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
VIA FACSIMILE
June 9, 1998
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 CanadaThe Hon. David Hancock,
Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs,
Government of Alberta
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 6731
Peace River, AB TBS 195
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
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.
Friends of the Lubicon
485 Ridelle Ave.
Toronto, ON M6B 1K6
Tel: (416) 763-7500
Fax: (416) 603-2715
Email: fol@tao.ca
Web: http://www.tao.ca/~fol/