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Feature Article - September 7, 2006Weekend events carry on, in spite of wet weather
Exhibitors atSundanceStudio onZealand Rod, a popular stop on the Inroads tour.(L toR)GaryBarr, JohnMacDonald, CarmenAllen,Mark Burnham, DawnBurnham, Doug MacDonald, and CamAllen.
Smart’s Marina, the artisans of the Inroads Tour and the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation all spent months planning annual events for Labour Day Weekend, only to be greeted with news of Ernesto’s northward spread of cold, wet weather right in the middle of their events.
For the Inroads tour people, the weather did not prove to be a hindrance since most of the artisans were showing their work indoors. Attendance at the tour was up over last year.
At Smart’s Marina, the rain did not stop the fish from biting, and the hardy fishermen told themselves the weather was ideal for bass fishing.
The Ardoch Algonquin’s third annual Pow wow got off to a booming start on Saturday, and although it was a struggle, spirits remained high throughout the rain showers that came on late Saturday, and persisted right through Sunday.
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Feature Article - November 30, 2006More meetings at Pine Lake
by Jeff Green
North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire brought news of a potential agreement between the Ardoch Algonquins, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the township, to a meeting of North Frontenac Council on November 23rd.
Maguire described a meeting on November 21st at the Pine Lake boat launch, which has been transformed into a fledgling Pow Wow grounds this past summer by members of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (AAFNA).
Present at the meeting were Harold and Neil Perry, Daniel St. Pierre and Randy Cota from AAFNA; Ron Maguire, CAO Cheryl Robson, and Chief Building Officer David Young from the township; Bob Walroth and Monique Rolf Von den Bauman-Clark from the Ministry of Natural Resources; and Sgt. Jeff McCann from the Ontario Provincial Police.
As Maguire described, a working agreement was reached concerning the future of the site. The Ardoch Algonquins said they would not be building a community centre on the site as originally planned, but only a smaller building, “suitable for a meeting of perhaps a couple of dozen people” Maguire said. The parties all agreed to cooperate so that the building satisfies environmental and building code regulations.
“The agreement was welcomed by all the parties,” Maguire said.
However, a subsequent meeting on Monday of this week (November 27) did not go quite as well.
According to Harold Perry of AAFNA, MNR official Bob Walroth said this week that they need to do a more comprehensive environmental assessment of the project than they were talking about at the meeting on November 21st.
This led to a heated exchange between Walroth and Randy Cota over what had been agreed to on November 21st.
After the meeting, a series of phone calls between MNR officials, Randy Cota, and Ron Maguire seem to have sorted out the matter, and late on Tuesday afternoon the township sent a letter to Harold Perry outlining the township’s expectations from AAFNA regarding the project.
Maguire remains optimistic that the working agreement between AAFNA, the township and the MNR will work.
Harold Perry provided some details about the building that AAFNA is planning to construct. He said it will be a 28’ by 40’ structure, which will include washrooms, a room suitable for a meeting, and space for storage.
A parking lot is being proposed for the opposite side of the Ardoch Road .
(The News was unable to obtain an interview with Monique Rolf Von den Bauman-Clark of the MNR for comment on the latest developments in this ongoing story)
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Feature Article - April 12, 2007Letters to the Editor
Re road complaints & other issues
In response a number of letters which have appeared in the News I would like to say that the Township of Central Frontenac is well aware that a number of items such as roads, public works buildings and operations, recycling, landfill management and more need a great deal of attention. For that reason your new mayor and council together with staff are working on a number of projects. Some solutions are short term and obvious to almost everyone such as the immediate need for a new public works manager, more gravel and a new fire hall. On those issues responsible actions are being taken. A search for a new manager is underway, gravel has been ordered and the Mountain Grove Fire Hall will be tendered.
On the issue of the fire hall I understand the taxpayers’ concerns about the costs. Everyone, including Chief Mark MacDonald and the Mountain Grove Volunteers, who also pay taxes, has had this discussion. Something that people may not be aware of is that on completion this hall is expected to serve the needs of our community for the next 30 plus years and the new hall coupled with facilities for outdoor training will allow Central Frontenac to generate some revenue hosting training for other municipalities.
