LA LOCHE, Sask. – A group who say they represent northern trappers have set up a road block in northern Saskatchewan. The Northern Trappers Alliance says it represents Dene people from the La Loche and Ducharme areas.
Organizer Don Montgrand says the blockade of the gravel road began Saturday and will block vehicles from companies that are drilling for minerals, oil or uranium. He says the peaceful blockade is to protect their fur block, one of 80 in the north.
But La Loche Mayor Georgina Jolibois says in the past, companies tried to accommodate trappers who came to them and didn’t think there was much support for Montgrand’s group’s actions.
Montgrand says industrial activities have degraded the land and water and animal populations are decreasing.
“We feel frustrated against the companies,” Montgrand said Monday.
“We’re not against our own local people or the young people. We’re still Dene people, our people. We should all be together and working against the companies but something went wrong.”
Candyce Paul, a spokeswoman for the trappers, says they “don’t want any more toxic development.”
Montgrand said there’s at least 10 trappers have set up camp to keep warm, get fed, and man the roadblock 24-7. He said the blockade could go until Christmas or beyond, “as long as the people want to be. I’m not alone … As long as we can be here.”
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Montgrand says what they want can’t be resolved through conversation with companies operating in that area.
“We want them just to leave this area alone, start paying these people back and compensating these people and leave these lands alone and everything alone. Because we didn’t allow them to go there,” Montgrand said.
The mayor said she doesn’t know if there are still companies doing exploration in the area, but those companies have a “respectful relationship” with the community that isn’t ongoing but information sessions in the past were positive.
Jolibois described past interactions with Montgrand and another group member as “adversarial.
“They are very difficult people to get along with.”
Jolibois said she grew up on the trap line, learning how to fish and hunt from her grandparents, and she questioned Montgrand and others identifying themselves as trappers.
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