Grassy Narrows First Nation in Superior Court tomorrow

The Grassy Narrows First Nation finally will have their case heard in the Ontario Supreme Court starting tomorrow.

For years the Grassy Narrows First Nation, located 80km northeast of Kenora in northwestern Ontario has tried to put a stop to logging on their traditional lands.

Not familiar with the Grassy Narrows First Nation? Catch up on their recent history and all the hardships they have had to endure at the hands of the government, and from pulp and paper companies from the area.

The First Nation is challenging the province of Ontario's right to permit industrial logging on its traditional lands in northwestern Ontario, saying it interferes with its treaty rights.

The group is fighting to protect the treaty signed in 1873, which gave the First Nation hunting and trapping rights except on land that the federal government used, said Robert Janes, a lawyer representing the First Nation.

"Essentially, what we're here to straighten out is the questions of whether or not logging authorized by the government of Ontario was covered by that," he said.

"In the bigger picture, this is about the First Nation wanting to get across the message that there has to be proper consultation and accommodation around logging," he added.

"And given the severe impacts their territories have had, that really, there almost needs to be consent for much of the logging."

The case is expected to last 75 days.

Source:

Grassy Narrows fight against logging to be heard in Ont. court Tuesday (Canadian Press)