TEK Elders continue their fight to stop aerial spraying

By Leslie Knibbs

BLIND RIVER—A meeting requested by the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elders group and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) took place in Blind River, Ontario, on July 27 at the MNRF offices.

Elder Raymond Owl, one of the founders of the TEK group made a passionate plea to Wayne Fiset, District Manager with the MNRF, asking him, “who is the agent who sold you this idea of spraying? It hasn’t improved anything, towns and villages are overrun with bears because there is nothing to eat in the forests.” This is just one of the arguments put forward by the TEK, a group of Elders that has been fighting to stop spraying for just over three years. Owl went on to say, “the Union of Ontario Indians asked for a moratorium on spraying and it did not happen; spraying is still going on.” The frustrations were clearly evident with the 20 or so Elders attending the meeting.

Several times during the meeting, Owl advised Fiset that he should “pick up the phone and make the call and put a stop to it now.”

Fiset replied, “I can’t cancel the spraying program, but will put the idea forward and raise it on up the ladder.” He suggested the only one who could put a stop to the spraying was Minister Kathryn McGarry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Fiset was vague when he told those attending the meeting that discussions have taken place with “one of the Chiefs.” According to Fiset, as a result of the meeting, it was suggested a joint group be formed leading to both parties working together to solve the problem.  He went on to say that perhaps “manual tending” could be used to decrease spraying.

Co-founder of TEK, Willie Pine from Mississauga #8 First Nation told the MNRF, “we are the keepers of Mother Earth for years and years; spraying is not our way of life.”  He related a story of someone finding a bull moose shot near the tote road north of Massey.  After reporting the find to the MNRF, the person making the report was told to take the antlers for a prize and leave the rest for the wolves to eat.  Several weeks later the moose was found untouched by other wildlife, a rarity in the wilds.

Joan Morningstar, from Mississauga #8, asked the MNRF for a total environmental assessment of an area to be sprayed.  She called the spraying “a quick death.” Others attending the meeting asked for a complete ban on spraying from August 1 to September 30 during the berry picking season.

Representatives attending from the MNRF included Fiset and John Harvey, a Management Forester. They suggested an ongoing line of communication should be established between the MNRF and the Elders, saying, at least “that’s a crack in the eggshell.”

But it seems this line of communication will not be an easy one to establish. A few days after the meeting, one of the Elders said he got a call from Wayne Fiset telling him the spraying would be put on hold until March of 2017. As it turns out, when asked about this phone call in Blind River on August 8, Fiset said there must be some misunderstanding as there is no stoppage of the spraying.  He said he would call Willie Pine and clarify this information.

In hopes of clearing up some of the confusion and breakdown in communication, an inquiry on the supposed stoppage resulted in a reply on August 3 from Erin Nixon with the MNRF: which stated: “You had asked about TEK Elders and the suspension of aerial spraying this year in northern Ontario. MNRF hosted a meeting with the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elders Group in Blind River on July 27 to discuss concerns regarding aerial spraying on the Northshore Forest. During the meeting, a request was made to suspend aerial spraying in the Ritchie Falls area located in the in the Spanish Forest. The ministry is currently considering this request.” Noting the date on this email from Nixon, it’s interesting to know the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation holds a blueberry festival in the Ritchie Falls area on the long weekend in August, just a few days after receiving this email from Nixon.

At the Blind River meeting, the MNRF disclosed there are over 20 companies involved in logging 1500 hectares in northern Ontario; it is estimated 3200 acres of this will be sprayed with glyphosate. Fiset emphasized in all logging areas that are sprayed there are ‘buffers’ established around the perimeters to protect the surrounding area and wildlife. In response to this, Elder Raymond Owl said, “we get the drift.”

In the meantime, since the meeting, the Elders have had a meeting with Deputy Chief Glenn Hare on the issue. Chief Hare has put a staff member at the service of TEK to assist them with their effort. Both the Regional Chief and Chief Hare stood alongside the Elders at a highway demonstration last year in Mississauga #8 to protest aerial spraying.

So what’s the next step in this ongoing battle? Use of chemicals in spraying is regulated by Health Canada. Several weeks back a communiqué came through from Health Canada to TEK agreeing to a meeting to consult on this issue. At this time, no date has been set; however, TEK is reaching out to other First Nations in the north to join them in their noble efforts to protect the land.

On August 18, a request was sent to other First Nations to engage with TEK stating that “the aim is to completely discontinue the use of chemical controls in forest management practice through aerial spraying of ‘roundup’/ glyphosate.”

“At this time, TEK Elders are looking to engage Elders in [each] First Nation community who are able to provide ‘oral history’ of the medicines, wild life, plant life, berries, fish, and water to Health Canada. Please refer to POSITION PAPER AUG 2015 noted on the web site”.