THUNDER BAY – Ginoogaming First Nation is tired of waiting for a vital wood allocation to support its forestry operations, First Nation leaders declared today. The First Nation, located close to the town of Longlac in Northwestern Ontario, requested its wood allocation over one year ago to support numerous projects by the First Nation’s forestry company, Making Ground Forest Products Limited (MGFP).
Ginoogaming First Nation has made numerous requests over the past year to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, and Forestry (MNDMF) through letters and participating in the Provincial Wood Competition, but has yet to be successful.
Ginoogaming First Nations Economic Development Manager, Adolph Rasevych, says; “It’s been noted in the media that wood is being supplied to Atikokan, White River, Beardmore, Armstrong and more… yet Ginoogaming First Nation is a hub in the centre of all of these communities and our requests have been constantly denied. This is difficult for the company and our First Nation members to comprehend because we do in fact have a major project ready to go that will bring significant economic investment and employment to the region.”
The First Nation-owned corporation, MGFP, has three forestry projects currently underway. One of these projects has been funded in its entirety. The allocation of 50-thousand cubic meters of conifer is the only hold up to the project proceeding.
Ginoogaming First Nation Chief Celia Echum says; “The rest of these projects depend on the initial project getting started. We are looking to create more than 400 jobs in the region, yet Ontario continues to ignore our requests. The Ontario government apparently does not realize the economic potential that a First Nation like Ginoogaming has to offer.”