The following was received at the offices of Cultural Survival
(Canada) on April 3, 1991 and posted at the request of the
Algonquins of Barriere Lake.
*** PRESS STATEMENT ***
We are here today to inform you that negotiations have broken down
between the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and the Government of
Quebec regarding the development of a conservation strategy for La
Verendrye Wildlife Reserve.
As you know, it has been almost 3 years now since we began
protesting clear-cut logging and other forestry practices in La
Verendrye. We have, all along, objected to the fact that the
Quebec Forestry regime fails to adequately recognize the importance
of our rights and subsistence way of life.
In an effort to come to terms with this land-use conflict, we
proposed the development of an integrated resource management plan
for our current land use area, recognizing all users of the forest.
We based our proposal on the model of sustainable development put
forward by the UN World Commission on Environment and Development,
in the BRUNDTLAND REPORT.
We put forward a very reasonable proposal. And we have exercised
patience and good faith in our negotiations. We have been through
three Quebec Native Affairs Ministers as well as three Federal
Indian Affairs Ministers.
We are releasing a draft agreement of February 13, 1991, put to us
by the present Quebec Minister of Native Affairs, Christos Sirros,
in our latest round of negotiations. Despite the many, many
compromises made by our community on its initial demands, Quebec
has refused to allow us to make any changes to its draft. It has
been suggested by the Ministry of Native Affairs that any further
changes would be objected to by Quebec's Ministry of Forests.
This draft agreement clearly indicates how little Quebec is
prepared to acknowledge aboriginal uses and natural resources
needs.
We cannot sign this document because it is inadequate for two
reasons:
1) It fails to recognize the importance of the traditional way of
life of our community within our current land-use area, and;
2) There is no mechanism for modifying the 25 year Forestry
Management Agreements, which thereby constrain our efforts to
make any meaningful changes to land use practices in La
Verendrye Wildlife Reserve.
We are not necessarily opposed to logging, but we will continue to
oppose the application of the QUEBEC FOREST ACT in its present form
over our current land-use area.
We are also in possession of the forestry plans for this coming
Summer, and we know that for the survival of our community's way of
life we cannot allow these forestry operations to resume as
provided for under these 25 year Agreements.
Our community is now preparing for the Summer cutting season. We
will be calling on native and non-native people to assist us in
maintaining a ban on forestry operations in our territory, until we
reach a formal written agreement with the Governments of Quebec and
of Canada.
We will continue to seek a peaceful resolution of this issue.
However, we will protect our community and our land from
destruction through over-exploitation of the forest.
To reach an agreement with the Quebec Government there must be a
mechanism for modifying the 25 year Forestry Management Agreements
while the proposed study process is underway.
Furthermore, the Quebec government must agree that the results of
the proposed study process will apply to the current land-use area
of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.
We feel that these are very reasonable requests, given what our
people have had to endure over the last two centuries.
For more information contact:
Russell Diabo (English) (613) 729-9491
Gerard Guay (French) (613) 724-1621
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****************************************
WITHOUT PREJUDICE
April 3, 1991
Honourable Bud Wildman
Minister of Natural Resources and
Minister Responsible for Native Affairs
Government of Ontario
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Sir:
RE: ABORIGINAL TITLE OF THE ALGONQUIN NATION
This is in regard to your announcement, on March 28, 1991, of
Ontario's intention to begin land claims negotiations with the
Algonquins of Golden Lake.
We commend you and your Government for taking the initiative of
addressing the long outstanding claim of the Algonquin Nation. You
must also be commended for constructive efforts to come to
arrangements with respect to the interim exercise of harvesting
rights consistent with the SPARROW decision of the Supreme Court of
Canada.
At the same time, however, we must put you on notice that there are
nine other Algonquin communities, situated in Quebec, who have a
DIRECT AND SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST in the aboriginal title of the
Algonquin Nation to lands IN ONTARIO AS WELL AS QUEBEC.
It is noted that you acknowledged this in your statement of March
28, 1991, though we regret the oversight in neglecting to
communicate directly with us in this connection.
