TT Sea Th ee ae Pe -Teme-Augama stand echoes Stein battle By PAUL OGRESKO Along the shores of Lake Temagami in central Ontario the white and red pines reach the height of 10-storey buildings and have bases six feet wide. The tall pines pro- vide a canopy, moderating temperatures and retaining the fog and mist that make the forest carpet moist and spongy — ideal for growth. Fallen pines dot the forest, provid- ing shelter for plants and animals before they return to the soil, completing the cycle of life. The primeval pines are among the world’s rapidly vanishing old-growth forests, and are the last red and white pine old- growth forest in Ontario. They are also the. homeland of the Teme-Augama Anishnai- bai of the Bear Island band, who have lived in harmony with this land for at least 6,000 years. Ancient trails, called “‘nastawgan” by the Teme-Augama, are still visible. Thou- sands of years old, they bear testimony to the countless generations who have made these forests home. Now, in 1988, these last pines are threa- tened as never before. The Ontario government has given the go-ahead for the extension of the Red Squirrel road that will open the area up for Trek against trade deal completed PHOTO — PETER TANNER John Wilcox, or Johnny Canuck as he called himself during his cross-Canada trek against free trade this summer, pauses in Vancouver Aug. 9 before heading back to Victoria in the final leg of his tour which began at Victoria’s Mile O April 1. Wilcox, who was greeted on his return with a plaque from the city of Victoria by mayor Gretchen Brewin, drove his 1941 Chev’ pickup to New Brunswick and back to focus national attention on the sellout trade deal. Once, during a rally in Ottawa, he was challenged by negotiator Simon Reisman who called him a fearmonger and shook his fist at him. Says Wilcox: ‘‘What Reisman did was a perfect example of what the federal government is doing to all Canadians. tl logging. The Teme-Augama Anishnaibai have vowed the last untouched part of their homeland will not be destroyed. It is not a new struggle for them: for 111 years they have been embroiled in negotia- tions with the federal and provincial governments to have their treaty rights rec- ognized. Like many first nations across Canada, the Teme-Augama Anishnaibai are engaged in the frustrating process of fighting to get control of land they have never surrendered. In 1883, the Canadian government acknow- ledged that the Bear Island band had been omitted from the signing of the Robinson- Huron treaty that covered the region in 1850. But since 1885 the Ontario govern- _ ment has refused to recognize the Teme- Z Augama Anishnaibai’s right to ownership over their 4,000 square-mile homeland. At their annual assembly on May 22 of this year, the Bear Island tribal council decided to stop the extension of the Red Squirrel road. Blockades were set up by the band at the east and west ends of the pro- posed Red Squirrel extension, while com- munity members vowed to risk imprison- ment rather then see the pines destroyed. Speaking with the Tribune, Chief Gary Potts emphasized that the roadblocks are only one part of a much bigger issue. For the Bear Island band the issue remains ownership of the land — the extension will penetrate the last 10 per cent of unlogged Jand in their claim while the issue of owner- ship is still being fought out in the courts.” “There is nothing left (of our land) after this area is logged out,” says Potts. “So much logging has gone on in our mother- land and there has been no documentation yet of all the life that is there, and how much logging affects it when clear cutting is done.” : While the Bear Island band fights to min- imize the damage being done to the ecosys- tem of their homeland, the fight to have their land claim recognized drags on: a chronology of injustice and neglect, extend- ing back to 1850. In 1986, the Ontario government offered — the Teme-Augama $30-million in compen- sation provided all court challenges were dropped. The Bear Island band refused, saying their lands are not for sale. Mean- while, William Milne and Sons Ltd, the last logging company remaining in the Tema- gami area, said 155 jobs would be lost if the Temagami pines are not opened up for log- ging. While not denying jobs would be lost if the road is stopped, Potts points out that there are only a maximum of 15 years log- ging in the area — then the jobs and the pines will both be gone. Rather than allow- ing the logging, Potts argues, the Ontario government should take the $30-million it © was willing to spend in stopping the Bear Island claim and use it to give five years compensation in wages to the loggers while encouraging alternative, long-range, eco- nomic development in the area. 3 “Land has more than just commercial value,” said Potts. ‘““You must look at the — land asa whole and realize it is a living thing © and all life forms depend on the land for life. “When you understand that, then you~ are doing proper things and investing in the — future rather than taking away from future generations.” Potts is optimistic that the day will come when their rights are recognized. What remains to be seen, he says, is what is left of the land when it is returned. “We are hoping our rights are recognized before the area is cleaned out completely,” he said. “But even if the government has taken everything it wants (from the land) our future generations will nurture it back to health.”