Are First Nations About to Enter Lumber Industry?

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Our aboriginal community is awaiting a Supreme Court decision today on whether or not they will be able to enter the lumber industry. It would be wonderful motivator and morale booster for our First Nations peoples to be able to get a supportive decision from our judicial system. If they do get the court decision that they are hoping for, and in light of the issues surrounding global warming, do you think they will treat our forests in a healthier way than these multinational companies with their clearcuts?

Mi'kmaq await forestry decision

[Riverwind]

In light of the issues surrounding global warming, do you think they will treat our forests in a healthier way than these multinational companies with their clearcuts?

The idea that natives are any better stewards of the land is quite absurd. There are many native groups that, given the opportunity, would plunder resources for a quick buck just like many non-native organizations. The only difference is the natives will go running back to the non-native taxpayers demanding ever increasing entitlements where as the corporations just shut down or move elsewhere.

That said, some native groups (just like some corporations) do try to set an example to be followed. I just don't like the rediculous stereo type that I see in the left wing media that implies that being native makes you automatically a better 'steward of nature'.

[SirSpanky]

Unless they're going to reform the whole system for the lumber industry, it doesn't really matter.

I'd rather give our forests away (essentially for free) to the local economy, than to multinationals.

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I wish our governments would force any forestry company who is logging in Canada to do it in a way that we have substainable forests. We need to ensure that we are replanting more than we cut down, becuase of the devestation of the forests on the planet. We need these trees to stay alive amongst other things.

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Supreme Court rejects aboriginal logging claim

Interesting reasons for rejecting the arguments of the first Nations people. I wonder what kind of impact this ruling will have on the rest of the country.