Assembly of First Nations National Chief Matthew Coon Come was in Grassy Narrows First Nation (Ontario) Feb. 27 to show support for the road blockade and political action being taken by the community to protect their rights.
The National Chief spent the day at the blockade and visited the community to hear from the Chief Councilors and community members and discussed steps to resolve the outstanding issues.
The roadblock was set up late last year by community members at the Abitibi Consolidated clear cutting access road on Highway 671 (approximately five kilometres from Grassy Narrows.)
Residents say they were never properly consulted about the license granted to Abitibi Consolidated for clear cutting activities on Grassy Narrows’ Customary Lands. They say clear cutting infringes on their inherent Aboriginal and Treaty rights to hunt, fish, and trap in their traditional territories.
