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 December |
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Photo: Bob Farr Rick Lockhart's airboat at Cattle Island. Left to right: Jim Leach (driver), Shawn Burrows, Leanna Farr. |
DECEMBER 27, 2002 Ice not too Farr The dark areas of Lake Temagami in the satellite photo are indeed still open water (see Christmas Day satellite photo below) — one to the south of us here at Cattle Island, and the other south of Chimo Island. We tried to walk out to the south of us yesterday and were only able to get across on an ice bridge that has remained for the last three weeks, north of the open water. However, we did walk over to Bear Island, straight across from Cattle Island, later in the day. It is still mild, about –3 C today, but at least we do not have to take an airboat in and out as we did on Christmas Eve. I guess freeze-up has officially ended for us. Dec 3 to Dec 27. Phew! — Bob Farr, Cattle Island |
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Christmas Day seen from space, Satellites don't get holidays
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Photo: Bob Farr Looking east from Cattle Island, Lake Temagami Enlargement |
Ice up, ice down Notes from Bob Farr, island bound on Cattle Island in Lake Temagami till freeze-up There is no open water in the photo although it does appear that way. The remainder of the open areas froze over on Tuesday morning and made about four centimetres of ice before the weather changed on Wednesday evening. The ice is still there, but has a couple of centimetres of rainfall sitting on top of it. More — Bob Farr |
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Deep Water People becoming Deep Woods People? Most Temagami natives are not happy with Ontario's negotiating position, pressed on it by local stakeholders, that the mainland Skyline Reserve of Lake Temagami be protected, thereby excluding shoreline development on any native lands. "The Deep Water People are about to become the Deep Woods People," a native elder says. Teme-Augama (also known as Temagami) means Deep Water. The set-aside area, from which 127 square miles of native lands are to be selected for the land-claim settlement, is on the mainland abutting Lake Temagami and Cross Lake. Early on in the negotiations some stakeholders called for continued protection of the Skyline Reserve — defined as the mainland that is viewable from the lake — that has existed since the late 1930s, prior to logging and mining. The Temagamis want, in their proposed new lands, lake access and to build on the water's edge. But the proposed settlement will prohibit that. In effect, these have not been negotiations between the natives — represented by the Teme-Augama Anishnabai and the Temagami First Nation — and governments of Ontario and Canada alone, but also negotiations with the municipality, forest industry, property owners and mining industry. They were all consulted and given real influence in an effort by Ontario to find a politically palatable settlement. Recently, and very late in negotiations, property owners noticed that the skyline of Cross Lake was not included for protection. They had not been terribly diligent as the skyline of Cross Lake has never been protected and was clearly excluded on a map published in the publicly-distributed negotiation newsletter last winter. From their perspective this exclusion leaves a gaping whole in protection of the lake as Cross Lake and Lake Temagami are virtually a single body of water. The west side of Cross Lake is in the set-aside lands. Both the natives and Ontario have balked at protecting the Cross Lake skyline. Maybe the natives won't be the Deep Woods People after all.
Land claim details firming up The land-claim settlement will include 127 square miles of land, a $4-million economic development package and $20 million in compensation, according to a joint press release of aboriginal groups and the Ontario government. This is the first time that an agreement on land and dollars has been announced. The land area is larger than the previous figure of 112 square miles, probably as compensation for traditional family areas — called heritage lands in negotiations — that have been dropped from negotiation. These were lands on traditional family territories — separate from the main block of land — that would have been set aside for the respective families. Still unresolved are the location for a mainland community and the method of protection for the Skyline Reserve of Lake Temagami. A park is the most likely possibility for protection, but Ontario will exclude high potential mining areas. High potential mining lands were also excluded from the set-aside lands (previously identified lands from which native lands will be selected). Negotiators expect to write up the agreement in early 2003. After that it will go to the two native groups — Temagami First Nation and Teme-Augama Anishnabai — for approval by their respective memberships by majority vote. Both groups must give approval for the deal to be ratified. The votes may not happen before 2004.
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DECEMBER 16, 2002 Temagami from space today The dark areas — Hub, portions of North and Northwest arms — are open water.
