Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Presentation to
Wanapitei Colloquium
Presented by Jean Maurice
Matchewan, Algonquins of
Barriere Lake & Russell Diabo,
ABL Policy Advisor
September 25, 2009

Overview

Overview of Algonquins of Barriere Lake

1991 Trilateral Agreement
1998 Bilateral Agreement
Ciaccia-Lincoln Joint Recommendations
Conclusions

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

The Rapid Lake Reserve was established in 1961 under

the provincial Lands and Forestry Act.
It is a semi-isolated 59-acre reserve (7 km from Hwy.
117) located in LaVrendrye Wildlife Reserve, 134 km
north of Maniwaki, Qubec on the shore of the
Cabonga Reservoir.
Approximately 450 of their members live within the
traditional territory. Barriere Lake is a traditional First
Nation community where Algonquin is the first
language. Also spoken are English and French. The
Algonquins of Barriere Lake operate under a
governance code based on custom.

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Algonquins of Barriere lake

The Barriere Lake

Trilateral Agreement
Algonquins of Barriere Lake,
Gouvernement du Qubec,
Government of Canada

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Trilateral Agreement Territory:

Location
Trilateral Agreement
Territory
La Verendrye
Wildlife Reserve
Boundary

Rapid Lake

Community

Quebec

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Agreement Objectives

To develop for implementation, a draft ecosystembased Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP)
with a commitment to the principles of sustainable
development, conservation, protection of the traditional
way of life of the Algonquins, & versatile resource use.
To reconcile forestry operations and sports hunting and
fishing with the environmental concerns & traditional
way-of-life of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Guiding Principles

Continuation of the traditional way-of-life

Sustainable Development
Conservation
Versatile Use
Adaptive Ecosystem-Based Management

Phases of the Trilateral

Agreement

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Phase I: the collection, inventory, study and

analysis of data respecting renewable resources
& their uses on the territory
Phase II: preparation of a draft IRMP
Phase III: formulation of recommendations
regarding draft IRMP implementation

Phase I Activities

Indigenous Knowledge Program

Natural Resources & Sustainable Development
Program
Economic/Social Development Program
Measures to Harmonize Forestry Activities with
the traditional activities of the Algonquins

Logical Framework

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

TRILATERAL AGREEMENT

PROGRAM
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

Projects:

Traditional Ecological
Knowledge
Social Customs
Toponymy
ABL-FEC
Sensitive Area Mapping
Measures to Harmonize
Elders Field Trip

PROGRAM
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Sub-Program: FORESTRY
Projects:

Sub-Program: WILDLIFE
Projects:

Data Compilation
Digitization of Ecoforestry
Data
Cut Plan Map Digitization
Synthetic Map Production
Buffer Zone Study

Aerial Moose Inventory

Wildlife Data Compilation
Habitat Supply Analysis
& Modeling
ABL Harvest Study
Moose Management
Strategy

PROGRAM
ECONOMIC/SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT

Projects:

Regional Socio-Economic
Study
ABL Socio-Economic Study
Legal Framework Study

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Indigenous Knowledge Program

To document Algonquin ecological & social

knowledge for incorporation into the IRMP, &
thereby facilitate harmonization of Algonquin &
non-Algonquin land-use regimes consistent with
the interest of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

