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Harper, chiefs at odds over fate of the Indian Act The Canadian Press OTTAWA - What was billed as the historic coming-together of the federal government and First Nations began with the two sides polarized over the future of the Indian Act.
Though there had been fears the prime minister would beat a hasty retreat from Tuesday's meetings, he extended his stay well past lunch and was expected to close out the day.
But that show of goodwill didn't move the two sides any closer by midday to deciding whether they could jointly agree on the next steps for the Crown-First Nations relationship or would remain divided.
The Indian Act became a flashpoint that high-profile chiefs seized upon to showcase the gap between the two sides.
Prime Minister Harper said he sees the act as something that can be updated to reflect modern practices.
But Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, led a parade of speakers who described the century-old legislation as a boulder blocking the path to collaboration.
They laid out their views in back-to-back speeches Tuesday as the opening of the major meeting of leaders and government ministers and officials.
The Indian Act, first passed in 1876, gave Ottawa exclusive jurisdiction over "Indians and Lands Reserved for Indians." The legislation, which was last amended in 2000, defines who is recognized among First Nations and sets out rules on everything from how reserves operate to the effect of marriage on status.
Harper conceded that the act led to problems over the years, but the government has no plans to repeal the legislation.
"After 136 years, that tree has deep roots," he said. "Blowing up the stump would just leave a big hole.
Historic belt brought to Ottawa in bid to retie Crown, First Nationsson Cree bylaw interests Blood Tribe The Canadian Press OTTAWA - A historic wampum belt is being used today for the first time in centuries to help retie the relationship between First Nations and the Crown.
Aboriginal leaders from Ontario have brought the replica of the 1764 Treaty of Niagara belt with them to Ottawa for a historic summit with the prime minister.
Sewn from 10,076 purple and silver shells, it symbolizes the link forged between First Nations and the Crown in the year following the 1763 Royal Proclamation that defined the relationship between the two sides.
It's those historic ties that chiefs across the country want to draw on in the one-day meeting that's billed as an opportunity to reset that relationship.
So when they display the belt during the opening ceremonies of the summit, they will hold it aloft backwards.
"As we turn the belt we symbolically recognize that the issue of our relationship with the Crown is not correct," said Chief Isadore Day Wiindawtegoweinini of the Serpent River First Nation.
"And we must turn that belt and provide recognition of the work that still needs to be done. This really is at the foundation of the messaging behind this meeting with the federal government."
While the meeting was announced last year, a date was formally set at a time of heightened tension between the government and First Nations.
Living conditions on the Northern Ontario reserve of Attawapiskat, where families were living in trailers and tents in frigid weather, had burst onto the international stage.
Amid desperate calls for change for aboriginal families across the country came the Harper government's pledge to also do more to strengthen financial accountability on reserves, which receive billions annually in federal funding.
Both sides are now hoping to chart a path forward.
Preventing obesity in aboriginal kids needs to start with parental support: study The Canadian Press OTTAWA - Strategies to prevent obesity among aboriginal children must begin with an understanding of the unique social and historical factors that shape their broader community, a study suggests.
"There needs to be a focus on improving the risk factors such as income and education," said Noreen Willows, a co-author of the study published in the February issue of the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.
"Additionally, there needs to be a focus on embracing the cultural practices in terms of language and pride in the aboriginal culture to influence health behaviours and outcomes," Willows said in a release Tuesday.
The study says prevention of obesity in aboriginal youngsters needs to begin by focusing on the parents before and during pregnancy, and on breastfeeding initiatives and nutrition in early childhood.
Sports Headlines
REZ GOLF By Steve W Tooshkenig
Golf Pro
In 2012 there are exciting
things taking place in
the world of golf for First
Nations golfers across
Canada. The increase in
participation and the
amount of golf courses
you can play on First Nation
land is a great way to
organize your schedule in
2012.
For those of you who
just started reading this
golf column, I will give you
a brief introduction of who
I am as a golfer. I started
golfing at the early age of
6 years young and grew up
on a First Nation called
Walpole Island First Nation
located in Southern
Ontario. It is now called
Bkejwanong Territorywhich
means “where the
waters divide”. Once you
make a visit to my Nation
you will understand the
meaning, as we are surrounded
by the Great
Lakes. The property my
parents own is situated
along the water front and
I would spend hours a day
hitting golf shots over the
willow trees with my sister
Cheryl, who is also a
golf professional. We have
been very fortunate and
blessed to have a talent
which allows us to be a
difference in the lives of
youth across North America.
