Since August 21, 2010 Grassy Narrows First Nation, in northwest Ontario has stopped the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) from interfering with community members who are maintaining a backroad used for fishing, hunting, trapping, and rice and berry harvesting.

Ontario MNR has threatened to issue a stop work order if the First Nation does not purchase a gravel permit, citing environmental, public and worker safety concerns.

"We have our own government here," said Roberta Keesick, capital projects manager for Grassy Narrows First Nation. "We support our chief and council – they are the authority here. They received their jurisdiction when they signed the treaty."

Also Grassy Narrows Chief Simon Fobister issued a statement October 7, 2010 in opposition to Ontario Government plans to allow Weyerhaeuser to clearcut on Grassy Narrow's traditional territories. Logging was suspended on Grassy Narrows territory in July 2008. Now Ontario has produced a 3-year contingency logging plan for the Whiskey Jack Forest.

"We have never given our consent to any logging on our territory, and we have repeatedly said 'no'," declared Chief Simon Fobister. "Unwanted logging has a severe impact on our community's ability to sustain our health, culture, and livelihood."