Waswanipi Cree demand virgin forest, caribou be protected from logging

The Cree First Nation of Waswanipi, Que. is fighting to protect one of Quebec's last remaining virgin boreal forests from forestry development.

Located about 730 kilometresnorth of Montreal, the community of Waswanipi describes itself as the "gateway to northern Quebec."

The Waswanipi Cree territory covers an area slightly smaller than Switzerland, andChief Marcel Happyjack says 90 per cent of that territoryhas already been harvested or carved up by logging.

We just want something that will ensure the protection of the Cree rights ...and also to protect the species that are within that area,- WaswanipiChief MarcelHappyjack

Now the community is taking a stand to protect the remaining 10 per centor about 4,000 square kilometres of virgin boreal forest called the Broadback Valley forest.

The swath of land is in the heart of the Waswanipi Cree First Nation territory, and it'sone of the last remaining intact boreal forests in Quebec.

It's an area which the communitysays iscentral tothe Cree way of life.

Plans for forestry development in the regioncallforbuilding126kilometres of roads through the territory, which wouldencroach on a section of theBroadbackRiver Valley forest.

"If they do go ahead, we would see over 113,000 hectares of land gone within two years," Happyjacksaid. "That would bring total devastation to the trappers' way of life, which is hunting, fishing and trapping."

Caribou population at risk

"We're not anti-development,"Happyjacksaid. "We're not anti-forestry, but we just want something that will ensure the protection of the Cree rights ... and also to protect the species that are within that area."

Since 2002, the local community has been asking the province of Quebec to protect thatlandhome to bears, moose, migratory birds and woodland caribou classified as a threatened speciesby the Canadian government.

The roads would notgo throughthearea in question, buttheywould come close.

Happyjacksaidif the firm that wants to construct the roads,MatriauxBlanchetInc.,does getthe greenlight,he has no doubt there will be an impact on the caribou.

"That caribou [population] is decreasing. We know that there's a lot of disturbance because of forestry and because of roads being built, and this species seems to be moving farther away from the territory," saidHappyjack.

"Our peopleour trappers and our tallymenare able to see that there's something that's bringing a disturbance upon the wildlife there," he said.

Tallymen are the stewards of the land, authorized by the Cree community to supervise harvesting activities on a given trapline.

The proposed logging roads are currentlyunderreview.

An independent government agency, known as the Environmental and Social Impact Review committee (COMEX),held a public hearing inWaswanipi and has consulted planning documents andenvironmental impact studies.

Now the residents of Waswanipi arewaiting to hear what recommendations COMEX will make to Quebec's minister of sustainable development.

'Putfaith in consultation,' Grand Council urges

Concerns about the protection of the Broadback Valley forest have also pitted Waswanipi against Quebec'sGrand Council of the Crees, to which the Waswanipi Cree belongs.

Last July, the Crees' Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come signed a partnership and co-operation agreement with the Quebec government, aimed at resolving a longstanding dispute with the forestry industry over a huge swath of territory of the James Bay Crees.

At that time, Coon Come saidthe agreement would notaffectthe Broadback River Watershed Conservation plan.

The Grand Council's executive director,Bill Namagoose, told CBC that Waswanipi should put its faith in the consultation process, which he said is going well.

Namagoose said in any event, the forestry companies don't want to cross into the BroadbackRiver Valleyforestbecause they would have to build a bridge.

Now that the public hearingshave wrapped up, there is a 30-day waiting period to allow for stakeholders to submit further statements and comments on the project before COMEXsubmits its report to Quebec.

A spokesmanfor the Minister of Sustainable Development, David Heurtel, said the minister would not comment, as the COMEX process is stillunderway.