Along with hard work
and dedication, it takes
extreme discipline to continue
to reach new levels
in my writing career and
golf business.
Bradbury educates and amazes OMSK kids with his collection of birds
By Neil Becker
Sports Writer
Seconds after James Bradbury
showcased that first
bird of prey it was quite evident
that he had all the kids
attention.
Bradbury, who works for
the Canadian Raptor Conservancy
visited Oliver M.
Smith School on January 19
where he captivated the kids
with his collection of special
birds which included the
bald eagle, red tail hawk,
American kestrel and a barn
owl.
Amazingly enough Bradbury
whose been working
with the Conservancy for
approximately a year silenced
all talk in the gymnasium
when he brought
Lucky who is a kestrel bird
out of his cage.
Needless to say Bradbury
who came all the way from
Port Dover for this show got
a typical reaction of ‘yuck’
and ‘gross’ from the kids
when he explained that
these types typically like to
hunt for snakes, rats, mice
and even rabbits.
Throughout his presentation
Bradbury who let the
birds fly on stage was constantly
impressed with the
questions and knowledge
that the kids had about
birds.
“They seem to be really up
on their birds and I was really
impressed with some of
their answers and questions,”
Bradbury said. “We
just want to make them
more aware of all the different
kinds of birds around
them.”
During the show and tell
Bradbury would just have to
hold out his gloved hand
and whistle to get the bird
to fly back to him.
Following Lucky Bradbury
brought out Betty who is
the smallest member of the
falcon family.
Once again Bradbury got
the kids attention as he explained
that these kind of
birds can travel at 300 kilometres
per hour and even
hit their prey going that
same speed.
Ironmen get some solid individual performances but still looking for that first win
By Neil Becker
Sports Writer
Surprisingly after four regular
season games the Iroquois
Ironmen are still in
search for their first CLax
regular season win.
Looking to bounce back
from their 18-15 road loss
against Oshawa the Ironmen
who have also lost
their season to Durham
and Brampton were at
home on January 21st
where they got a couple of
big performances from a
couple of individuals but
still lost 14-12 against
Peel.
The Ironmen who were the
only Six Nations team
playing on that weekend
got a two goal four point
effort from Mitch Nanticoke
and Cody Johnson.
Also stepping up big
was Emmit Printup and
Jerome Thompson who
had three assists along
with Mike Attwood who
chipped in with a goal and
three points.
Others getting on the
scoreboard include Vern
Hill, Elijah Printup, Andrew
Lazore, and Dus
Nanticoke who all had two
points.
Besides for the offence another
positive sign for the
Ironmen was that their
power play was productive
as they scored four of their
goals on eight extra man
opportunities.
Habs Carey Price once again named
to NHL all star game
By Neil Becker
Sports Writer
The Turtle Island News
would like to give special
congratulations to Montreal
Canadians goalie
Carey Price who has earned
what will be his third trip
to the NHL All-Star Game.
This 24 year-old who is
from Anahim Lake B.C. and
is part native was selected
despite having after 40
games a mediocre 15-17-8
record with a .912 save
percentage and a 2.45
GAA.
Price made his first All-
Star appearance back in
2009 and was also selected
last year when the game
was in Carolina.
Other honours for Price
includes being awarded
with his third straight Molson
Cup Trophy and has
been selected the NHL’s
first star of the week on
two separate occasions.
Local News Headlines
Small turnout
for rally bus
Plans to bring Six Nations members to Ottawa to support First Nations leadership in its meeting with the Crown drew a poor response.Only 15 people had
registered for the Jan., 24 trip, Communications Officer Karen Best told the Jan., 17th council meeting. Best had distributed flyers and ads but councillors
said community members didn’t know what the trip was for. Councillor Dave Hill said people complained about the bus leaving at 4 a.m. Elected Chief
Montour. said “People want everything handed to them on a platter. There’s got to be some effort here.” oh, I can’t get up that early,” he said. Councillor
Helen Miller told him, “It would help if they know what they were going there for.” Six councillors and Montour are in Ottawa .
SN Police raid
home for drugs
Six Nations Police raided a
Second Line home last
Thursday, January 19th, at
about 1:30 pm. after community
complaints of drug
use. Police investigated and
executed a Search Warrant
for drugs at 2855 2nd Line
Road. Hamilton Police Services
Canine Unit assisted in
the search. Police seized 160
grams of marihuana, an
undisclosed amount of cash
and paraphernalia associated
to trafficking in drugs.The estimated
street value of the
marihuana seized is
$3,200.00. Charged with
Possession of Marihuana for
the Purpose of Trafficking is
Aaron Todd Staats,38 , He
was held for a Bail Hearing.
