The Wilderness Committee is asking the Ontario government to abide by an Amnesty International recommendation to halt logging on the traditional territory of Asubpeeshoseewagong Netum Anishinaabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) in northwestern Ontario. Grassy Narrows have been asking that clearcut logging in their traditional territory be halted, and have been maintaining a protest blockade of a logging road since 2002. Logging corporations Abitibi Consolidated and Weyerhaueser are continuing their industrial operations with approval from the Ontario government.

Amnesty International released a preliminary report on September 20 about the ongoing concerns with human rights violations against indigenous peoples of Canada. The report centered on Asubpeeshoseewagong Netum Anishinaabek, but stated that the situation with Grassy Narrows was by no means unique in Canada.

The first recommendation for the Ontario government in this report was: "Respect the wishes of the people of Grassy Narrows and implement an immediate moratorium on logging and other industrial development in the traditional territory unless and until, free, prior and informed consent has been given."
As mentioned in the Amnesty International report, Supreme Court of Canada decisions make it clear that no activities shall continue on disputed lands until conflict resolution is achieved.

Amnesty International is a well-respected non-partisan organization known for protecting human rights in developing countries. This is only the second time Amnesty International has had to issue a report about human rights violations in Canada.

"This is a clear situation of the Ontario government allowing profit-driven corporations to devastate the traditional territories of the Grassy River First Nation, against the wishes of the Grassy Narrows people," said Eric Reder, Wilderness Committee Campaign Director in Manitoba. "This is a black mark on Canada, and we must respect international conventions on human rights and put an end to unauthorized clearcut logging of their home territory."

Click here to visit the Amnesty International Canada site and view the report: The law of the land: Amnesty International Canada's position on the conflict over logging at Grassy Narrows