Over the past two decades, the question of who owns the land of Temagami and how the land should be used has caused a debate of unparalleled intensity.
For the native people, it is their lands under attack. For environmentalists from all parts of Ontario, it is a case of ecological preservation of a unique but fast-disappearing wilderness. For others, dependent upon the resource sector, it is a matter of economic survival, both individually and for their communities.
In an attempt to clarify the issues surrounding Temagami, Laurentian University's Institute of Northern Ontario Development and Research invited participants in the Temagami debate to a conference in October, 1989. What follows in this volume are eleven of the revised papers originally presented there.
A balanced perspective on the issues at hand is coupled with the views of the various interest groups. Topics covered include aboriginal rights in Temagami, the development of a wilderness park system in Ontario, the management of multiple resources, the importance of tourism in Temagami and an environmentalist's perspective.
I am thankful to the author for having helped me, and all other Canadian readers, to better understand the uniquely intricate problems of human survival in the context of animal conservation and welfare.
Jean-Francios Robitaille
Canadian Book Review Annual