We want to assure you that the Algonquin peoples in Quebec are also
very anxious to have the matter of their aboriginal title
addressed, especially in light of the current political climate in
Quebec. An accord was recently achieved amongst five Algonquin
communities in Quebec and the Algonquin Council of Western Quebec
regarding completion of research and development of the
comprehensive claim of the Algonquin Nation. The accord
established a two year time frame for completing all outstanding
research and development work.
It is also out of respect for the Algonquins of Golden Lake and
Algonquin First Nations who have completed their research that we
have made a commitment to complete our work in two years. In this
way, all Algonquin First Nations can proceed forward on an equal
and informed basis, in a united manner.
We do not want to unreasonably impede progress in your discussions
with the Algonquins of Golden Lake, provided the rights of other
Algonquin First Nations are not jeopardized. As you indicated in
your statement, there are certain areas with respect to which
Ontario may be competent to proceed. However, this does not
include negotiating the extinguishment of the aboriginal title of
the Algonquin Nation. Nor are we prepared to allow the Federal
Minister of Indian Affairs to do so.
We also take the position that your negotiations with the
Algonquins of Golden Lake are without prejudice to our rights,
title and interests. Moreover, we will not be bound by any
statements of claim, offers or agreements made by the Algonquins of
Golden Lake.
We trust you will understand our position.
Sincerely,
Grand Chief Jimmy Hunter
JH/ks
c.c. All Algonquin Chiefs
Ontario Premier Bob Rae
Robert Nixon, M.P.P. Ontario
Ian Scott, M.P.P. Ontario
Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa
Mr. Jacques Parizeau, Leader of the Party Quebecois
Denis Perron, M.N.A., Quebec
Honourable Tom Siddon, Minister of Indian Affairs, Canada
Ethel Blondin, M.P.
Bob Skelly, M.P.
Ken Hughes, M.P.
****************************************
Press Statement
by
Grand Chief Jimmy Hunter
Algonquin Council of Western Quebec
The Ontario Government announced last week its intention to begin
land claim negotiations with the Algonquins of Golden Lake before
June 15, 1991. Ontario's Minister Responsible for Native Affairs,
Bud Wildman, also made public a Statement of Intent whereby Ontario
and the Golden Lake Algonquins will develop an interim agreement
allowing the exercise of aboriginal rights to hunt and fish for
personal and community use in traditional Algonquin territory.
We are of course very pleased that Ontario, has committed itself to
these negotiations. We see this as an extremely positive
development that should be taken up by other provinces. It is
commendable to see Ontario sit down and negotiate hunting and
fishing rights with native people, especially when we consider that
Quebec systematically prosecutes Algonquins in its Courts for
exercising traditional activities. Ontario's willingness to
negotiate is in stark contrast to Quebec's, which literally had to
be forced to the negotiating table by the Algonquins of Barriere
Lake with whom they have not yet signed an agreement after nearly
three years of talks. We suspect that the only agreements that
Quebec is willing to sign with native people are those that are
unilaterally prepared by Quebec.
We have today written to commend the efforts of the Ontario
Government. However, at the same time, we put Mr. Wildman on
notice that there are nine other Algonquin communities, situated in
Quebec, who have a DIRECT AND SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST in the
aboriginal title of the Algonquin Nation to lands IN ONTARIO AS
WELL AS QUEBEC.
It is in the interests of all Algonquin peoples to move forward
with their outstanding aboriginal title. And given the current
political climate in Quebec, Algonquin First Nations in Quebec are
especially anxious to see this matter addressed.
This is why an accord was recently reached amongst five Algonquin
communities in Quebec and the Algonquin Council of Western Quebec
regarding the completion of research and development of the
Comprehensive Claim of the Algonquin Nation. The accord
established a two year time frame for completing all outstanding
research and development work. In this way, ALL Algonquin First
Nations can be assured of proceeding forward on an equal and
informed basis, in a united manner.
The Algonquin Council is now preparing a proposal for an
accelerated research program, which will be presented to the
Federal Minister of Indian Affairs, Tom Siddon.
Given the pressures being placed upon us by actions in Quebec and
Ontario, we fully expect the Government of Canada to assist us in
our efforts to complete the necessary work to prepare what is
probably one of the most complex and longstanding claims in Canada.
For more information contact:
Russell Diabo (English) (613) 729-9491
Gerard Guay (French) (613) 724-1621
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