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Article

16 May 2008

Author:
Haider Rizvi, OneWorld US

Native Canadians Win Mini-Victory over Big Loggers [Canada]

Pressure is mounting on the Canadian government to take actions against private loggers and other business concerns that encroach upon indigenous peoples' territories. Opposition by a native tribe [Grassy Narrows First Nation] in the province of Ontario against a major logging company forced authorities this week to reconsider their policies on forest management and planning...The native communities...are opposed to commercial use of the forest not only because they own it, but also because it is sacred to them...Apparently not abiding by its treaty obligations...the government has allowed AbitibiBowater Inc. [subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Corporation], a logging company, to operate in the area...With support from the rights group Amnesty International and other organizations, RAN [Rainforest Action Network] led a campaign against logging in the Whiskey Jack forest, persuading a major paper-manufacturing company to stop buying wood from AbitibiBowater. In February...Boise Corporation announced it would not purchase any wood fiber logged from Grassy Narrows forest if loggers did not seek the indigenous peoples' permission for clearcutting..."Boise has done the right thing," said Craig Benjamin, Amnesty International's campaigner for the human rights of indigenous peoples....