Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains: Chiefs of Two Prominent First Nation Organizations Express Support for Algoma Passenger Train

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

MUSHKEGOWUK COUNCIL

P.O. Box 370 Moose Factory, ON P0L 1W0 Tel: 705-658-4222 Fax: 705-658-4250

Attawapiskat First Nation Kashechewan First Nation Fort Albany First Nation Moose Cree First Nation Taykwa Tagamou Nation Chapleau Cree First Nation Missanabie Cree First Nation

The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport Transport Canada

330 Sparks Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous & Northern Affairs Terrasses de la Chaudiere

10 Wellingston, North Tower Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H4

Dear Honourable Marc Garneau and Honourable Carolyn Bennett,

As Grand Chief of the Mushkegowuk , I am writing to you with regard to an urgent matter affecting several Mushkegowuk First Nations who have been undertaking a very positive initiative under the leadership of Chief Jason Gauthier of Missanabie Cree First Nation. They are taking the lead in efforts to restore the Algoma passenger train between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst. This train provides (1) essential transportation through the traditional territories of the regional First Nations; and, (2) important economic and employment opportunities for them.

The Algoma Central Railway (ACR) corridor passes through the Treaty No. 9, Robinson Superior Treaty and Robinson Huron Treaty areas, including the traditional territories of Missanabie Cree First Nation (MCFN) and territories of other First Nations between Sault Ste. Marie (Batchewana FN) and Hearst (Constance Lake FN) and other First Nations. These traditional territories are used by First Nations for hunting, fishing, trapping and other socio-cultural activities. These are also areas in which First Nations are developing ecotourism businesses, as well as forest management plans and other resource-based undertakings.

The ACR was built over 100 years ago on land acquired with no First  Nation  consent. Missanabie Cree children were taken on the ACR passenger train to Shingwauk Residential School. The colonial relationship continued  through  the entire history of this rail line. In late 2013 when the Federal Government decided to cancel the passenger train subsidy under the Remote Passenger Rail Program (RPRP), the regional chiefs forum wrote a letter with the followingstatements:

“The (forum) does not support this decision given that there was no free, prior and informed consent as required under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal Peoples (UNDRIP), and no consultation in support of discharging the  need to  accommodate  Aboriginal  rights  in  cases  of infringement, as supportedby numerous Supreme Court of Canada rulings. The infringement is created by virtue of the fact that numerous Aboriginal people use the ACR service to access traditional areas for the purpose of harvesting. We would like to specifically work collaboratively with Transport Canada and the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains in support of looking for ways to solve this problem. This would include consideration of the (forum’s) Conservation Economy research done to date for the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve (CCGP) that includes optimizing railway lines in the region in support of value-added tourism”.

Since that letter of March 4, 2014, the chiefs’ forum played in important leadership role in the ACR Stakeholders working Group, with Chief Jason Gauthier (MCFN) as its representative. In the fall of 2015, leadership of the working group was passed from Tom Dodds, Sault Ste. Marie, to Chief Gauthier. Under Chief Gauthier’s leadership  a  proposal was developed to create Mask-was Oo-ta-ban (Cree for Bear Train). This proposed initiative is an opportunity for the Federal government to help to correct the unjust acquisition of land and building of the ACR by ensuring that the passenger service plays its important role as infrastructure for the regional economic development of the First Nations through whose territories it passes.

Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban: Bear Train

Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban, the bear train, is an initiative of the Missanabie Cree First Nation, with the support of the Algoma Passenger Train Working Group, to re-establish the Algoma passenger train service to support the social, economic, employment and remote access needs of the First Nations, communities, residents, businesses and socio-economic stakeholders of the Algoma passenger train corridor. This initiative is consistent with the mission of Transport Canada: “to serve the public interest through the promotion of a safe and secure, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation system in Canada”.

The development and operations of Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban will be committed to safe, reliable, efficient and effective passenger train operations guided by the First Nation values taught by the Seven Grandfathers: Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth”.

Socio-economic importance of the passenger train

Since the founding of the Algoma Passenger Train 102 years ago, it has been extremely important to the economic, employment, social and remote access needs of the First Nations, communities, residents, businesses and visitors of the Algoma region. The Algoma region is a distressed area for employment and economic opportunity. The $40  – $50 million in economic activity and the 100s of jobs the Algoma passenger train supported directly and indirectly are vital to the Algoma region’s economic sustainability. The Algoma passenger train also provides safe, reliable, all-season transportation to and through the remote wilderness regions of Algoma allowing First Nations rights-holders safe, reliable access to their traditional lands and socioeconomic opportunity, allowing residents in the remote regions safe, reliable access to their properties,allowingbusinessownersandtheiremployeessafe,reliableaccesstotheir businesses and work, and allowing visitors and tourists safe, reliable and unique access to one of the most beautiful wilderness recreation areas in the world.

In 2014, BDO Canada LLP Chartered Accountants and Advisors (BDO) conducted a socio-economic impact of the Algoma Central Railway Passenger Service. The report of this assessment is entitled “Algoma Central Railway Passenger Rail Service Economic Impact Assessment (August 13, 2014)”. As part of the impact assessment process, the ACR Passenger Service Working Group created and distributed an impact survey for stakeholders affected by the cancellation of the passenger service. A common concern brought forward by the stakeholder group whether through the stakeholder’s survey or the working group is the isolation of many communities along the rail line. 400 km of the 470 km Algoma rail line is not accessible by public road. Although there are some industrial roads into the rail corridor, they are built and maintained at the discretion of industry and cannot be relied upon for reliable, safe or long-term access.

