December 13, 2004

Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced this morning at the first meeting of the newly formed East Side First Nations Council the province has already taken action on recommendations in the East Side Round Table Report and will begin immediately on many others.

The recommendations were contained in the East Side Round Table (ESRT) report that was the culmination of 80 meetings with First Nations and others communities on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

The province has already announced its support for the nomination of a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the east side. In addition, it accepted the immediate formation of the East Side First Nations Council (ESFNC).

The 21-member ESFNC will work with the province on next steps and is comprised of a representative from each of the 16 First Nations on the east side, a Métis representative and four representatives from industry and non-First Nations communities.

The province has also begun work on a protocol of agreement with First Nations on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. The protocol builds on a memorandum of understanding signed between the province and 13 First Nations on the east side. The protocol is intended to ensure that communities are fully involved in a government-to-government relationship in future decisions regarding the east side of the lake.

"The population of the east side of Lake Winnipeg is 96 per cent First Nations and contains one of the largest untouched boreal forests in North America. Too many times in the past, First Nations people have had no say in decisions directly affecting their communities and the boreal forest in which they live," said Struthers. "We want to ensure that we develop a new relationship so that communities do have a say in the future of the area."

In addition, the province announced to the ESFNC its intention to move forward on the following recommendations:

ˇ         examine options on special designations and/or planning boards for the entire area,

ˇ         examine options on special designations for burial and sacred Aboriginal sites,

ˇ         advance work on eco-tourism opportunities for the east side through the Aboriginal Tourism Strategy,

ˇ         support sustainable community economic development opportunities,

ˇ         seek partnerships with the federal government and outside agencies for community land-use planning,

ˇ         work with the Boreal Framework Initiative and the ESFNC on a balanced vision for boreal forest protection,

ˇ         move forward on the implementation of the 2000 Mining and Minerals Guidelines,

ˇ         support licensing of the extension of the existing Rice River Road to the Bloodvein First Nation, and

ˇ         review trapping policies and lodge allocation policies on the east side.

The minister also noted that recommendations in the report relating to Bi-Pole III were sent to Manitoba Hydro and the utility is currently reviewing alternate routing options.

Other recommendations in the report are being studied and will be part of protocol discussions and overall discussions with the newly established ESFNC.

"We are pleased the province is taking these recommendations seriously and acting swiftly on them," said Ed Wood, associate chair of ESRT. "First Nations and communities on the east side are committed to maintaining the environment and boreal forest while ensuring the needs of people living there are met. Working government-to-government with the province will ensure the best possible solutions are found."

The minister noted that, since taking office the province has tripled the winter road budget, invested in airport improvements, expanded health services and renounced its 50 per cent interest in mineral development activities on reserve lands in support of the east side and other First Nations communities.

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