Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Grassy Narrows, Slant Lake - There has been much confusion lately what has come through the media in the Chronicle Newspaper and Kenora Daily Miner and News. There is truth that the MNR, Shaun Stevenson, has written or called any of the council members, about a meeting with Abitibi to bring resolve of the blockade at Grassy Narrows. None of the council can verify this, nor have they been approached in any-way-shape or form.

This issue is no longer a The leadership of Grassy Narrows issue but the peoples issue of all Treaty #3 First Nations. To ratify any solution to the blockade is also beyond the capacity of MNR and Abitibi on the Local level. They have had all the opportunity in the past to deal with the grassroots level of their consultation and have failed consistently. The district MNR no longer has the capability to handle this situation at the bureaucratic level.

There is no indication that the blockade is coming down soon and it would appear that it will be there for a long time to come until there is complete assurance that all considerations and the rights of these people are respected and restored. What MNR nor Abitibi has alluded to as their agenda is no longer an issue that anyone at the blockade wishes to pursue or discuss.

As far as the people at the blockade are concern this place will always remain as part of the history site for walks of life. It will remain as a symbol and reminder it here to guard the forest from further harm. History is in the making here.

There is blockade child there which she is barely 3 years old and an unborn one. They are standing there in the cold for you and I while we're are sleeping and cosy in a nice room everyday and night. These are the little one standing up for and the future and they are stopping trucks. I stand with this 7 month pregnant lady everyday, who munches on crackers for lunch at times when food is short.

Two street people arrived yesterday who have walked the streets everyday in Kenora to come and help. One was shivering the other from cold and I guess he had no underwear and I told to go by the fire, he replied, "That's okay, I lived like this for 30 years why should it bother me now."

This history if this man can find his life here.

Awsa...Steve

Contact Steve Fobister, by e-mail: gsfobister@hotmail.com Telephone # 807-925-1041 and if there's no answer you could leave a message at the council office 807-925-2201 during office hours.