from logging, but open to mineral exploration -- and yet for any visitor who arrives by wheel or foot or canoe, or some combination thereof, descriptions would lean towards clarity: Transparent water, bright quartz rock, stark trees, crisp stars at night."
Learn more about the world's largest ancient red pine forest - visit www.savewolflake.org
Supreme Court to hear Grassy Narrows’ challenge over logging
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- Created on Thursday, 19 September 2013 21:13
Published in The Globe and Mail
The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a challenge to the Ontario government’s right to permit industrial logging on the traditional lands of the Grassy Narrows First Nation.
The First Nation appealed after Ontario’s highest court ruled in March that the province has the right to “take up” treaty land for forestry and mining.
The northwestern Ontario First Nation has spent nearly 15 years in court fighting the province’s decision to issue a licence for clear-cut operations in parts of the Keewatin portion of Treaty 3 territory.
More than one million Ontarians call for an end to unwanted logging in Grassy Narrows
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- Created on Thursday, 22 August 2013 00:29
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Premier Wynne does not respond to request for dialogue with civil society groups
Toronto - Organizations representing more than one million people across Ontario are calling on Premier Kathleen Wynne to a make a clear and unequivocal commitment that the province will respect the wishes of the people of Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) that no new logging permits be issued in their traditional territory.
The province is currently engaged in five year long talks with Grassy Narrows over the management of their traditional lands in the Whiskey Jack forest, north of Kenora. Last year, while the talks were in progress, the Ministry of Natural Resources unilaterally adopted a ten year forest management direction for Grassy Narrows Territory that included no meaningful recognition of Aboriginal and Treaty rights and perpetuated the model of industrial clear-cutting that first sparked an ongoing blockade at Grassy Narrows a decade ago.
Ontario should stop logging of old-growth forest: Editorial, The Star
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- Created on Monday, 12 August 2013 18:59
Photo: Hap Wilson
Temagami’s soaring forests are home to more than half the world’s old-growth red and white pine trees. It’s an impressive distinction, except that only a tiny fraction of the original growth still exists, leaving the trees — and the biodiversity they support — on the edge of extinction.
That precarious existence, exacerbated by the harsh winds or fires of extreme weather patterns, is further harmed when the Ontario government allows logging companies to remove the old growth, pines that have populated these forests for some 140 to 400 years.
Changing of the Seasons Gathering in Temagami
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- Created on Friday, 09 August 2013 22:44
Over the weekend of September 14th, 2013 Alex Mathias, an Ojibway Elder, will host his annual Changing of the Seasons Ceremony to celebrate the fall equinox on his traditional family territory in the Temagami region of Ontario.
On Saturday there will be a 'Changing of the Seasons' ceremony, a group potluck lunch, visits to Spirit Rock, and guided hikes through the old-growth forest. The guest speaker will be Joe Katt, Second Chief of the Temagami First Nation. Attendees have the option of participating in group events after the ceremony, exploring the area on their own, or simply enjoying some quiet time on the lake. There is no structured agenda for the weekend and Sunday is an open day.
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