FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION – Today Fort William First Nation have announced success, following years of delays, and negotiations to see the AbitibiBowater Sawmill lands to be recognized as a part of the Fort William First Nation Reserve.
Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins stated, “This is another historic day for Fort William First Nation and its members. Our people have always asserted that these lands belong to Fort William First Nation, and now the AbitibiBowater Sawmill lands are fully and properly recognized as a part of the Fort William First Nation Reserve.”
Negotiations between Fort William First Nation, Aborigianal and Northern Affairs Canada, and AbiBow Canada Inc. have been taking place for approximately ten years.
Chief Collins said, “These lands are very important to the Fort William First Nation community and the return of the lands to Fort William First Nation represents the culmination of many years of hard work and effort by all of the negotiating parties.”
AbitbiBowater Inc.’s Luke Drapeau, general manager of wood products for Northwestern Ontario, says; “We are very pleased that the business model for this cooperative Industrial Project with Fort William First Nation has come to its objective under the newly created First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act regulations”.
