Resolution No. 12/99

National Chief

WHEREAS the Canada – US Softwood Lumber Agreement limits lumber export to the US; and

WHEREAS the Softwood Lumber Agreement provides allocations for access to US markets for the large and long-established forest companies; and

WHEREAS since the signing of the Softwood Lumber Agreement in 1966, there has been minimal provision for First Nations as new entrants into the current quota allocation system; and

WHEREAS the Softwood Lumber Agreement is intended to restrict commodity products although some value-added products get caught in the classification; and

WHEREAS First Nations are endeavouring to gain access to forest resources on the basis of aboriginal title, and partnerships and / or joint ventures within the current tenure system; and

WHEREAS the Softwood Lumber Agreement severely restricts growth and minimizes opportunities and benefits which aboriginal communities could achieve as stand-alone enterprises or bring to joint ventures and / or partnerships with non-aboriginal forest companies; and

WHEREAS there has been a proud history of trade and commerce among Indian peoples of the Americas for thousands of years;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Assembly of First Nations and the National Congress of American Indians establish a Joint Task Force to encourage their respective governments to provide for enabling measures to allow the free flow of trade in forest products between Indian nations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT such a Task Force immediately examine appropriate regulatory mechanisms to ensure honest and fair trade practices under the jurisdiction of indigenous governments.