News stories in T.Bay newspaper highlight "duty to consult" responsibilities
Four stories in today's Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal highlight the importance of consultation with First Nations as plans are made that affect lands, resources, lifestyles and culture. The Supreme Court ruling that requires corporations and governments to work with First Nations before developments and plans move ahead is finally being respected. Unfortunately, the tone of the stories tend to reflect a rather biase media system.
The front page headline reads "Ear Falls hydro project on hold". It describes the frustrations of the Ear Falls reeve and how the "Ontario Power Generation plans to expand its hydro-power station at Ear Falls have been put on hold while the company “negotiates” with the Lac Seul First Nation and other area parties." Of course the story misses the important point that the people of Lac Seul have been trying to negotiate a settlement without any success to their flooded lands since the dam was first constructed in the 1930's. Click here to read the entire story.
Another story entitled "Resource sharing talks continue" highlights the discussions about "how resources from traditional aboriginal hunting grounds should be accessed and shared". Click here to read this story.
Then the last story that is posted on-line is called, "First Nations get development help", covering the announcement from this past Thursday for the water and waste treatment plants in remote First Nations. The story is introduced with the statement "The federal government has earmarked almost $11 million for capital and economic development projects at five First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario." Click here to read this story.
A fourth story is a copy of a commentary by a Toronto Star reporter James Travers and is called "Martin's chance to atone for native abuse". It talks about how the federal government is once again ignoring calls from First Nation groups from across the country as well as the Canadian Bar Association for the prime minister and his team to abandon their offensive Alternative Dispute Resolution process. Travers calls on the government to settle this "dark part of Canadian history" by working with First Nation leaders to identify a solution that addresses everyone's needs.