RCMP seize First
Nations made
products LONDON, ON, RCMP London
Customs & Excise Section
seized what they
described as 75,000 “contraband”
cigarettes from a residence
located in south east
London. The brands seized
included Canadian, Discount,
Putter's, DK's, Sago
and Classic. Also seized were
contraband cigarettes in resealable
plastic bags, Tomahawk
Little Cigars, Royal
Blend Canadian Tobacco, approximately
$2,000 and a vehicle
which had been used as
a conveyance. A 63 year
London man has been
charged with possession of a
tobacco product not properly
stamped and possession of
proceeds of crime under the
Excise Act, 2001.
Former Olympian Waneek Horn-Miller visits Oliver M. Smith
By Neil Becker Writer It’s not exactly an everyday
occurrence when an established
Olympian such as
Waneek Horn-Miller
throws out a direct challenge
to a bunch of eager
public school kids.
That’s exactly what happened
when on January
19th Horn-Miller who won
a 1999 Gold Medal at the
Pan Am Games and excelled
at the 2000 Sydney
Olympics visited various six
nation elementary schools
including Oliver M. Smith
where she encouraged the
kids to reach out for their
dreams.
Horn-Miller, a Mohawk,
captured the kid’s attention
by inspiring them with her
story of Olympic glory
which began as a small
child watching the 1984
Los Angeles Olympics.
At that time Horn-Miller
never heard of the
Olympics but according to
her message for the kids
got inspired when watching
with her mom Alwyn Morris
make history by becoming
the first Mohawk to
medal in the Olympics.
“After he got out of the
boat (kiyak) I remember
that he took out and raised
an eagle feather,” Horn-
Miller told the kids. “I was
seven years old and it was
the first time I knew that I
wanted to go to the
Olympics.”
After telling her mom
Horn-Miller’ mom said
“Well what are you waiting
for.”
Besides for inspiring kids by
letting them know that
dreams can come true
Horn-Miller also talked
about the total dedication
and sacrifice that it takes to
achieve those goals.
Editorial
PM Harper lays down the
rules with a smile
Assembly of First Nations B.C. Regional Chief Jody Wilson-
Raybould said it best and in a tone only a woman
of her stature can get away with.
What had been billed as the historic coming-together
of the federal government and First Nations Tuesday degenerated
into the First Nations leadership finding themselves
being told by their boss, Prime Minister Stephen
Harper, here is how it is going to be.
The Indian Act stays, but he will make occasional
changes around it. Like a great tree with strong roots he
said to topple it over would leave a gaping hole.
That had Regional Chief Wilson-Raybould hurriedly
changing the speech she was about to make.
And as a mother scolds her child she told the Prime Minister
sitting directly in front of her, the Indian Act is “an
act of neo-colonialism.”
She told him in a no nonsense tone First Nations require
“core governance reform.'' ”When we do, the Indian Act
tree will topple over. No gaping hole, Mr. Prime Minister,
but strong and self-determining First Nations,'' she said
to loud applause.
The Indian Act, was first passed in 1876, gave Ottawa
exclusive jurisdiction over “Indians and Lands Reserved
for Indians.'' It was amended in 2000. It runs First Nations
people’s lives. It defines who is recognized as a
First Nation person and has rules on everything from
how reserves operate to the effect of marriage on status
and what you can even buy.
And the fact that the Prime Minister wants to keep it,
sent a clear message to First Nations leaders who said it
continues to leave First Nations as wards of a modern
day state.
AFN leader Shawn Atleo took full aim at the Prime Minister
calling the act what it is a disgraceful premise that
First Nations remain inferior to the rest of the country.
Stephen Harper had the chance to change history Tuesday
and embrace a unified culturally distinct country.
He chose instead to continue a distasteful page in Canadian
history that holds out a segment of its society as
inferior, must be assimilated and unable to take care of
themselves.
Tuesday wasn’t a Crown/First Nations summit. It was a
day of the boss telling his cronies here is how it is going
to be and they munched over lunch.
United Nations Declaration
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Please speak out! Within weeks, the United Nations General Assembly must make a decision on the long awaited and urgently needed UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Either the international community will move ahead with final adoption as has been urged by Indigenous peoples and their supporters worldwide, or adoption of the Declaration will once again be delayed due to the demands of a small, yet vocal group of states.
