October 16, 2003 was a national day of action in solidarity with the people of Grassy Narrows. In Kenora, Ontario, members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation, along with supporters from the Winnipeg Friends of Grassy Narrows and Christian Peacemaker Teams, took to the streets. They were protesting clear cutting of Grassy Narrows’ traditional land use area by Abitibi-Consolidated, a logging company, and the complicity of the provincial and federal governments in yet another chapter in a steady campaign of genocide that has been waged against First Nations in the Canadian state.

About 60 people, many of whom were youth from Grassy Narrows, chanted and passed out leaflets to drivers and pedestrians as they marched through the streets of downtown Kenora, first gathering at the constituency offices of Robert Nault, the local MP and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The group had intended to deliver a message to the Minister, but were unable to speak to him or any of his representatives because no one had shown up at the offices to face the protesters.

The march then continued to the management offices of Abitibi-Consolidated’s Kenora mill. There, several Grassy Narrows youth and elders spoke, condemning clear cutting on the community’s traditional territory and drawing attention to the growing support spreading across Canada and beyond for their community’s fight.

In Montreal, activists from No One Is Illegal and the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement targeted the Abitibi-Consolidated headquarters. In Thunder Bay, the local Friends of Grassy Narrows group held a teach-in followed by an action targeting the north-western Ontario regional office of the Ministry of Natural Resources. And at the University of Victoria in BC, the Aboriginal Students’ Association and the Women’s Centre hosted a fund-raising event for the blockade of logging roads that has been erected by Grassy Narrows to prevent logging trucks from accessing forest located on the community’s traditional land use area.

Open Letter

The actions on October 16 were organized in conjunction with an open letter sent to the Ministry of Indian and Northern Affairs, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Abitibi-Consolidated. In the letter several demands were addressed specifically to the respective heads of the three recipient organizations:

“To Robert Nault, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs:

1. In keeping with the Supreme Court of Canada’s position regarding treaties between Canada and First Nations, use your office to enforce a “liberal and generous” interpretation of treaty #3 by intervening and having the logging permit revoked.
2. Start supporting economic projects that are initiated by the Grassy Narrows community instead of by large corporations. They tend to be less environmentally devastating and of more benefit to the community.

“To Jerry Ouellette, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources:

1. Speak with your colleague, Attorney General Norm Sterling, and demand that the OPP ensure the indefinite safety of the blockaders. They must not be evicted from the site, and they must not be harassed or threatened by police.
2. Revoke Abitibi-Consolidated’s permit to log in the area.
3. Put an end to the tokenistic consultation process with First Nations communities about the use of their land which always results in their wishes being disrespected.
4. Start supporting economic projects that are initiated by the Grassy Narrows community instead of by large corporations. They’re not that hard to find if you really try.

“To John Weaver, President & CEO of Abitibi Consolidated:

1. Stop logging in the area. Cultural genocide in the name of profitability is unacceptable.”