Chiefs want Irving land in N.S. preserved

The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs wants the province's help to buy a large expanse of land in southwestern Nova Scotia.

The 69,000-hectare piece of property, containing four rivers and 60 lakes, is owned by J.D. Irving Ltd., which plans to auction it off in May.

Membertou Chief Terry Paul said Mi'kmaq don't want to displace anyone on the land, but they do want it preserved. He said the government is obliged to discuss the sale with them.

"Whatever Nova Scotians can do to help us preserve this land for all Nova Scotians to own it, it certainly would be helpful to us," said Paul, co-chair of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs.

Premier Rodney MacDonald said the province isn't in a position to buy the land and it cannot require private landowners to consult with native leaders when they sell land.

"If we were purchasing this parcel of land, because of its sheer size we would consult with our First Nations people. In this case, it is a private-sector organization and it is entirely up to them whether they would consult or not," MacDonald said.

It doesn't matter who owns the land, Paul argues, noting the province has the potential to buy it. He maintains a parcel of land this size should not be sold without native involvement.

"The federal government and the provincial government have an agreement with the Mi'kmaq that they will sit down and discuss Mi'kmaq issues. Land is one of the issues that we agreed we would talk about," said Paul.

Dozens of groups and municipalities in the area are urging the province to block the sale to foreign or private investors, saying they fear the public will lose access to wilderness areas.