Metis Worry About Future Of Batoche-Area Woods
Wednesday, September 05, 2007 at 14:01
A Metis activist says the land around Batoche needs better protection from mainstream society.
John Hanikenne of the Metis Heartland Forest Committee recently attended a summit at the historic site where the issue was discussed at length by elders, politicians and grassroots citizens.
Hanikenne says the meeting was prompted in part by ongoing concerns related to the destruction of the land in that area.
He says farms, industry and off-road vehicles have damaged the woods near Batoche greatly.
The summit ended with a Metis flag being raised over the forest, which the Metis consider part of their traditional territory.
Hanikenne hopes the provincial government will be receptive to calls from the Metis to create a working group to fix the problems.