Chief of First Nation plans to erect road blockade

The chief of the Berens River First Nation in Manitoba is threatening to erect several road blockades unless he can resolve a transportation dispute with the province.

Chief George Kemp wants the government to lift a weight restriction on roads leading to and from the reserve. That will enable the transport of lumber the tribe has been cutting for the forestry company Tembec.

"We started cutting last year. It sat one summer. If it sits this summer, half our wood's going to be no good," Kemp told CBC News.

Government officials won't change the requirement, saying it would threaten public safety. So Kemp says he will start to block several roads to commercial and winter traffic.

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Chief threatens to block winter-road traffic (CBC 2/27)