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NAN press release 

NAN "youth train" to join Bill 191 rally at Queen's Park

     THUNDER BAY, ON, July 31 /CNW/ - Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy is announcing that a group of NAN First Nation youth will journey by train to Toronto to tell Dalton McGuinty that he is wrong to impose Bill 191, the Far North Act, on them and future generations as well as to present the Standing Committee on General Government with a petition reinforcing their opposition.

     "It is heartening to see our young people take a stance against the Far North Act, which will dictate the land use planning process in the Far North, the homelands of NAN First Nations," said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. "The next generation of First Nations leaders are making their voices heard as this legislation could have a tremendous negative impact on future generations of the Nishnawbe Aski people."

     The youth will be joining a larger group of individuals including representatives from industry, environmental organizations and various denominations of churches who share their opposition to Bill 191 at Queen's Park.

     NAN youth are scheduled to depart Armstrong, Ontario, on August 3. They will distribute flyers at station stops along the way and upon their arrival at Union Station (9 a.m. EST) to raise public awareness about the devastating impact the Far North Act could have on First Nations in Ontario.

     "One of the main reasons the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario entered into treaty with us was to advance the westward expansion of the railway," explained Stephen Kudaka, a NAN youth leader from Bearskin Lake First Nation who will make the 24-hour journey. "We are taking that railway to Toronto to tell Premier Dalton McGuinty that he is breaching our Treaty with Bill 191."

     The youth will arrive in Toronto in time to address the Standing Committee in their hearings on Bill 191, which is scheduled for August 6. Hearings are also scheduled at later dates in mid-northern towns including Sioux Lookout, Timmins, Thunder Bay and Chapleau. None will be held in NAN First Nations with the people directly impacted by the Far North Act.

     The Far North Act will set aside 225,000 square kilometres as a protected area within NAN First Nation homelands without their consultation, accommodation or consent. It will effectively lock down the land to prevent First Nations, among the poorest people in Canada, from achieving economic independence by preventing the development needed to build healthy communities and help strengthen the Ontario economy.

     NAN Chiefs-in-Assembly have condemned Bill 191 and are calling for its immediate withdrawal. They are demanding that the Government of Ontario enter into a respectful government-to-government dialogue to address land use planning in NAN territory.

     NAN is appealing to First Nations, industry, environmental organizations and members of the general public to voice their opposition to Bill 191. An on-line petition has been established calling for the withdrawal of this legislation.

     Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty 5 - an area covering two thirds of the province of Ontario.

     For more information on Bill 191, the Far North Act, or to sign the on-line petition visit www.oski-machiitawin.ca.

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/For further information: Joyce Hunter, A/Director of Communications - Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625-4952 or (807) 472-5638 mobile/