A Cree Band from Pukatawagan, Manitoba have said that they would rather burn the forest than to allow international logging company Recap Industries to cut it.
Tensions remain high after recently a $700,000 machine was torched and a blockade followed stopping construction of the access logging road. The forest in question is on Crown land that the Crees say is unresolved treaty land. Protesters say that it doesn’t matter how many are arrested or how long it takes they’ll never give up the fight to protect Cree land. “If I have to die, I will die for my land.” one member said while another stated she would be willing to see the forest go up in flames “than let Recap have it.”
The Mathias Colomb Band is appealing a court judgment that allows Recap to construct the road without protest. They say it will take many months before they go to court and construction shouldn’t happen while this situation is unresolved. The Band is also currently in negotiation on land disputes with both the Federal and Provincial governments.
Recap says that they have a provincial license which allows them to clearcut 80,000 cubic feet and that they have a legal right to it.