To address a number of the other highly important but not as emergent issues, council has committed to an organizational review. Almost 10 years have passed since amalgamation. Times have changed. Legislation and expectations have too. It’s time we make plans for successful future.
To the staff, who are putting in long hours plowing snow (in April), grading roads and writing work plans, to councillors, who are attending trainings, meetings and public events, and to the many volunteers like the Legion and the Lions who give of themselves every day I say thank you. Your efforts are not unnoticed. Your community is changing for the better. Initiatives like Building Inclusive Communities and the Northern Rural Youth Initiative weren’t taking place this time last year.
It generally takes a little longer for those people not involved with the work to recognize the changes. Please rest assured they are happening. It will take time and patience but together we will get there.
Sincerely,
Janet Gutowski
Mayor, Central Frontenac
Re: uranium inaccuracies
In his letter to the editor, April 12, 2007, Mr. Feasby is badly misinformed on almost every count. His letter states that, “Natural Resources Canada is not a mine regulator and has no role in uranium mine development.” Among other things, NRCan regulates the use of explosives and therefore all hard-rock mines; as the custodian of mining and energy policy it also establishes the federal government's priorities in these areas. The independent agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission does not regulate very carefully all aspects of uranium mining in Canada, as Mr. Feasby states. It used to be that cores or bulk samples containing more than 20 KG uranium would require a licence, but that requirement has been removed. It is true that, “Uranium deposits in Ontario, Bancroft and Elliot Lake, are all less than 0.1% (not 1%). Uranium metal is indeed heavy, but in nature it is present as a lighter oxide. Common chemicals are used to extract it from rock in a milling process. Most of the radioactivity remains with the residue - the tailings.”. However, it's still not "light". 85% of the radioactivity is left in the tailings. There is indeed a sad history of spills - tailings, water, etc. at Elliot Lake. Most radiation-related cancers, whether from environmental or workplace exposure, take 15-20 years to develop. Why does the town promote itself as a retirement haven? There is still considerable stockpiled uranium; there is liable to be a shortage only when (and if) many more reactors are actually built - and if they don't turn to reprocessed fuel. And they still have nowhere to put the high-level fuel waste.
Jamie Kneen Mining Watch Canada
Re: Ardoch Algonquins finalize building plans
I'm writing about the Pine Lake boat launch development by the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation. (AAFN nee AAFNA: Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Allies) (ref: Frontenac News April 12 2007: Ardoch Algonquins finalise building plans and Kingston Whig-Standard April 11 2007: Building Controversy.) When this whole controversy started, I supported the idea of Powwow grounds. I even came around to the community centre idea. Now we hear that there will also be a senior centre!?
I just don’t understand why, with all of the beautiful Land o’ Lakes area to pick from, why choose a location that will endanger participants andtourists and possibly waste all that development money?
The launch is at the foot of a hill on Ardoch Road. I have lived on Brown's Lane, near the top of that hill, for only four years, but I've seen and experienced some close calls, because one cannot see the bottom of the hill from the top of the hill. Pedestrians will be at risk.
The launch is in an area that could flood. If the beaver dam at the other end of the lake broke, or if Al Gore's movie 'An Inconvenient Truth'has any truth in it, there's a good chance the Manomin Heritage Centre will suffer water damage. Why risk it? Why build on the lowest point of land? And why pick a small spit of land like that? To guarantee no growth? I can't help thinking there's more to this than what we are being told. We're promised an environmental assessment, with an opportunity for public input, but the well is already drilled. This tells me that the environmental assessment is already in the bag or they don't care about the results or they don't care about wasting hard-earned community development money.
Speaking only for myself, I fear for this beautiful dream. It is surrounded by shadow.
- Jo-Anne D'Aoust
Lions' ClubKudos to the local Lions’ Club for instituting their Vision Screening Program. We've know for a long time that many vision (and hearing) problems go undetected in young children. When I was a kid growing up in Toronto back in the late ’50s, hearing and vision tests were done regularly in the schools. In 1980, an article based on information from the Canadian Association of Optometrists estimated that 1 in 20 preschoolers (and 25% of children entering Grade 1) have visual problems interfering with their ability to learn. In April 1999, the Toronto Star carried a story about a screening program being instituted by the Toronto District School Board, based on statistics from one school that 1 in 4 children entering Senior Kindergarten had vision problems and 1 in 5 had hearing problems. The article noted that part of the problem stemmed from the cutbacks in public health nurses which had occurred 15 years earlier. Unfortunately, this came as no surprise to me.
