KI receives award for protection of Boreal forest

November 13, 2008

The community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug was awarded for protecting the Boreal forest during a ceremony in Ottawa Nov. 5.

Since 1998, KI has had a community-declared moratorium on its lands and has resisted drilling projects by exploration companies that would have impacted watersheds, sacred sites, medicinal plants and the community’s own hunting, trapping and fishing areas.

Chief Donny Morris, lands and resources director Jacob Ostaman and former Coun. John Cutfeet were in Ottawa to receive the award.

“As we saw on Nov. 4, change came to our neighbours in the south and we believe change can happen here,” Morris said, in response to the antiquated laws governing mining in Ontario. “We look forward to working with the government towards common goals.”

CPAWS Wildlands League, which nominated KI for the award, was thrilled for KI to be a recipient.

“The community of KI drew national and international attention with its principled stand in protecting its traditional territory,” said Anna Baggio, director of conservation land use planning for CPAWS Wildlands League.

“KI is a role model for us all and they have shown great leadership and vision in working with many allies to protect their lands.”

Premier Dalton McGuinty also received an award for vision, diligence and commitment to Boreal protection.

The award came just months after McGuinty announced plans to protect more than 225,000 square kilometres of the Far North Boreal region under the Far North Planning initiative.

“It is really interesting that the Ontario government and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug are both being recognized for efforts that have been made to ensure that proper planning is done for traditional territories by communities as well as land use planning in Ontario,” Cutfeet said.