Turtle Island Native Network
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For Immediate Release

PRESS RELEASE

Logging Crisis Worsens Over Federal Hardline with Algonquins

Kitiganik (Rapid Lake) -- November 13, 2001 -- Hopes of resolving the
logging crisis in the La Verendrye region of Quebec were dashed after the
Algonquins of Barriere Lake (ABL) met with the Federal government
representatives in Hull, Quebec on Friday.

Representatives from Indian Affairs made it clear to Algonquin
spokespersons that they do not intend to fulfill their obligations to
complete the Trilateral Agreement ­ an integrated resource management plan
(IRMP) for the territory of the Barriere Lake people. The Feds' hard line
spells tough times for the logging towns of Grand Remous, Maniwaki, Mont
Laurier and Val d'Or.

Logging has been suspended in the territory since August and without an
agreement in place by winter, the mills are facing shutdowns.

Grand Chief Carol McBride, special representative of the ABL says the
Federal government has broken faith with the Algonquin people. "I found it
very insulting to have Indian Affairs reps tell us they do not intend to be
bound by written agreements made with our people."

The Algonquins have been working hard with both the affected logging
companies and Quebec in order to keep the crisis from worsening. They had
been expecting the Federal government to rejoin the talks after a finalized
work plan had been accepted by Quebec officials.

Grand Chief McBride explains, "The Federal government made it clear that
they would rejoin this process after we worked the details out with our
counterparts in Quebec. We have done this and now Ottawa is saying they
don't feel bound by the process at all."

At the Hull meeting, Ottawa said it would attempt to find some dollars to
finish the plan, but refused to consider the money to be part of any
Trilateral Agreement obligations. As well, the Feds made it clear that in
exchange for any money, they wanted Barriere Lake leadership to sign off in
"concurring" that the agreement was terminated.

Chief Harry Wawatie of Barriere Lake, says the ABL will never accept
anything less than the full and completed land management plan for the
territory.

"We have tried to maintain good relations with the logging companies in our
territory, but we can't afford to let cutting go on without a full and
integrated plan for the territory. It looks like it's going to be a long,
hard winter for the logging towns in our region."

Chief Harry Wawatie of Barriere Lake has written Guy Chevrette, Quebec's
Indian Affairs Minister, asking for an emergency meeting in the hopes that
Quebec, as the third partner in the agreement, may be able to persuade the
Federal government to honor its signature.

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For More Information, please contact:
Grand Chief Carol McBride: (819) 629-7884, or
Office: (819) 723-2019
Russell Diabo (background information) (613) 799-8160



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