First Nations Meet with Conservation Groups to Protect the Boreal Forest

Members and representatives from seventeen First Nations met with nine conservation groups and others on January 28-29, 2004 in Thunder Bay to talk about how they could work together and care for the northern boreal forest in Ontario and Manitoba.

Ontario and Manitoba's northern boreal forest is globally significant because it is the largest intact forest in North America and because of its cultural importance as the homelands to many of Canada's Aboriginal Peoples.

Co-hosted by the Wildands League, Pikangikum First Nation, and Manitoba Wildlands-Canadian Nature Federation (CNF), the workshop was conducted in English and Ojibwa and was strengthened by the presence of several First Nation Elders. The Deh Cho First Nations of NWT, Taku River Tlingit First Nation of BC and Innu Nation of Labrador presented lessons learned from their respective land use planning experiences on the first day of the workshop. MiningWatch Canada presented on mining issues facing First Nations.

To receive the proceedings from this workshop, please contact:
• Anna Baggio, CPAWS-Wildlands League, tel. (416) 971-9453 ext 47 or cell (416) 453-3285,
• Alex Peters, Pikangikum First Nation, (807) 727-7352, or
• Gaile Whelan Enns, Manitoba Wildlands/CNF at (204) 947-3400.