Toronto Sun
Native groups pitch a message
June 26, 2007
Queen's Park teepee draws attention to northern groups' timber dispute
By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
Representatives of two northern aboriginal communities set up a 9-metre teepee on the lawn at Queen's Park yesterday to send the McGuinty government a pointed message about native rights.
Chief Simon Foeister of the Grassy Narrows First Nations, northeast of Kenora, said they have been in fruitless discussions with the province over timber and mining activities on their traditional hunting grounds.
Foeister, along with representatives of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nations, north of Thunder Bay, and supporters from environmental groups, erected the teepee painted with the slogan "Native Rights Now" without any apparent official approval.
"In anticipation of a National Day of Action, we've taken this as an opportunity to educate the general public what our treaty and aboriginal rights mean," Foeister said.
Native communities across the country are organizing a day of action Friday to draw attention to their grievances.
Foeister said they're concerned about the impact of industrial uses on their ability to hunt and trap in communities where many aboriginals struggle with poverty.
Timber and mineral worth billions of dollars are leaving the territory, but natives don't have access to these resources, he said.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Ramsay said he has been in negotiations with other First Nations communities in the area and is poised to provide direct timber allocations to them.
"The Grassy Narrows community has not embraced getting into forestry development," he said.
"This is really the only (First Nations community) where we've got this difficulty."
