|
|
| The Names | Growing Pains | Reader Comments | Back to Index |
August 31, 2000
- via M. Manatch, First Nations Technical Institute at Tyendinaga
[This community has] been struggling with the Quebec MNR and Domtar to stop the clear cutting of their entire traditional territory. Kokomville is located within a wildlife reserve. The Quebec MNR have stated that the wildlife reserve is for the preservation of the animals and not their habitat. The MNR issued permits for Domtar to clear cut 100% of the park.
The Kokomville Algonquins have set up a peaceful checkpoint to stop loggers from going in. A second check point was set up in Gameh. After the loggers left Kokomville, they went to another part of the Algonquin trapping grounds and started cutting there. The community members have tried to stop there. But, with little success.
The SQ have threatened to come in using "any force necessary" to remove the check points from both locations... Did you know that 40% of Domtar is owned by the Quebec government's civil servants through their pension plan?... by the way they are looking for donations, especially food, gas and any kind of cameras and video equipment. Taping everything has seemed to help keep the SQ and the loggers from being violent. A charitable tax receipt is possible
Sept. 9, 2000
Mary Whiteduck is trying to save her
home from Domtar. She and her family have created a checkpoint on Lake
Larive to stop the international logging company from clear-cutting it. The
timber from the La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve where Mary Whiteduck lives, is
turned into newsprint and used for printing newspapers.
The Sûréte du Québec have issued a warrant for her arrest. The Quebec provincial police will come in Monday morning (Sept 11th) to arrest her and her family. This is the second checkpoint to be created in an ongoing battle with Domtar.
The first checkpoint was created in Kokomville. Jacob Wawatie, official spokesperson for Whiteduck and the Nottaway family, will also be arrested Monday morning. The Nottaway family are the official caretakers of the Gull Lake area. Domtar has permits from the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources to clear cut 100% of La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve where both Lake Larive and Gull Lake are located.
According to the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources, there is no environmental impact study required to clear-cut La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve. These illegal clear-cutting practices have been condemned by the Superior Court of Québec. Judge Croteau decreed in December 1999 that the Forestry Management permit in a wildlife reserve were unconstitutional. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the industrials must submit their memoirs to explain these illegal permissive practices.
Whiteduck and Wawatie both filed complaints against Domtar in an attempt to stop the cutting. The crown attorney dismissed both complaints. However, complaints filed against Whiteduck and Wawatie by Domtar have been accepted. The warrants will be presented Monday morning by the Sûréte du Québec. Up to 40% of Domtar shares are owned by Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec, the pension plan for Quebec government civil servants.
Says Whiteduck, "Let them take me. I'm not afraid of going to jail. They've taken everything I have. There is nothing left for me to lose." --- For more information: Jacob Wawatie (819) 449-9616; (819) 441-7699; Mary Whiteduck (613) 847-0317
PLEASE NOTE: From information received from Monique Manatch on Sept. 13th, Mary Whiteduck and Jacob Wawatie were both arrested. There were 6 other arrests in Lake Larive. Mary has been released but, they were still hold-ing Jacob in Val D'or; it is uncertain when he would be released. Authorities are threatening to hold him until December.
Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law.
Send your comments and stories of police brutality to: ruitsdawtah@Hotmail.com
This page created October 6, 2000
