Wolastoqey chiefs, forestry company strike historic agreement
AV Group NB Inc. will turn over parcel of land, team with First Nations on resource management and economic development
New Brunswick’s six Wolastoqey First Nations have been at loggerheads with the Progressive Conservative government of Blaine Higgs over a variety of issues, from carbon taxes and gaming profits, to land title disputes over the province’s extensive forested lands.
But now they have a new partner willing to talk about reconciliation, economic development and resource management in the forestry sector.
The Wolastoqey First Nations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AV Group NB Inc., one of the bigger players in New Brunswick’s forestry industry.
The ultimate goals of this burgeoning relationship are an approach to forest management that’s mutually beneficial to the Indigenous communities and the company, and opportunities for economic development.
Of particular importance in the MOU is a declaration to transfer of a parcel of land back to the Wolastoqey First Nations, though Matawaskiye (Madawaska) Chief noted at a Tuesday news conference in Fredericton that the location and purpose of that piece of land has yet to be determined.
Indigenous lands were given away and sold off to private interests by the Crown in the past when it “had no right to do so,” said Sitansik (St. Mary’s) Chief Allan Polchies Jr.
Neqotkuk (Tobique) Chief Ross Perley said this new partnership marks the first step toward respecting Indigenous land claims.
“This is a historic step toward partnership between private industry and the Wolastoqey who have stewarded this land since time immemorial,” he said.
Olive branch from the company
It wasn’t lobbying by the First Nations that opened the door to the new relationship, but rather AV Group NB Inc. taking the initiative toward building a partnership.
Conway Elkins, AV Group’s director of woodland operations, said the company took note of the fact that its customers have become more aware of the effects of forestry operations on the environment and the need for more respect of Indigenous claims, culture and need for reconciliation for past wrongs.
Local company leadership has come to realize that partnering with First Nations offers benefits to all involved, he said.
“By simply talking and listening, we discovered more common ground than we initially expected with our Wolastoqey partners,” Elkins said.
“Now we find ourselves on an exciting and ground-breaking path to a more productive relationship.”
Indigenous peoples should be involved in the affairs of the province, Perley said, and the Wolastoqey First Nations are encouraged by AV Group’s decision to extend an olive branch.
“It’s about a private company actually listening to what we are saying,” he said.
The six First Nations filed a land claim lawsuit in 2021 that named major players in New Brunswick’s forestry sector, including AV Group NB Inc.
The MOU doesn’t end that legal dispute with AV Group, Perley said, but it certainly serves as an initial step toward resolving that dispute with this particular defendant.
Mike Legere, AV Group’s director of government relations, said the purpose of the proposed partnership wasn’t to settle the land claim lawsuit, but rather to adopt a new approach to managing forest resources and find new paths toward economic development.
Conspicuous absences
Perhaps as important as the two sides that came together for Tuesday’s announcement was who wasn’t represented at the historic turning point in Indigenous relations and resource management.
The provincial government had no representatives on the panel presenting to reporters Tuesday, and no other industry players, including New Brunswick’s largest - J.D. Irving Ltd. - were on hand.
Polchies said the province and other forestry companies weren’t a part of the process leading to this point.
Bernard pointed out that AV Group is actually an arm of an international company based in India, the Aditya Birla Group.
“This is a company that doesn’t even originate from the province,” she said.
“... “We’re not in discussions with any other companies.”
But the chiefs are hopeful that will change.
“My fellow chiefs and I hope other companies learn from that and come forward,” Perley said. “This is the way forward. The Wolastoqey nation is ready to talk.”
Polchies said the six First Nations have been frustrated with “a difficult conversation we are having with New Brunswick, the government of New Brunswick,” noting there are still many challenges ahead in that regard.
He agreed the province’s absence from this new conversation happening with AV Group NB Inc. is symbolic of those difficulties and ongoing efforts to litigate positive results rather than negotiate.
The potential for partnership with the private sector doesn’t mean the Wolastoqey chiefs are giving up on dealing with the province or fighting for respect.
“We’re never going to say, ‘To heck with the province,’” Bernard said.
She said she hopes provincial officials, seeing the establishment of this historic relationship between Indigenous communities and a private interest, will feel shame for how they’ve handled issues in the Indigenous portfolio thus far and for not taking a positive step toward reconciliation as AV Group has done.
The premier’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Fredericton Independent on Tuesday.
David Coon, leader of the provincial Green Party and MLA for Fredericton South, applauded the agreement, describing it as a positive move toward management of Crown lands licensing.
“The next step is to see the Department of Natural Resources agree to co-manage Crown lands with all First Nations in the province,” he wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.