Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services
 Eugene Patterson says he'll sell parts of his 39-year-old-business if he doesn't get permission to cut trees in the next two weeks. - Dave Sullivan/NNSL Photo |
Eugene Patterson, owner of Patterson Sawmill, could still go out of business, for being the centre of a dispute over who owns land the trees are on.
In a carefully-worded 16-page decision issued Sept. 17, the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) said Patterson should be able to cut this year, but that should be the only logging allowed until the forest is studied more.
Lack of knowledge about how much logging the forest can support is one reason First Nations cite for opposing Patterson.
Patterson counters there is thorough knowledge of the forest, and plenty trees for two sawmills.
His environmental application sought permission to cut enough trees for 263 truckloads of logs this season.
The Deninu K'ue First Nation threatens "direct action," if it can't control 60 hectares at Pine Point where 81 year-old Patterson wants to harvest. Acting chief Robert Sayine won't say what that means.
Deninu K'ue negotiator Paul Boucher says "Patterson went through the back door...through legislation" to get his cutting permission.
The Deninu K'ue stance mirrors Deh Cho First Nations' which opposes pipelines until land control is surrendered by the federal government. Like the Deh Cho, Deninu K'ue in the summer signed a framework agreement. It states issues like that impacting Patterson's mill have to be negotiated.
Natural Resources Minister Joe Handley says he hasn't decided whether to issue a cutting permit, even though it could mean little because Robert Nault, the federal minister of indian and northern affairs, has the final say on whether the trees come down.
However DIAND spokeswoman Mary Tapsell disagrees, saying both ministers decide together. But Handley says if the decision were his, he would have sided long ago in favour of logging.
His department issued a permit last year, but it was revoked the day before Patterson was to start logging. Tapsell says one option is to order a second environmental review.
The settlement of Fort Resolution, with Deninu K'ue backing, asked the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board to hold the original review 15 months ago.
Deninu's chief and councillors now say they don't recognize MVEIRB's authority.
"The assessment was done in a professional manner but it doesn't take into consideration the Akaitcho interim measures agreement," Boucher said.
Patterson says "when a decision comes back they don't like, they disown the board."
"I'm making an effort to hire their contractors and employ their people."
He also promised in writing a $100,000 cash payment to the band.
Pine Point's over-mature spruce trees "are dying. Why not let someone cut and make use of them?"
Deninu K'ue leaders acknowledge the issue little to do with the environment.
"It's a political issue," said Boucher.
The Pine Point location has long been a a sore spot for Fort Resolution's aboriginal community.
The history goes back to 1987 when a mine was abandoned there in after years of metals extraction, while little was left for the area but abandoned buildings.
