Grassy Narrows +1, Loggers -?
Congratulations to the many who worked for years to preserve native rights and old growth forests in Canada in the struggle to end logging at Grassy Narrows. This week, corporate giant Abitibi announced it would stop logging operations in the Territory. I have been following the struggle since we featured the work in an issue of Clamor. They’ve done several high profile actions recently, including the one featured above last year, a five-year logging blockade, and the recent week-long occupation outside of the Canadian Legislature building in Toronto. Abitibi follows the lead of Boise, Inc which announced a few months ago that it would stop buying wood from Grassy.
This is also a story about how non-native activists can work in support of and solidarity with indigenous people. I’m looking forward to reading about and talking with people about the lessons learned from this struggle.
Want to know more? Free Grassy. It’s Getting Hot In Here. Rainforest Action Network.
Is protracted struggle easy? No. Is it the answer? Yes. This is a victory, but it is just one part of a many-sided campaign–activists will continue to pressure the Canadian government to support the rights of indigenous people to determine what happens on their land.
