Grassy Narrows First Nation Continues Fight to Protect Traditional Territory & Treaty Rights
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GRASSY NARROWS FIRST NATION, ON – The Grassy Narrows First Nation continues its fight to protect its traditional territory and treaty rights. May 17th, our lawyers filed our application for leave to appeal the recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal which overturned the carefully written and considered decisions of Madame Justice Mary Anne Sanderson.
Chief Simon Fobister said:
Grassy Narrows is determined to protect its treaty rights and to protect the integrity of our lands. Justice Sanderson made the right decision when she held the governments to the agreement they made with our people in 1873. We were gravely disappointed when the Court of Appeal disagreed. We hope that the Supreme Court of Canada will agree to hear our appeal and restore the trial judgment.
Joe Fobister, one of the plaintiffs in the case and a Grassy Narrows community leader said:
“We are committed to fighting ecologically and culturally unsustainable forestry practices. We have seen our lands and treaty rights eroded over the years and believe that the courts should step in to set things right.”
While Grassy Narrows has been willing to engage in discussions with Ontario about the future of forestry in the Whiskey Jack Forest, Grassy Narrows remains determined to see that forestry proceed in a way that respects Treaty 3. While all communities can benefit from forestry, those benefits can only be realized if the treaty rights of Grassy Narrows and other Treaty 3 communities are upheld.
A decision from the Supreme Court of Canada on a leave application would normally be expected in 4 to 8 months.