When I was the psychologist with the local Catholic school board, I had concerns about the vision of some of the children being referred to me for learning problems. At that time, there was no vision (or hearing) screening occurring in the schools. Even when parents had concerns and took their children to their family doctor, it was usually only the Snellen chart (the one with letters that you look at with one eye covered) that was used. I did some research and discovered that the Snellen eye chart only screens for problems with distance vision. It turns out that, because of the ways our eyes focus on close objects compared to objects farther away, children can pass this test even though they have serious problems with near vision, necessary for desk and book tasks. As well, the Snellen only examines for monocular (one eye) vision problems but not for problems with inocular vision. In fact, based on studies going back into the 1940's, it was known that the Snellen test identifies perhaps only 50% of visual problems.
This is a serious problem, because it is estimated that 80% of school tasks are based on vision. As a result, optometrists were recommending vision screening for all children under age 3 years, as well as for any school-age children academically performing in the lower third of their class. In response to this information, in 1992 I wrote to the Medical Officer of Health at the public health unit in Kingston, expressing my concern about this state of affairs, and wondering if it would be possible to refer children for vision screening. In due time, his office requested the literature I had accumulated on this issue, and later returned it with no comment and no suggestions. As far as I know, public health still does not offer vision or hearing screening in the schools, although we've known for at least 30 years that a substantial proportion of children have serious problems in these areas.
So, while again I give full and heartfelt credit to the Lions’ Club for their comprehensive visual screening initiative, I am disappointed that this important task is only now being accomplished through volunteer effort.
In this regard, I say shame on the provincial government and shame on the public health unit for ignoring and neglecting this critical work decade after decade. Parents and teachers seeking more information can find many useful articles on the website of the Canadian Association of Optometrists (www.opto.ca).
- Stephen Dukoff, Ph.D., Psychologist
I really fell for the article about the pool. I was particularly pleased to read that Norm had agreed to defer the Mountain Grove firehall. I thought "We’re finally looking at the good of the whole, instead of the good of the parts". I called Philip Smith and he didn't know whatI was talking about. Then he asked if it was the April 1st issue. We both had a good laugh. Then in the next issue, we had the letter from Norm, which started out in such an irate manner; as I read on, I realized it was a spoof. I've lived in Central Frontenac for 20 years, which I realize, doesn't make me a native, and the one thing I've learned is that the citizens are warm and friendly and share a very nice sense of humor.
Our roads do leave much to be desired; as I write this, I'm trapped. The Frontenac Road is not safe to drive--we have had snow and now it's raining, and it has not been plowed. They did try but the plow went off the road trying to get to us.
I have .8km of private road, upon which are living year-round taxpayers as well as several summer residents. I am responsible for the upkeep of this road.Last week, the potholes could bury you - we graded and filled and yesterday they were lovely. Guess what they will be like tomorrow?
I guess my message is: lighten up everyone. I don't like feeling trapped (I'm officially an elderly person and live alone) but all those other good things about living here make up fortimes like today.
- Marg Purtell
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Feature Article - April 12, 2007Ardoch Algonquins finalise building plansby Jeff Green
In a press statement released last week, the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (AAFN), formerly known as Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Allies (AAFNA), has announced final plans for the construction of the Manomin Heritage Centre at Pine Lake, northwest of Sharbot Lake.
The centre is to be named Manomin after the wild rice at nearby Mud Lake that the non-status AAFN has been devoted to for many years. "We want to build a heritage centre so our kids can learn our language, so that we can learn about our culture, so we can be proud of ourselves and so our elders can see their efforts bear fruit," explains Co-Chief Randy Cota.
AAFN spokesperson Bob Lovelace believes that, "We, along with other Native peoples in the country, are in the process of defining how Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people work and live together" and are, in effect, "setting a standard for ourselves to live by."
AAFN intends to complete the project this summer in order to hold its annual Pow Wow on September 1. They have enlisted Alexander Wilson Architect Inc. of Kingston, “who will ensure that the Heritage Centre meets all requirements of authorities having jurisdiction as well as the standards outlined in the most recent edition of the Ontario Building Code,” according to the press release.
