Treaty Ten News - March 29, 2023 - Rosaire Alcrow - Impact Of Logging in Northern Saskatchewan

Rosaire Alcrow is the current Vice-President of the N-12 Fur Block based out of Beauval, Saskatchewan. He discusses the large negative impact logging has had for people who practice a traditional lifestyle; such as hunting and trapping. 

There is currently cutting taking place in the Beauval area and communication is not clear. The cuts are very near to cabins along the Beaver River, which is the main concern at this time. There are currently 13 cabins along the river, which will all be impacted in future logging plans. 

Mystic management and the Beauval Co-management currently have plans in place, but it's unclear how those deals benefit the community of Beauval. Communication between the N-12 Fur Block and Co-management has to be renewed in the near future. 

One of the concerns is the scenery will be affected from the cabins. It will also affect trapping and hunting, as well as berry picking and medicine gathering. The clear cutting also affects wild life as it forces them to relocate to different areas for survival. 

The evidence is already there from previous cuts. Logging roads and clear cuts are done in cases right to the highway where it's clearly visible to traffic. 

So it's clear that more communication and consultation is needed when it comes to clear cutting. People having been practicing a traditional lifestyle for decades are now forced to adjust. The benefits of these resources being taken out are not being filtered in a clear manner. This results in distrust and affected lifestyles. It is time to look to leadership on how we can make a lasting change.