SAS Mapping

LEGEND
Sacred Areas
Occupancy
Burial Sites
Moose Yards
Spawning Areas

Sugar Bush
Roots
Wood
Tobacco
Medicinal Plants

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Algonquin Toponymy
T
$

T
$
T
$

T
T$
$

T
$

T
T$
$

T
$

T
$

T
$
$
T

LEGEND

T
$
T
$

T
$

T knikwnikak
$
T
$

Toponym Site

T
$
T
$

T
$

T
$

T
$
T
$

T
$
T
$

T khodoskonogamak
$
T
$

T kmitcikanwck
$

Hydrography

T
$

Roads

T wgcik(wgcowjk)
$

T
$

T wayekwgamak
$
T
$

$
T
T
$

$
T
T
$

T
$

T
$

T
$

T
$
T
$

T
$
T
$

knikwnikak

kmitcikanwck

T khobokonimagk
$
T
$

T
$

T
$
T
$
T$
$
T
T
$
T
T$
$
T$
$
T
T $
$
T$
T
T
$
$
T
T
$
T$
T $
T$
$
T $
TT
T
$
$
T$
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T
T$
T$
TT $
$
T$
$
T$
T
T$
$
T$
T$
T$
T
T$
T$
T$
$
T $
T$
$
T$
T
T$
T
$
T$
T $
T$
T$
T$
$
T
T
T$
T$
T $
T$
T$
$
T
T $
T$
T$
$
T
TT$
$
T
T$
T$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T
T$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T$
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
TT
$
T
T $
T$
T$
$
T $
T$
T
T
T$
T$
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T
T
$
T$
T$
TT$
T$
T$
T $
T$
$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T$
$
T
TT
$
T
$
T$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T $
$
TT$
T$
T$
T$
T$
TT$
$
T
T $
TT$
T
T$
T$
$
T$
TT
T$
$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
T$
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T
T
$
T
$
T$
T
$
T $
$
T$
T
T$
$
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
$
T $
T$
$
T$
T
T $
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T$
$
T $
T$
$
T
TT
T$
$
T $
$
T$
$
T
T$
T$
$
T $
T$
$
T $
T$
T$
$
T $
T$
T $
T $
T $
T
$
T
T
$
T$
T$
$
T$
T
TT$
$
T
T
T$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
T
T $
$
T
$
T
$
T$
T$
T$
$
T$
T
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T$
$
TT $
T$
T$
$
TT $
T$
T$
T
T$
T$
TT$
T
T
T$
T$
T$
$
T$
T$
TT $
$
T
$
TT$
$
T
$
T$
$
T$
T$
TT$
T$
$
T$
T
$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
T
$
T $
T$
$
T
T
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T $
T
T$
T$
T$
TT $
T$
$
T$
$
T$
T$
T$
T $
T$
$
T$
T $
$
T
T
T$
T
$
T $
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
T$
T
T$
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T $
T T
$
T$
$
T$
$
T T
T$
T
T$
T
$
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
TT $
T $
T$
T$
$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T
T$
T$
T$
$
T $
$
T$
$
T$
T $
T$
T
T$
T
T$
$
T
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
TT
T$
$
TT $
$
T
T$
$
T$
T
$
T$
T$
T$
$
T $
$
T $
T$
T$
T$
T$
$
T$
T$
T
T$
T$
T
T
T$
$
T $
$
T $
$
T$
$
T
$
T$
T $
$
T$
T$
T$
$
TT $
$
T$
T$
T
T
$
T$
T
$
T $
T
$
T
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T $
$
T$
T
T
TT
T
TT $
T$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
T $
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T$
T$
T$
T$
T
T $
T $
T$
T$
T$
T$
T
$
T$
$
T$
T T$
$
T$
$
T
$
T$
T
$
T $
T
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T
T$
T$
T $
T$
$
T $
T
$
T$
$
T
$
T$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
$
T
$
T$
$
T$
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
T
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T$
$
T $
T$
T
$
T $
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T$
T$
$
T
T
$
T$
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
T
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T$
T
T$
T $
$
T
T
$
T
T$
$
T$
$
T
$
T$
T$
T$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
$
T$
$
T
T
$
T$
T
T
T $
$
T
$
T $
T$
T$
T$
T
T$
$
T$
T
$
T
$
T$
T
$
T$
$
T$
$
T $
T
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T$
$
T $
TT $
$
T$
$
T
T$
T
$
T
T $
T
T $
T$
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
T $
$
T $
$
T$
$
T
$
T
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
T
$
wayekwgamak

T
$

$$
T
T
T
T$
$

khodoskonogamak

wgcik(wgcowjk)

khobokonimagk

Big Game Kills

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

T
$

$$
T
T

T
$

$
T
T
$

$
T
T
$

$
T
TB
T$
$
"

TT
$
"B $
T
$

T
$

LEGEND
Bear

T
$

T
$

$
T
T $
$
T
T
$

Deer

"&
T
$
$
T
T
$

T
$
T
$

T
$

T
$

T
$

T
$
T
$

T
$

$
T
"B

T
$
T
$

T
$$
T

T
$

T
$

$
T
T
$ $
T
T
$
T
$
T
$

Moose
T
$

Areas of Concern
Management Strategy
ABL Areas of Concern (SAS)
Algonquin traditional occupancy and use sites documented during Phase I Strategies & Prescriptions developed by IRMP Technical Team in
consultation with ABL for Phase II IRMP planning.

Ministry of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Parks Guidelines

& Land Affectation
Quebec Forest Act

FAPAQ & MRN Affectation Zones

ABL Areas of Concern (SAS)

ABL Areas of Concern (TMA 1)

VALUE

NO. &/OR
AREA (ha)

PRESCRIPTION

Burial Sites

No forestry operations within AoC

Absolute buffer of 60m

Ceremonial
Sites

No forestry operations within AoC

Absolute buffer of 100m
Restriction on forest operations in area during gatherings
Viewshed analysis as required

Heritage
Sites

Absolute buffer of 60m

Modified harvest within 400 m; harvest strategies determined through
consultations with ABL

Occupancy
Sites

12 permanent
19 tent sites

5-yr harvest exclusion buffer of 2km around permanent sites

5-yr harvest exclusion buffer of 5km around settlements (5+ cabins)
Absolute buffer of 60m

ABL Areas of Concern (cont.)