As a result of a discontinuation of the passenger train a number of businesses, communities and residents have been unable to access their residences, lodges and other business properties via safe, reliable public infrastructure and services. Based on the Stakeholder Survey data, BDO determined that approximately 75% of properties of the private residents should be deemed “inaccessible” but for the ACR passenger train, given that individuals should not be expected to travel on roads which are potentially unreliable and dangerous because industrial roads are not built or maintained to be reliable or safe for public use.

Federal funding for the Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban: Bear Train (the Algoma Passenger Train) is essential to maintain the only form of transportation in this remote area for many First Nations” economic development and employment, tourism businesses and over $48 million for Algoma’s regional economy. This is extremely URGENT. This important economic development opportunity for First Nations under the leadership of Missanabie Cree First Nation will collapse without the Transport Canada funding.

Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon Mushkegwuk Council

c.c.      Chief Jason Gauthier, Missanabie Cree First Nation

Deputy Grand Chief Rebecca Friday, Mushkegowuk Council Donna Seary, Executive Director

CHIEFS of ONTARIO

June 13, 2016

The Honourable Marc Garneau                [email protected] Minister of Transport

House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett            [email protected] Minister of Indigenous & Northern Affairs

Terrasses de la Chaudière 10 Wellington, North Tower Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H4

Re: Algoma Central Passenger Train | Mask-wa Ooo-ta-ban

Dear Honourable Marc Garneau and Honourable Carolyn Bennett:

As the Ontario Regional Chief, I would like to express my support to the proposed initiative of the urgent reinstatement of the Algoma passenger train service between the towns of Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst. The proposed service, entitled Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban (Bear Train) is a practical solution to a crisis situation. As you know, there has been no passenger service on that line since July 2015. Many residents along the line are not able to access their residences and businesses as the train is the only form of transportation that gives them access to their remote locations.

The Algoma Central Railway (ACR) rail line travels through the Treaty No. 9, Robinson Superior Treaty and Robinson Huron Treaty territories, including the traditional territories of Missanabie Cree First Nation and other First Nations between Sault Ste. Marie (Batchewana First Nation) and Hearst (Constance Lake First Nation). First Nations have used these traditional territories for hunting, fishing, trapping and also as areas in which they are developing ecotourism businesses, forest management plans and other resource- based initiatives.

A First Nation led initiative to operate the passenger train is highly appropriate considering the fact that the ACR was built over 100 years ago on the land that was acquired without First Nation consent. In late 2013 the Federal Government’s cancellation of the passenger train subsidy under the Remote Passenger Rail Program (RPRP) was also decided without First Nation consent. The Missanabie Cree First Nation led initiative is a way to help reverse the colonial relationship between this rail line and the First Nations through whose territory it runs. This is a way that the current Federal Government can fulfill its mandate to First Nations by ensuring that the passenger service plays its essential role as infrastructure for the regional economic development of the First Nations through whose territories it passes.

Since the founding of the Algoma Passenger Train, more than 100 years ago, Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban has been extremely important to the economic, employment, social and remote access needs of the First Nations, communities, residents, businesses and visitors of the Algoma region. The Algoma region is a distressed area for employment and economic opportunity. About $38 – $48 million in economic activity and 100’s of jobs are supported, directly and indirectly, by the Algoma passenger train, according to the 2014 BDO Canada socio-economic impact study (please see the link below).

Approximately, 400 km of the 470 km Algoma rail line is not accessible by public road. Although there are some industrial roads into the rail corridor, they are built and maintained at the discretion of industry and cannot be relied upon for reliable, safe or long-term access. Since the discontinuation of the passenger train a number of businesses, communities and residents have been unable to access their residences, lodges and other business properties via safe, reliable public infrastructure and services. According to the BDO study, approximately 75% of properties of the private residents would be deemed “inaccessible” without the passenger train.

I urge your government to immediately finalize negotiations with Chief Jason Gauthier so that the  proposed Mask-wa Oo-ta-ban can return the only transportation to those along the remote ACR corridor. This important economic opportunity for First Nations under the leadership of Missanabie Cree First Nation will collapse without the Transport Canada funding. I, therefore, ask you to consider both, the reinstatement of the said train service and the proposal to make it a First Nation led initiative. I look forward to hearing back from you on this urgent matter.

Yours truly,

Isadore Day, Wiindawtegowinini

ONTARIO REGIONAL CHIEF

CC: Chief Jason Gauthier

Link to the 2014 Socio Economic Impact study: http://www.algomapassengerrail.com/

The Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains (CAPT) is a not-for-profit organization comprised of individuals, businesses, First Nations, municipalities and other interests who recognize the significant economic, social, cultural, historical and environmental value of passenger rail servicing and interconnecting the people, businesses and communities of Northern Ontario’s Algoma District to each other, Ontario, Canada and the rest of the world. To accomplish this goal, CAPT has been working with local groups to organize events in the community that utilize the railway as a means of advertising and demonstrating its usefulness in the area.