From sandal-wearing Germans tying themselves to B.C. redwoods, to Micmacs tossing loggers off their land, something is happening in Canada’s forests. But those disputes may pale beside the Cree lawsuit just launched against 26 forestry companies, Quebec and the Feds.
Is the Cree Nation heading into another Great Whale-type confrontation? The stakes are high in the Cree forestry lawsuit launched this month. Back in the Great Whale fight, no one was going to lose their job if the project didn’t go through. The fight was over potential jobs.
Today, in the forestry battle, thousands of people derive their livelihood at this very moment from Cree trees. Forestry companies generate at least $ 1.2 billion each year from Cree forests, according to Cree estimates. Across Quebec, 250 cities and towns call forestry their main economic motor. It is the province’s biggest industry. In short, it will be an ugly fight.
If Crees are to have a chance, some have argued, they must launch a public campaign on forestry to go along with the court action. They must convince Quebecers, Canadians and the world of the justice of their case.
We put it to Jack Blacksmith, coordinator of the Cree Forestry Working Group, toexplain how the issue will be brought out. (This interview was done a few weeks beforethe case was filed.)
The Nation: Is the lawsuit going to be accompanied by other types of action like in the Great Whale project?
Jack Blacksmith: The Great Whale project was very unique in terms of the approach. It wasn’t a project that saw any dependence on it employment-wise. There was just potential employment.
Forestry has been an activity in linuuschii for the last 30 years. So it’s a little bit different in terms of the scenarios. Forestry is something that a lot of people depend on. Some of the communities have been involved in that activity also, namely Waswanipi and Mistissini. And the other communities have been involved in sylviculture.
The Crees have always said the way forestry has been conducted is not good, the way the land has been considered an open territory. Crees have had enough of that. They’re determined to find an appropriate resolution. The onus is now on the provincial government to come forward with the Crees and work out a solution. We all know
Jack Blacksmith at the forestry lawsuit press conference in the Grand Council ofthe Crees’ office in Montreal.
the importance it has played in that area. But we also know the trouble it’s represented for the Cree people.
It’s up to Quebec to decide how seriously it wants to take this issue. Even if we file this case, I don’t see the Quebec government going away and saying we can’t talk. That won’t serve their purpose at all. When we file this court case and get the reactions, we’ll know where to go from there.
Do you have any plans to make it a political issue, to get some of the facts on the table about what forestry Is doing to the Cree trapllnes?
Sure, in our own little world we’ve done that already in terms of trying to highlight to our people the importance of that industry for the non-Native people up North.
We’ve already established that the activities of forestry represent about $1 billion a year. That’s a lot of money.
For sure, if things are not addressed properly by Quebec, these are the things we’re going to have to go out and make known, start working with the public.
Right now, not only in Quebec, but all over Canada, people have become more sensitive about how forestry is done. Not just in the Cree world. I think people have become very sensitive to that issue. And it’s like that throughout the world. I think Quebec needs to stand up and say it wants
to work with the Crees in finding an appropriate solution. If we can hold hands with Quebec, I’ll hold hands with Quebec.
Do you see this » being a difficult fight because of the employment dependent on forestry In the province?
Yes, I see that as a real difficulty. Right now, with the present laws of Quebec, there isn’t much consideration given to the (James Bay and Northern Quebec) Agreement that was signed in 1975 by the Quebec and federal governments.
We all know that agreement says with anything that happens in that territory, this agreement is the law. Everything that’s drafted afterwards is in accordance to that agreement.
With forestry that hasn’t been the case at all. For forestry, all the laws that have been put on the table by Quebec have been done in almost total isolation. No due consideration was given to the agreement.
In terms of the importance of that industry, take for instance Lebel-sur-Quévillon. That town is probably 70-per-cent dependent on that industry. If that industry should slow down, a lot of people are going to be looking around for jobs. So it’s not going to be an easy thing.
I think the ultimate thing we’re going to be asking for is there have to be cutbacks in terms of how much wood is taken out of the territory. Plain and simple.
Have you been In touch with the companies or governments about the lawsuit?
We haven’t officially gone to the provincial government or even the companies.But unofficially, I think most people know there’s a court case coming. I think they’reall set and I don’t think it’s going to be unexpected.
Logging facts
Amount of commercial forest in Quebec:
839.000 sq. km
Percentage of world’s forests represented by Quebec’s commercial forest: 2
Value of exports of Quebec’s forest-products industry: $6.5 billion (1994)
Percentage of exports that go to the U.S.:
86
Percentage to Europe: 8
Area of Cree land logged since 1975:9,400 sq. km
Area of Cree land flooded by La Grande hydro project: 5,000 sq. km
Area logged in 1975-76:125 sq. km Area logged in 1988-89: 400 sq. km
Average area leased to forestry company in Quebec: 1,600 sq. km
Average size of lease in Cree land: 3,471 sq. km
Area leased to Barrette-Chapais Ltd.:
17.000 sq. km
Area of state of Connecticut: 13,000 sq. km
Percentage of Cree commercial forest within the Barrette-Chapais lease: 33
Number of employees at Barrette-Chapais’ mill: 400 to 450
Number of Cree employees at Barrette-Chapais’ mill: 0
Percentage of investments in Quebec’s forestry operations that were made in Cree land in 1983:13.1
Percentage in 1988: 57.7
Percentage of Mistissini territory slated for commercial logging: 44
Percentage in Waskaganish: 42 Percentage in Nemaska: 31 Percentage in Ouje-Bougoumou: 76 Percentage in Waswanipi: 100
