Views of Aboriginal People in Northern Ontario on Ontario’s approach to Aboriginal values in forest management planning

Abstract

Qualitative research through focus groups and semi-structured interviews was conducted with members of 6 northern Ontario Aboriginal communities to obtain their views on how to define and protect Aboriginal values during forest management. Landscape visualization models were used for forest management scenario illustrations. Research results show that: (1) Aboriginal people take an all-encompassing view when discussing Aboriginal values; (2) some of the terminology used in forest management planning regarding Aboriginal values can be confusing to Aboriginal people; and (3) individual Aboriginal values are sometimes spatially defined as more than the physical objects that represent them. One of the conclusions of the research is that Ontario forest management planning needs a separate guide on defining and protecting Aboriginal values. Key words: Aboriginal values, forest management planning, land use, trappers’ cabin, spiritual site, burial site, landscape visualization