Regional Chief Tom Bressette introduced Grand Chief Charles Fox (NAN), Grand Chief Francis Kavanaugh (GCT#3), Grand Chief Vern Roote (UOI), Grand Chief Doug Maracle (AIAI) and representing the Independent First Nations, Chief Jim Twain.

This announcement followed an earlier press conference, July 10, 1998 at Thunder Bay when Nishnawbe-Aski Nation chiefs recalled their representatives, Wally McKay and Bentley Cheechoo, from the Boreal West and Boreal East Round Table discussions.

Introduced by the Conservatives following their election in 1995, the Lands for Life policy was to form the cornerstone for government plans for resource and economic development in Ontario's north.

It was initially rejected by Resolution 98/14 at the All Ontario Chiefs Conference (AOCC) West Bay, June 2-4, 1998.

At West Bay, chiefs noted that the series of Round Table discussions had been dominated by representatives from the resource extraction industries and private sector entrepreneurs.

The panels had spent the past year exploring possible uses for 64% of Ontario territory designated as northern Crown land - about 46 million hectares, most of which falls within the 338,000 sq. km. of Nishnawbe-Aski Nation traditional lands.

The Round Tables were to make recommendations in the areas of forestry, mining, tourism and parks to the government but Mr. McKay and Mr. Cheechoo observed that First Nations' concerns over land stewardship, jurisdiction, treaty and aboriginal rights had been ignored.

Added pressure for an early wrap-up came from Minister of Natural Resources, John Snobelen, when he set a July 31, 1998 deadline for draft recommendations from the Round Table panels.

Letters to Premier Harris and Minister Snobelen following the West Bay resolution went unanswered and a deadline for a response by July 21, 1998 went by.

This left the chiefs no option but to formally notify the government of their withdrawal from the process and to explain their position to the Ontario public.

"There was no mention whatsoever of our particular issues and we are profoundly and deeply disappointed by that because we agreed to participate in the process in good faith," said Grand Chief Fox.

He continued, "The Ontario government let us down."

He also warned resource developers they should consult with the chiefs before initiating any Lands for Life actions. Otherwise they would be unwelcome.

All Grand Chiefs at the Queen's Park press conference stated they were prepared to take legal, political and other actions if necessary to halt any further development. Grand Chief Roote reminded everyone that the United Nations were concerned about Ontario's actions in many areas and had appointed a 'watchdog' committee to review the province's actions.

Grand Chief Kavanaugh also read from a prepared statement addressing the necessity for government-to-government negotiations in the future.

"The present Ontario approach is to ignore treaty and aboriginal rights." said Chief Kavanaugh of Grand Council Treaty #3 who had boycotted the discussions.

He added, "The Ontario government is trespassing on First Nations' rights every time it cuts a tree in Ontario."

Grand Chief Fox concluded with an important observation. He stated that First Nations were not opposed to development - they simply wanted to be a full participant in the process and they wanted a fair share of the proceeds as agreed upon by their chiefs when they signed Treaty #9 in 1905.

A spokesperson for Natural Resources Minister Snobelen commented the government was disappointed by the decision of the Grand Chiefs.

He added that Mr. Snobelen would try to get First Nations representatives back to the table by explaining that in his opinion, aboriginal and treaty rights were an inherent part of planning resource development.

Bob Michels, Chairman of the Boreal West Round Table, said he will recommend to the Minister that talks with the First Nations be re-opened to ensure the Round Tables' commitment to respecting aboriginal and treaty rights.

He commented that the First Nations had walked a very fine line during the discussions and had found a way to contribute to the outcome of the process without compromising their position.

Stephen Fuller, executive director of the Ontario Naturalists Federation, part of the Partnership for Public Lands, a participant in the discussions, said, "The government tends to deal with First Nations as if they're just another interest group and, of course, they're not."

He continued, "It doesn't surprise me that, given the way the government has treated First Nations in this process, that they're mad as hell."

(With notes from AOCC, West Bay, June 2-4, 1998, Thunder Bay Special Chiefs meeting and press conference, July 10, 1998, Queen's Park press conference, July 22, 1998 and files from the Ottawa Citizen, Globe and Mail and Toronto Star)

Further Information:

Dennis Martel, Intergovernmental Affairs/Media Relations, Chiefs of Ontario.

Tel: 416-972-0212, F
ax: 416-972-0217