Agreement Between Coastal Native Canadian Nations, Loggers and Environmentalists Protects Sacred Forest
The New York Times reports that a coalition of Native Americans, loggers and environmentalists have announced an agreement that will protect the Great Bear Rain Forest, home to sacred sites for the Gitga'at in British Columbia. The article reports "The process has already inspired similar efforts to save the Canadian boreal forest, to the north, and suggestions that the agreement could be a model for preservation in the Amazon and other threatened forests." Chairman of the Heiltsuk nation said, "Now we can manage our destiny. Without this agreement, we would be going to court forever and we would have to put our children and our old ladies dressed in button blankets in the way of the chainsaws."