The Conseil de la nation atikamekw and Manawan said they were satisfied with the recommendations issued by the joint working committee on forestry with the Quebec government, but did not remove the moratorium on logging. Created four months ago, the purpose of this committee is to ensure greater respect for the Atikamekw way of life in land use planning and management.
The recommendations propose a review of the royalty system, direct community participation in forestry activities, the renewal of the consultation framework and the ratification of Impact and Benefit Agreements (IBAs), according to a joint press release from DACs and the Manawan Atikamekw Council.
The CNA and the CDAM consider these recommendations in favor of improving relations in the context of forest activities.
However, as long as there is no formal and concrete agreement for the implementation of these recommendations, Atikamekw warns that the moratorium, adopted seven months ago, remains in place.
In this sense, no industrial activity is possible in the Nitaskinan family territories of Manawan until further notice. Only certain companies are authorized to salvage cut wood during the final logging season. said the press release.
In November, Manawan, supported by the Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw, decided to impose a moratorium on logging, accusing forest companies of not respecting the rights and consultation of Aboriginals. cans, which is not free or enlightened. Several territory leaders from the three Atikamekw communities recounted their python logging into a report produced by Espaces autochtones.
Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks Pierre Dufour recognized at the time that the process of consultation with Aboriginal people was a real issue and it needed to be examined.
Earlier this year, Manawan passed a law regarding the imposition of a moratorium on logging activities in Nitaskinan. A family then expelled a forester from its territory followed by a second that put up a barrier at km60 between Saint-Michel-des-Saints and Manawan.
A working committee was created following these developments and its results are eagerly awaited, especially since the new logging season was resumed in early June.
In May, the moratorium was renewed by territorial leaders and two councils, as well as the road barrier that still prohibits entry to logging companies.
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Marie-Laure Josselin (go to author page)
Source: Radio-Canada