Please take this opportunity to support the Declaration.
More than 14,000 individuals and organizations have already signed a global petition hosted by Amnesty International Canada in support of the Declaration.
If you haven't already done so, please add your name and encourage many others to do so.
The petition, in English, Spanish, French and Russian is online at:
Peter Penashue, MP - Labrador Video Gallery Innu Response View Here
Supreme Court of Canada
Appeal Judgments
ABORIGINAL LAW: TAX DETAILS HERE
Six Nations not notified of finding of remains
By Lynda Powless
Editor
Oxbow site where a woman’s remains were found. (Photo by Jim C Powless)
Six Nations was not notified
when the remains of a
“pre-contact” aboriginal female
were found during digging
of a foundation for a
home on Oxbow Road two
weeks ago.
Elected Chief Bill Montour
said he did not receive any
notification from any one
that bones had been found.
“I heard about it in the community,”
he said.
Elected Chief Montour, said
he intends to find out why
the community was not notified.
“When you run into human
remains the coroner becomes
involved to determine
if it is a criminal matter and
if not, to make sure the remains
are interfered with as
little as possible, and remain
in place.”
“We should have been notified
and it is actual law
now that we have to be notified,”
he said.
But that didn’t happen
when these bones were discovered.
Instead Brant OPP removed
the bones from the scene.
OPP media officer Mark Foster
said the bones are in the
control of the Coroners Office
.
He said both Bill Monture, a
member of the Men’s Fire
and Ken Hill “Onondaga
Chief” were both on scene
on the day of discovery Friday
Jan 6th.
And in a bizarre turn of
events OPP returned them
to the site when the Ontario
Coroner’s office’s forensic
anthropologist Dr Kathy
Gruspier appeared to inspect
the bones and site.
Dr. Gruspier is with the
Coroner’ Forensic Pathology
Service.
She said the remains, likely
a female, were not intact
when she saw them and
consisted only of a skull,a
lower jaw and a thigh bone.
She said she didn’t know if
the remains were all from
one person.
"Those were all the remains
that were available for me to
look at," she said.
She said she examined the
site where the bones were
found on January 8
She said "there was no obvious
grave structure that I
could see. I didn't do any
digging but they [the property
owners] had dug out
the foundation of a house so
there was no grave for me to
look at. I looked around and
I didn't see any more bones
that were obvious."
Gruspier said her assessment
of the bones was
based on features including
the shape of the skull, and
whether incisors are "shoveled,"
a feature of teeth
unique to First Nations people.
"There are some very distinct
characteristics of our First
Nations prior to contact and
I just assessed some of those
characteristics on the skull
and that's how I made my
determination that we were
dealing with remains that
were not of recent forensic
interest because they were
most likely to be first nations
remains," she said.
She said the OPP removed
the bones for safekeeping.
""We want to make sure nobody
goes onto the scene
and takes trophies or anything
like that."
The bones are being kept at
the Ontario Forensic Pathology
Service storage area "to
make sure nothing happens
to them, pending when the
land owners hire an archeologist,"
said Gruspier
She said when an archeologist
is hired she will release
the remains to the archeologist.
Michael D'Mello, the Registrar
of Ontario Cemeteries
said the archeological assessment
should be conducted
as soon as possible.
The assessment will affirm
the remains are Aboriginal,
said D'Mello.
Once D'Mello is told the remains
are believed to be First
Nation, he contacts the
band council closest to
where the remains were
found.
D’Mello said he contacted
former band councillor Barb
Harris. He said he did not
know she had retired from
band council.
Barb Harris did not return
Turtle Island News calls.
Prime Minister won’t abolish Indian Act, plans to “tinker” with it
By Lynda Powless
Editor
Prime Minister Stephen Harper particpates in a smudging ceremony while His Excellency
David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Shawn A-in-chut Atleo look on.(Photo by
Deb Ransom)
OTTAWA- The historic
Crown/First Nations meeting
may have been billed as
a way forward, but it seems
the Indian Act “tree” is
blocking the path.
First Nation leadership did
not react well to Prime Minister
Stephen Harper’s announcement
his government
will not repeal the Indian
Act.
Instead, Harper said he will
work in it and around it to
make modern legislative
change.
He likened it to a tree saying
“after 136 years, that tree
has deep roots,’’ he said.
``Blowing up the stump
would just leave a big hole.