TMA 1
VALUE

NO. &/OR
AREA (ha)

Sacred
Areas

5 431 ha

Spring
Water

PRESCRIPTION
No forestry operations within AoC
Absolute buffer of 60m
Visibility analysis where required
Harvest exclusion
Absolute buffer of 60m

Medicinal
Plant
Collection

23 556 ha

Measures to Harmonize as required

Maintain 560 ha of Algonquin designated collection areas
throughout 20-year planning period

Root
Collection

597 ha

Maintain 597 ha of Algonquin designated collection areas

throughout 20-year planning period

Specialty
Woods

23 2,211
ha

Measures to Harmonize for specific sites

Maintain 1,434 ha of Algonquin designated collection areas
throughout 20-year period

ABL Areas of Concern (cont.)

TMA 1
VALUE
Sugar
Bushes

NO. &/OR
AREA (ha)
480 ha

Travel
Routes &
Portages
Bear Dens

PRESCRIPTION
Measures to Harmonize as required
Maintain 480 ha of Algonquin designated sugar bushes for 20-year
planning period
Measures to Harmonize as required
Harvest exclusion at ends of all portages
Viewscape planning as required

10

Manage according to bear management strategy based on home

range size (35km2)
Harvest restrictions (60m no cut buffer) when cubs are at den
(November-April)
Case by case assessment for new dens encountered

ABL Areas of Concern (cont.)

TMA 1
VALUE

NO. &/OR
AREA (ha)

Spawning
Sites

30

Bald Eagle
Habitat

6 nests

PRESCRIPTION
60 m wide buffer extending upstream & downstream along
shoreline for 50 m
Absolute buffer of 10 m from shoreline
Partial cutting in remaining 50 m up to 1/3 of basal area
Concentric absolute buffer of 300m
Nesting season zone of protection (no harvest) of 400m beyond
absolute buffer
Harvesting in zone of protection outside of nesting season permits
removal of up to 30% of basal area within 10 year period
Maintenance of at least 3 super canopy trees per 650 m of
shoreline within 300 m of eagle lakes
100m reserve around nests used within the last 5 years
Avoid location of roads or landings in the AoC

ABL Areas of Concern (cont.)

TMA 1
VALUE
Heron
Rookeries
Cedar
Ecosites
Moose
Hunting
Areas

NO. &/OR
AREA (ha)
1

3 22.3 ha

PRESCRIPTION
Absolute buffer of 200m
Restricted forest operations within 200-500m of absolute buffer
periphery for nesting period (April-July)
Special management area
Measures to Harmonize as required
No cutting on islands <1km2 & located at 500m or less from shore or
peninsula (calving areas)
Absolute buffer of 100m around verified mineral licks
Apply mosaic approach to moose management with special
provisions for winter protection, habitat amelioration, maintenance or
improvement

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Provisional Measures

Sensitive Area Study (SAS); identification of

sensitive zones to be protected within cutting
areas
Measures to Harmonize (MTH) forestry
operations with the Algonquin way-of-life

Measures to Harmonize

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

LEGEND
Harvest Zone
Harvest Exclusion
Zone Requiring
Measures to
Harmonize
Hydrography
Ecoforestry Polygon
Planned Roads

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Sustainable Development
of Natural Resources

To obtain & utilize the highest quality forestry &

wildlife data in the development of a sustainable
adaptive management strategy for the renewable
resources of the Trilateral Agreement Territory
(TAT).

Modeling Forest Growth

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

PRESENT AGE CLASS

LEGEND
20-40 years
40-60 years
60-80 years
80-100 years
100+ years
Young
Old

FUTURE AGE CLASS

Habitat Suitability: Moose

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

HABITAT CLASSIFICATION
High Suitability
Medium Suitability
Low Suitability
Null Suitability

SUMMER

LATE
WINTER

EARLY
WINTER

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Economic/Social Development
Program

To profile & analyze Algonquin & nonAlgonquin local & regional socio-economic
activities & the legal frameworks which govern
them, facilitating the selection of sustainable
resource management alternatives consistent
with the interests of the Algonquins of Barriere
Lake.

