Treaty Three Forestry

Grand Council Treaty #3 says it needs to be consulted before any new forestry management deals are made in northwestern Ontario.

Treaty Three Grand Chief, Diane Kelly says the Ministry of Natural Resources is not listending to the owners of the forest.

She says traditional governments in this region pre-date the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, and maintains they have the right to authorize development.

Kelly says she supports efforts by individual communities to define their economic interests in the region, but the decision maker is Grand Council Treaty #3.

Chiefs from Treaty Three have been meeting on the Rat Portage First Nation over issues ofresource benefit sharing.