Fort Smith (Oct 23/00) - Like his father before him, Metis Johnny Desjarlais makes his living by running a trap line. Now he says that way of life is in jeopardy after the Salt River First Nation's land selection cut right through his line.

A battle is heating up in the South Slave over recent land selections made by the Salt River First Nation.

The band hopes to sign an Agreement In Principle by the end of November and has recently announced which lands they will select to have set aside as reserve.

Some Metis trappers feel the band has unfairly singled out their traplines in their Treaty Land Entitlement selections.

Fort Smith trapper Johnny Desjarlais is of Cree, Chipewyan and Metis descent, but has chosen to register as a Metis. He says the trapline his father passed on to him is at risk.

"They're only picking on the Metis trappers," Desjarlais said.

"They circled all my cabins on this map and they didn't even come to say anything to me," he said. "This trapline was in my family for over 60 years.

"Once they have a reserve established in there, they have a say in whether I trap or guide -- they can change the rules."

Desjarlais and his three brothers have worked the land since their father passed away. He said he and his partner Kim Hill have spent the past four years trying to get an outfitters licence and it's finally been approved, but he feels all that may be in jeopardy now.

"I feel like I might be pushed aside," he said.

"I was born and raised here, I've spent all my time across the river hanging on to it, now the Treaty Indians are going to be pushing me off it."

Trapping as usual

Salt River First Nation chief Jim Schaeffer said nothing will change with the establishment of the reserve and that Desjarlais and other Metis trappers can continue their lifestyle as they always have.

"We're not taking anything away from anyone," Chief Schaeffer said.

"The land we've chosen is for economic benefit, not for trapping. A lot of it is for tourism or the timber that is there."

Schaeffer said his council is prepared to back that promise up in writing, if necessary.

"We will sign an agreement with them saying we are not stopping your trapping activities," he said. "Johnny's concerned that we are going right down to the river; we're not," Schaeffer said, adding that they will restrict any logging to the top of the bank.

He said the timber stand is about half a mile thick and Desjarlais' trails run through it and out the other side.

He added it has yet to be determined if, and when the timber would be cut.

"When is it going to be harvested? We don't have a clue, we just know it's for future use," he said. "His rights will continue."

Desjarlais said he rotates where he traps from year-to-year and he fears logging any of the forest will upset the balance of nature on his land.

"All that spruce country is a whole ecosystem where the animals migrate through each year. From squirrels to lynx, they need that area.

"It should be left the way it is," Desjarlais said, adding, "I've always thought it would be the government or some big company who was going to come in there and push me out, but it's the Indians. I'm a full-blooded Indian.I have ties to the land. I'm not going to walk away."