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Context:
Forestry in the TAT

TAT area: 10,900 km2

No. Common Areas (CAAFs): 7
Area occupied by CAAFs: 9,188 km2
No. CAAF beneficiaries: 36
Gross merchantable volume (all species): 77,025,340 m3
AAC (all species): 1,289,687 m3

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Economic Value of Activities in the TAT

(1994 Data)
Type of
Activity

Forestry

Value (1994)

PersonActual Value
Years
in 10 Years
Employment
(1994)
$33,384,140
146.56 $328,373,448

Average
Annual
Person
Years
212.20

Tourism

$4,541,692

61.55

$32,815,059

65.21

Services

$3,082,508

25.50

$24,202,151

29.75

Recreation

$15,526,201

n.a. $112,009,121

n.a.

Total

$56,534,540

233.61 $497,399,779

307.16

Phase II Activities

Preparation of 5 Wildlife Management Plans

(Moose, Black Bear, Furbearers, Small Game,
Fish)
Preparation of Draft Forest Management Plans
for 7 Traditional Management Areas (TMAs)

Traditional Management Areas

Benchmark Scenarios
1) Unrestricted Harvest (All Eligible Harvest Area is available for
harvest)
2) Quebec Forest Act Applied
3) Quebec Forest Act & TAT Area of Concern Strategies Applied
4) Quebec Forest Act & Enhanced TAT Area of Concern Strategies
Applied
5) Conservation Suitability Analysis Areas (Top 12% and 8% CSA
Areas removed from EHA)
* Scenarios were not developed for uneven-age management regimes as unevenage strategies are viewed as less intrusive by the ABL.

Scenario Modeling / Negotiation Support

In cooperation with Quebec our planning team is developing a

computer model to predict future wood supply under various
management scenarios. This model will assist and support
negotiations for the implementation of the IRMP by predicting
the future forest condition expected to result from the
implementation of each strategy and test each strategy for its
ability to ensure forest sustainability while ensuring the
continuance of the Algonquin traditional activities over time.

1998 Bilateral Agreement

Section 7 (1) The parties agree to immediately enter
into negociations respecting the following
subjects:
a) identification of an area of land for the exclusive use
of the community of Mitchikanibikok to meet the basic
needs for community dwellings and community
infrastructures, it being understood that this does not
engage the government of Quebec in the financing of
infrastructures and activities which are the
responsabilities of the federal government;

1998 Bilateral Agreement (Cont.)

b) participation in economic spin-offs according

to models to be defined (for instance
partnerships, economic benefits, resources
revenue sharing, access to resources, etc.);
c) participation in management and sustainable
development of resources;
d) electrification of the community; and
e) economic development of Mitchikanibikok
including potentially hydro-electric projects.

ABL-Quebec SR Recommendations

Recognition of the Trilateral Agreement Territory

as a Special Management Zone.
That Forestry Management Plans be Approved as
Frameworks for the Ongoing Management of
Forestry Resources.
That Wildlife Management Plans & Issues be
Negotiated.
That a joint Qubec-ABL Co-Management
Committee be Instituted and Mandated to Oversee
the Implementation of the IRMP.

ABL-Quebec SR Recommendations

Revenue-Sharing: That Quebec provide an

annual financial contribution, increased annually
linked to level of natural resource exploitation.
Expansion of the Land-Base: Around existing
Reserve.
Electrification of Rapid Lake Reserve: By
Hydro-Quebec.
Without Prejudice to Aboriginal-Treaty
Rights.

Next Steps
Phase III:
The development of detailed recommendations for
the implementation of the IRMP (Forests &
Wildlife)
Negotiations with Quebec government regarding
SR Global Recommendations.
Re-engage Federal Government in the Trilateral
Process (Federal Government unilaterally
withdrew from the Agreement in 2001).

MITCHIKANIBIKOK INIK

Natural Resource
Co-Management

Exclusion

Inclusion

ALGONQUINS OF BARRIERE LAKE

5. ACTS

Conclusion

If First Nations are to benefit from the legal

entitlements set out in the recent Haida , Taku
and Delgamuukw decisions. Then
organization, skill, knowledge and information
will be key to matching Crown and industry
capacity.
Bands and Tribal Councils will have to sort out
their respective roles and responsibilities in the
short, medium and long term.

Conclusion

There is a burden of proof on First Nations to identify

and assert their rights and interests until Aboriginal
title is resolved. The Chief and Councils as elected
officials are primarily responsible for ensuring that a
community does due diligence and makes best
efforts towards ensuring consultation and
accommodation takes place regarding natural resource
developments taking place on Traditional Territory,
pending the resolution of Aboriginal Title. This means
involving the community membership in the
consultation-accommodation process.