Friends of the Lubicon
485 Ridelle Ave., Toronto, ON M6B 1K6, Canada
tel: (416) 763-7500, fax: (416) 603-2715, e-mail: fol@tao.ca
http://www.tao.ca/~fol
For Immediate Release
June 12, 1998
TORONTO -- Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd. has given in to a
seven-year long boycott campaign, announcing that they will not harvest or
purchase timber in unceded Lubicon traditional territories until the
Lubicon land rights issue is resolved with both levels of government.
The Friends of the Lubicon responded today, saying that the international
boycott of Daishowa paper products would be wound down immediately.
"This has to be one of the most successful boycotts in Canadian history,"
said Friends of the Lubicon spokesperson Kevin Thomas. "There's no doubt
that the boycott is responsible for this turn of events. It was the
combined efforts of thousands of Lubicon supporters that forced Daishowa to
turn around at last. It was a long and difficult fight. But it's not often
that the little guys can tie down a giant like Daishowa."
DMI President Tokiro Kawamura wrote to Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominayak on
May 20, saying
"I am writing to formally advise you of DMI's public commitment not to
harvest or purchase timber in your area of concern, until your land issue
is resolved with both levels of government, including harvesting rights,
fish, and wildlife concerns."
Chief Ominayak responded promptly on May 25th, saying,
"Hopefully your letter and public announcement that you'll stay out of the
Lubicon 'area of concern' pending settlement of Lubicon land rights will
end the current dispute between us and allow Lubicon supporters to wind
down the boycott of Daishowa paper products. However, given the various
definitions of the phrase 'area of concern' used by Daishowa in the past,
the Lubicon people require that you publicly define this phrase Lubicon
'area of concern' ...
Mr. Kawamura wrote back yesterday clarifying that "the area of concern to
which Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd. made a commitment on May 20,
1998, is the approximately 4000 square mile area outlined in the attached
map." The map represented the entire Lubicon traditional territory which is
the subject of a fierce land rights battle.
"Now the Lubicons and their supporters can focus their full attention on
the Canadian government's failure to settle the ongoing land rights
dispute" said Thomas. "The government should take this as a sign that the
Lubicons have a lot of support amongst the Canadian public - and we won't
rest until the Lubicons see justice."
In a decision released April 14, an Ontario court refused to outlaw the
Friends' boycott despite a three-year long court battle initiated by
Daishowa. Daishowa is appealing that decision. Daishowa claims the boycott,
begun in 1991 to stop clear-cut logging on disputed lands, has cost them
over $14 million in lost sales.
for more information:
Friends of the Lubicon: (416) 763-7500
Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominayak: (403) 629-3945
Daishowa Marubeni International: (604) 684-4326
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______________________
Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd.
VIA FACSIMILE
June 9, 1998
Lubicon Cree Indian Nation
P.O. Box 6731
Peace River, Alberta
T8S 1S5
ATTENTION: CHIEF BERNARD OMINAYAK
Dear Chief Ominayak;
Thank you for your letter of May 25, 1998. I was pleased to receive your
confirmation that the boycott would stop once we had clarified the "area of
concern" referred to in my May 20, 1998 letter and our related news
release.
The "area of concern" to which I was referring is the hunting and trapping
territory you identified in your map which you formally submitted at the
Unocal gas plant hearing in 1994 (ERCB exhibit 71) that includes
approximately 4000 square miles. I understand that we are referring to the
same area. I am enclosing a map of the area as we understand it.
If the Lubicon people agree to a smaller area in the future (by either a
settlement with government or agreement with other native groups or both),
we would wish to adjust our commitment accordingly. Until such time, we
will proceed on the understanding that the area of concern to which
Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd. made a commitment on May 20, 1998, is
the approximately 4000 square mile area outlined in the attached map.
I trust this is sufficient to clarify the scope of our commitment, and that
you will now advise your supporters that the assurances they have sought on
your behalf have been given. We know that the absence of any agreement
beyond our year to year moratorium was a concern.
Once again, we wish you the very best in your ongoing negotiations. I am
advised that we have provided the same clarification to all media and
interested parties who have inquired.
Yours truly,
DAISHOWA MARUBENI INTERNATIONAL LTD.
per:
Tokiro Kawamura
President
Encl.
Cc: The Hon. Jane Stewart, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development, Government of Canada
The Hon. David Hancock, Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs,
Government of Alberta
______________________
Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
Little Buffalo Lake,
tel: 403-629-3945
Fax: 403-629-3939
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 6731
Peace River, AB TBS 195
June 11, 199
Tokiro Kawamura
President
Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd.
Suite 1700
1095 West Pender Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 2M6
Canada
Fax: 604-684-0512
Dear Mr. Kawamura:
Thank you for your letter of June 9, 1998.
Although it's been a long time coming, the Lubicons acknowledge and accept
DMI's public commitment that Daishowa, its related companies and their
contractors, will not harvest or purchase timber from the approximately
4,000 square mile (10,000 square kilometre) area identified in the attached
map included with your June 9 letter until Lubicon lands and claims,
including resource management and harvesting rights, as well as fish,
wildlife and environmental concerns, have been settled. I have forwarded a
copy of your letter to Lubicon supporters advising them of our
acknowledgment and acceptance and requesting that they bring the boycott of
Daishowa paper products to an end.
As I indicated in my letter of May 25, 1998, the Lubicon people will
welcome talks with Daishowa once Lubicon land rights and related resource
issues have been settled. After these issues have been settled it may
become possible for Daishowa to adjust the commitment made in your letter
of May 20 as clarified in your letter of June 9. The Lubicons share your
hope that settlement will enable us to work together on mutually
advantageous economic development opportunities which take into account
Lubicon wildlife and environmental concerns and responsibilities.
Sincerely,
Bernard Ominayak
Chief
Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
______________________
June 12, 1998
Mr. Tokiro Kawamura
President
Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd.
Suite 1700
1095 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 2M6
VIA FAX: (604) 684-0512
Dear Mr. Kawamura;
Chief Ominayak has informed us that Daishowa's clarification of their May
20, 1998 promise adequately addresses the concerns of the Lubicon Lake
Indian Nation.
We understand that Daishowa, its related companies and their
subcontractors, will not harvest or purchase timber from the approximately
4,000 square mile (10,000 square kilometre) area identified in the attached
map included with your June 9th letter until Lubicon lands and claims,
including resource management and harvesting rights, as well as fish,
wildlife and environmental concerns, have been settled.
As a result, we will be winding down our boycott of Daishowa products
effective immediately.
We expect, accordingly, that Daishowa's appeal of MacPherson J.'s judgement
will be abandoned.
Sincerely,
Kevin Thomas
Friends of the Lubicon
CC. Chief Bernard Ominayak, Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
Tom Cochran, Daishowa Forest Products Ltd.