Regional view/enlargement (194K) Regional view/enlargement (including Georgian Bay) (118K)
Photo: NASA/NOAA |
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Photo: Bob Farr |
Freeze-up too Notes from Bob Farr on day nine, island bound on Cattle Island in Lake Temagami till freeze-up The temperature rose to a balmy 2 C this afternoon melting all the snow on top of the ice. Shawn Burrows decided it was time to convert the sailboat to an iceboat with mixed results. These photos are taken just to the east of island 985 (just north of Cattle). Note the open water areas in the distance. The ice we have is deteriorating with the milder temperature and south winds, but that trend should reverse with the weekend, I hope. Although I can get off the island by either walking a circuitous route or getting a boat ride from someone on Bear Island, I have decided to stay put for now. |
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DECEMBER 9, 2002 Bob Lake court hearing gets rescheduled The hearing on a legal challenge to a logging road through the Bob Lake Conservation Reserve has been cancelled and moved to a new court. The hearing was scheduled to be heard today in Superior Court. The case will now be heard in Ontario Divisional Court on February 27.
DECEMBER 7, 2002 Land claim negotiation still has hurdles as deadline approaches With the December 31 deadline approaching for the completion of negotiations between Ontario, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai (non-status and status natives) and the Temagami First Nation (status natives only), there is still ground to be covered. From private conversations, it appears that an agreement may be initialed by the deadline, but it will be an agreement in principle and not a final agreement. There may be months more of work to finalize wording. The biggest sticking point right now may be the Skyline Reserve of Lake Temagami where it falls within the set-aside lands under negotiation. Local stakeholders want to keep the shoreline reserve protected. One of the options on the table, popular with stakeholders, has been to turn the whole lake's Skyline Reserve into a provincial park.
However, Cross Lake, which forms a single body of water with Lake Temagami, was excluded from the park proposal and some stakeholders are up in arms. Another major undecided issue is a mainland community site. Shiningwood Bay had been the frontrunner, but it appears that the west end of Strathcona Road on the Northeast Arm is a contender as mining interests located there have indicated a willingness to sell. (It seems there are no diamonds there after all.) Background The primary purpose of the negotiations is to settle on a larger First Nation reserve (up to 112 square miles) and financial compensation. In 1991 the Supreme Court of Canada held that aboriginal right to the land had been extinguished as the Temagami aboriginals were party to the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. But the court also held that the fiduciary responsibility under the treaty had not been fulfilled. To fulfill this treaty obligation, negotiations opened in 1993 and settlement lands were proposed. Although an agreement was narrowly rejected by the Nishnabai in full membership votes within the two native groups, the lands were set aside for subsequent negotiations. They restarted in 1999. As the agreement is negotiated, consultations are held with stakeholders. A final agreement must be approved in separate votes by the members of the Temagami First Nation and the Teme-Augama Anishnabai. |
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DECEMBER 6, 2002 Lake Temagami nears ice up Bob Farr, who lives on Cattle Island in the Hub, took this photo of open water at 3:00 p.m., looking east toward Ogama Island. He and his wife Gladys have been island bound since Monday, waiting for freeze-up. He reports that Bear Islanders are walking to the landing by foot today and may be taking snowmobiles as early as tomorrow. Freeze-up is earlier than normal. |
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Alex Mathias speaking tour Elder Alex Mathias of the Temagami First Nation will be speaking in Toronto, Guelph and Kitchener about the struggle by Nishnabai to protect Temagami. His previous tour in November was cancelled over the death of his wife. KITCHENER Date: Monday, December 9 Time: 7-9 p.m. Location: The Working Centre, 43 Queen St. S. Contact: info@wpirg.org or 519-888-4882 TORONTO Date: Tuesday, December 10 Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: OISE Hall, 252 Bloor St. W., Rm 2214 Contact: opirg@sa.utoronto.ca or 416-978-7770 GUELPH Date: Wednesday, December 11 Time: 7-9 p.m. Location: University of Guelph, University Centre, Rm 103 Contact: andreamunk@yahoo.ca or Tahira at 519-824-4120 ext 4407 |
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