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Timber harvesting in the Yukon

Petition

August 25, 1998

Auditor General of Canada
240 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G6

Dear Sir:

It has come to my attention that you can be approached "about an environmental matter in the context of sustainable development".

The citizens of Teslin, Yukon are being faced with the consequences of decisions, made by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, that will affect the people who live here for generations to come.

In the DIAND Timber Supply Analysis, the Department is recommending an allowable timber cut in the Nisutlin Management Area of up to 89,000 cubic metres for the next 400 years. This is not sustainable development! Historically the cut has been 2,000 cubic metres, with the exception of last year. The 1997/1998 winter saw a alternative harvesting demonstration of 4,200 cubic metres in addition to the 2,000 cubic metres cut annually.

These decisions were made without proper consultation with the citizens of Teslin, and in contravention of the Yukon First Nations Umbrella Final Agreement and the Teslin Final Agreement. As reasonable people, we understand that some logging is necessary. To log in this environmentally fragile area, however, to such a huge extent, is tantamount to destruction on a permanent basis.

Please accept this letter as a petition to investigate the sustainability of these decisions. Also, please find the enclosed a petition that states the anger which this community is feeling about the lack of consultation and planning.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and action on this issue.

Sincerely,

[Original signed by Brenda and Richard Oziewicz]

Brenda and Richard Oziewicz

[Box 175
Teslin, Yukon Y0A 1B0]

PETITION

The undersigned do not support any acceptance of applications in 1998 for the Teslin Traditional Area until a proper analysis and Forestry Policy is developed for this area.

[the petition was signed by 94 individuals]

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Minister's Response: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Mr. Richard and Ms. Brenda Oziewicz
P.O. Box 175
Teslin, Yukon
K0A 1B0

Dear Mr. and Ms. Oziewicz:

This is in response to your letter and petition of August 25, 1998 to the Auditor General of Canada, and to your letter of August 26, 1998 to me, regarding your concerns about my department's Timber Supply Analysis (TSA). My office acknowledged your letter on September 22, 1998 and I am pleased to follow with further information.

The release by Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) officials of the TSA for those Forest Management Units (FMU) where inventory work had been undertaken was done to establish a starting point for the ongoing consultations.

The TSA was based on a particular model and retuned for Yukon's forests. Certain assumptions were made to net down the forested area and volume that could be sustainably harvested in conjunction with an ongoing reforestation program. The purpose of the consultation was to challenge those assumptions, allow for other assumptions based upon local input and ultimately revise the supply volume estimates.

DIAND needs to know what the maximum Annual Allowable Cut is for any FMU in order to know the sustainable level.

DIAND is aware of its obligations to consult all Yukon First Nations as well as all Yukoners. I appreciate learning of your concerns, and I want to assure you that my department will not promote over harvesting. We are committed to both sustainability of the forests and sound environmental management of all resources in Yukon.

Yours sincerely,

[Original signed by Jane Stewart, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Jane Stewart, P.C., M.P.