He told the gathering “we
have no grand scheme to repeal
or rewrite the Indian
Act.” Instead, he said
`there are ways, creative
ways, collaborative ways,
ways that involve consultation
between our government,
the provinces and
First Nations leadership and
communities, ways that
provide options within the
act, or outside of it, for practical,
incremental and real
change.’’
At the same an afronted
AFN leader Shawn Atleo
told the gathering the act
was “Built on the disgraceful
premise of our inferiority,
aimed at assimilation and
the destruction of our cultures,
it was a complete abrogation
of the partnership
between respectful nations,’’
he said.
``Largely unchanged, it remains
a painful obstacle to
re-establishing any form of
meaningful partnership.’’
`Atleo said the act produced
the reserve system
and the hated residential
schools that scarred generations
of natives.``This legislation
has utterly failed our
people and failed Canada.’’
He said it is time ``to undo
the damage that act has inflicted
on our peoples.’’
He told the Prime Minister,
despite the attacks on First
Nations people, culture and
nations, “we supported
Canada whenever its survival
came under threats.
Our soldiers were among the
firs t to fight for Canada.”
B.C. Regional Chief Jody
Wilson-Raybould took up
the gauntlet and told the
Prime Minister, the Indian
Act turns First Nations into
impoverish communities.
“With all due respect, Mr.
Prime Minister, the Indian
Act system of government is
an impoverished system of
government that became little
more than managing programs.
Administering
Indian Affairs programs and
services is not self government
and it is not a system
that supports economies or
provides a sound investment
climate.”
She told him, “back home
many are afraid and reluctant
to vote yes for self government
given the colonial
legacy, they do not trust the
government, and to be frank,
Mr. Prime Minister, they do
not trust your government.”
She said “for change to
occur each of our communities
must go through their
own transformation,
through healing. Our colonial
period must officially
end, as this process of decolonization
continues to unfold
we all have a
responsibility to support
basic community development
work.”
She warned Harper, “we
must not add fuel to the fire
by trying to circumvent its
process. Your government is
making a downpayment on
our long term goal of self
government but we must be
mindful that this downpayment
is on the right house,
where decisions are made
collectively. Where First Nations
make the decision to
uproot the Indian Act tree
and knock it over. It is not
one where your government
rebuilds ours.”
She told him his plans to
“tinker with the act,” imposing
change without First Nations
input, deciding who
First Nations citizens are,
how governments will operate
and imposing change
smacks of neo-colonialism
and does not build strong
First Nations.
Band Council to get legal opinion after testy trust meeting
By Lynda Powless Editor
It’s coming down to a battle
of the lawyers...and at the
community’s cost.
Six Nations Band Council is
seeking a legal opinion on
whether or not the community’s
trust, as it exists, is
still a legally binding agreement
since the original gaming
funds from Casino Rama
no longer exist.
And the Six Nations Community
Trust Board says it
already has a legal opinion
saying it does.
The two groups met in a
testy two hour session at
the tourism building Saturday,
after the trust refused
to meet at the band’s council
chambers.
“The trust board wanted to
meet somewhere other than
the band chambers,”elected
chief Bill Montour said.
“They want to sit at same
level as the council they
said.”
Elected Chief Montour said
he alone had 18 issues with
the trust he was questioning
after receiving complaints
from community members.
“The meeting could have
gone on for two days,” he
said.
He said councillors were
questioning trustees.
“There needs to be some
work done on both sides before
we meet again,” he said.
The primary issue, he says is
whether the “trust agreement
is still legal with the
new funding. They say it is,
we say no. The agreement is
specific to receiving Rama
funds but there is no more
Rama. Now its general gaming
funds.”
Elected Chief Montour said
band council, “we have to
get legal opinions on that.
They seem to think when the
world ends this agreement
will end but I don’t think
so.”
He said councillors had
questions on the makeup of
the trust board with some
trustees sitting on the board
almost since its inception.
“There are people sitting
there that seem to be there
forever.”
He said the board has over
$16 million sitting in the
Bank of Nova Scotia, off reserve
and only gave out
$790,000 to community
groups.
“That doesn’t even make
sense,” he said.
He said after complaints
were issued the trust has
pulled back the $190,000 in
funding for Polytechnic Institute
to research seeking a
Tim Horton’s franchise.
“Councillors even questioned
that saying they
weren’t suppose to be funding
private business.”
Montour said he wants the
issue of the trust to go back
to community meetings.
