Six communities strike deal with Weyerhaeuser

Page 13

The massive lumber corporation, Weyerhaeuser, is setting a good example of working in partnership with the Aboriginal people of the Rocky Mountain foothills.

Last March Weyerhaeuser and the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation of Canada (AWN) signed an agreement that formalizes a mutually beneficial relationship.

"It's very encouraging that Weyerhaeuser sees this as important," said president of the AWN, David MacPhee. "It's an important process that I think other industry parties would be in their best interest to do. If you turn around and look at all the courts right now, everybody is tied up in courts because of land claims and destruction of historic sites."

The agreement includes initiatives in the areas of employment, business alliances, education, training and the preservation of historical and cultural sites. In 1999, Weyerhaeuser provided $20,000 to the AWN for a study of historical and cultural sites.

"Through a global positioning system we are finding our historical sites. There is still plenty to do, but we're probably half or three-quarters finished," said MacPhee. "And we get our Elders to take us out and get us to identify the sites and we do it that way. Weyerhaeuser has made an important positive decision."

The AWN is a group of non-status Indians who are descendants of Cree, Beaver, Stoney and Iroquois and whose history in the Grand Cache area dates back thousands of years. The AWN represents six Aboriginal settlements of the descendants.

"We feel really good about it. There was a lot of work and effort put in from both sides," said Weyerhaeuser public communications director Gordon Head. "I think any time you have an agreement such as this, it just helps to get clear on both sides of what the objectives are and it gives you something to go back and measure your progress by."

Weyerhaeuser has provided $15,000 towards employing a liaison person as a link between the AWN and the Weyerhaeuser industry in order to keep communication open. The industry giant has also been successful in maintaining employment equity with respect to the settlements within the area.

"Weyerhaeuser has their employment demographics reflect that of the community," said MacPhee. "Which is something they have been working on for the last couple years and they actually may be a little on the plus side in regards to being above their goal in terms of their demographics."

The community is feeling quite confident with Weyerhaeuser operating in the area, knowing that there is going to be a continous consultation process, explained MacPhee.

"Things like the whole health of the relationship and terms of how things are going is looked at," said Head.

The company also provides funding toward the support of cultural gatherings and events for the community.

"Weyerhaeuser supports traditional events very much. There is less worry about if we're going to have more sites destroyed and if we are benefiting from the industry," said MacPhee. "Weyerhaeuser has put themselves ahead of the game."

The next meeting between the partners is scheduled for October to discuss progress and to review the goals for next year.