Media Centre

Press Releases

2007

New Agreement Supports Mushkegowuk First Nations Land Use Planning

May 17, 2007 - Timmins

Land-use planning in Northeastern Ontario took a major step forward today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Mushkegowuk First Nation Environmental Research Centre (MERC) and the Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI).

The agreement formalizes the intention of both parties to work towards supporting the development of sustainable land-use plans in the traditional territory of the Mushkegowuk First Nations – a large swath of Boreal in the James Bay basin of Ontario.

“This MOU recognizes the value and importance of bringing together traditional practices with modern science to support land use planning by First Nations,” said Jennifer Simard, MERC’s executive director. “And it does so in a respectful and inclusive way.”

The Mushkegowuk Environmental Research Centre was created by the Mushkegowuk First Nations to coordinate environmental research and monitoring in their territorial lands.

“We are encouraged by the commitment and leadership shown by the Mushkegowuk Environmental Research Centre and indeed all of the Mushkegowuk First Nations,” said Larry Innes, CBI’s interim director. “This agreement goes along way to furthering the goals of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework.”

Based in Ottawa, the Canadian Boreal Initiative brings together diverse partners to create new solutions for Boreal conservation and acts as a catalyst by supporting a variety of on-the-ground efforts across the Boreal by governments, industry, First Nations, conservation groups, major retailers, financial institutions and scientists.

The Mushkegowuk First Nations represents more than 10,000 people and a traditional territory that represents an area larger than New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI combined.

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For more information:
Joe Boughner
Communications Officer
Canadian Boreal Initiative
(613) 230-4739 x224 (office)
(613) 882-2996 (cell)