Call to hire Six Nations electoral officer refused by band council
by Stephanie Dearing
Writer
A proposal calling on Six Nations
elected council to facilitate
the hiring of a Six
Nations elections officer was
voted down by the majority
of council.
The proposal had been offered
as an amendment to
the motion to call a by-election
for District Five, following
the resignation of
councillor George Montour
abruptly on January 10.
“I have to speak to this,” said
councillor Bob Johnson, District
Five. “I don’t want to
oppose anything, I want to
make that very clear. But my
position . I want to ensure
that we are in line and consistent”
with the election
code.
The councillor said, “if we do
move forward I want to make
sure we’re consistent with
the guidelines, that’s all I
want to do.”
Bob Johnson said he wanted
elected council to abide by
the election code, pointing
out the appointment of the
electoral officer for the last
election violated the code.
“I suggest to council that we
review the document [election
code] for familiarity, not
for change, but to plan and
to discuss with the proper
understanding and to act accordingly,”
said councillor
Bob Johnson.
The councillor also called on
his colleagues to “advertise
for the Chief Electoral Officer
position,” and if there is no
response, “we open this to
community members to offer
training in such a role.”
“We have the right to appoint,”
councillor Bob Johnson
pointed out. He said
council could proceed with
the by-election, or could
defer the by-election.
If the electoral officer “is
outside the election code,
we’re contrary to the code,”
said Bob Johnson,
urging council to “rethink
this.” He asked for council to
meet to review and discuss
the existing election code
“for familiarity.”
Two bodies found in New Credit house fire
Fire broke out in this home on Mississauga and Tuscarora Roads killing two people. (Photo by
Jim C Powless)
Mississauga New Credit – A
Six Nations man has been
charged with two counts of
First Degree Murder in the
fire death of two people.
A Six Nations man and
woman were killed in a fire at
one story bungalow n the
Mississauga New Credit Reserve
Sunday night.
The fire was spotted by a
Haldimand County Ontario
Provincial Police office on patrol
at Mississauga and Tuscarora
Roads.
At about 7:55 p.m. while on
patrol, police saw a fully involved
house fire on Mississauga
Road. Haldimand
County Fire Department was
immediately dispatched and
attended the scene to extinguish
the fire.
Once the fire was extinguished,
two deceased persons
where located within
the home. At this time no
positive identification has
been made.
OPP media relations officer
Mark Foster said the fire is
being treated as suspicious
because two people were
killed in the fire and there is
no immediate cause.
Constable Foster said the
two bodies recovered following
a fatal house were taken
to the Hamilton General
Hospital for a post-mortem.
Foster said the victims had
not been identified, and the
post-mortem would likely
use either DNA or dental
records to establish identity.
On Monday, January 23, 60
year old Glenn Owen HILL of
Ohsweken, was arrested and
charged with two counts of
First Degree Murder. He was
remanded into custody and
is to appear in Provincial
Court, Cayuga on Friday, January
27, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.
Turtle Island News was told
Hill has a record of assault
and arson.
Band council water project proceeding over old village site
By Stephanie Dearing
Writer
It's being called an archeological
disaster.
Site work being done on one
bank of the Grand River has
literally been bulldozing the
site of an ancient Iroquoian
village.
The Haudenosaunee Development
Institute (HDI) said
band council is aware of the
village, because it had an
archeological assessment
done there in 2010.
HDI is also concerned about
the lack of environmental
protection, said Hazel Hill
HDI interim director.
She said she has asked
where the studies are. "The
community has a right to
know," she said She has not
received an answer from
band council.
Hazel Hill said she had spoken
to the subcontractor
working on the site asking
him Tuesday to stop his work
"until we see some answers."
Gord Hill "committed to
stopping for today.
Hill added, "My concern is,
we cannot be a hypocrite.
When we are out there stating
that this is our responsibility
to the earth that we are
caretakers I cannot sit by
while development goes on
within our own community,
no different than when we
deal with development off
the community."
Hazel said the 2010 archeological
assessment "determined
that there was
Iroquoian village sites there
and they recommended
stage four."According to the
Ontario Ministry of Tourism,
Culture and Sport, Stage Four
of an archeological assessment
is "mitigation of development
impacts."
"When it gets to a stage four,
they're required to follow
through," said Hazel Hill.
Hill said she is not against
the water treatment plant.
"Because it's an Iroquoian
village site, those are our ancestors.
And that to me has
a significant impact on this
community."
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