Ecological Services of Elginburg will be conducting an Environmental Assessment of the site.
AAFN requests that any concerns regarding the Environmental Assessment be made in writing and addressed to Alexander Wilson Architect, who, as a neutral party, will administer all dialogue between interested parties. "It is important to us that we do everything properly, that we are open and transparent in our dealings with the community at large," explains Co-Chief Cota, "as we are committed to the success of the project and the people it will benefit."
However the process has not been undertaken without controversy on a local level. David Rose, the President of the Pine Lake Property Owner’s Association Association, does not agree that AAFN has been forthcoming to the community at large.
“AAFN is taking a very aggressive view to the boat launch. They seem completely committed to forging ahead. I wish that instead of issuing press releases they would give some genuine thought to the deficiencies of the site, and allow for some meaningful consultation with the community. They have replaced community building with press releases,” he said, “they are not interested in any organic process.”
According to AAFN, the community centre will provide a "space for community members to come together in a culturally significant space for community gatherings, cultural and linguistic programs, education and training, as well as social and health services." The Centre will also "offer programs to non-members who want to learn about Algonquin people, culture and history."
Although the AAFN release expresses confidence in the progress of the project, municipal and provincial officials are still determining its legalities. The project has been progressing on land that has been under the jurisdiction of the Province of Ontario for hundreds of years, although it is within a vast amount of land that is subject to an Algonquin Land Claim.
On March 25, Mayor Ron Maguire and members of the North Frontenac Council attended a meeting of the AAFN Family Heads Council in Maberly, where the plans for the new centre were outlined. Maguire told the News that he “was encouraged to hear once again that the building code will be followed and that an environmental assessment is being completed.”
As for building permits and other technical requirements from the township, Maguire said he is still unclear where that is going. “Some of the issues are in the hands of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and some under the jurisdiction of our Chief Building Official under the Municipal Act,” he said.
On the part of the MNR, Vince Ewing, the Acting District Manager from the Bancroft Office said, “I would not say that AAFN have been in talks with the MNR, but I am aware that there is an environmental assessment process under way at Pine Lake, which is in keeping with our normal process, and is in line with land use permits being issued for Crown Lands.”
AAFN is asking that comments and questions be directed to Alexander Wilson Architect Inc. Re: Ardoch Algonquin First Nation Manomin Heritage Centre, 249 Brock Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 1S3. Tel: 613-545-3744. Fax: 613-545-1411. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Feature Article - May 3, 2007North Frontenac Council meeting, April 26, 2007
by Jeff Green
Malcolm Lake Association Ron Higgins, a resident of Malcolm Lake, which is located near Ardoch, told council of the pending establishment of a lake association that he hopes will be established on May 19. In appearing before council, Higgins was seeking some pertinent information that will be of interest to the association.
The first thing he wanted to ask about was future prospects for development on the lake. Clerk-Planner Brenda deFosse said that all of the properties on the lake are currently zoned residential-waterfront, and any individual planning a commercial development on their property would have to make an application for a change in zoning, a process which would include a public meeting.
The only exception is the Malcolm Lake trailer park, which is zoned commercial. The trailer park was in existence when the township was established, and was accepted by the township at that time. DeFosse said that unless the trailer park’s owners attempt to upgrade the facility, the township has no way of knowing how many trailers are on the site.
Higgins also wanted to know about a proposed development on Ardoch Lake, a.k.a. Green Lake.
Last year, there was a delegation to council concerning Ardoch Lake. A sketch of a proposed subdivision of lots along the lake was brought before council. “I recall they were proposing a great many lots, and they backed down immediately when we looked at the sketch, saying it was only preliminary,” said Mayor Maguire.
In order to create a subdivision of lots, a process involving the County of Frontenac must be entered into.
“Thus far we have not heard from the county that an application for subdivision has been received for Ardoch Lake,” said Clerk-Planner Brenda deFosse.
Higgins’ final question concerned the Ardoch dump. He was told that the dump has an estimated 26 years of life left in it, and that it is regularly tested for leachate and other potential environmental impacts by the Ministry of the Environment.
Tomvale Runway As part of the agreement between the township and the Tomvale Airport, the runway was ploughed after the most recent snowstorm in April. The ground was soft at the time, and damage was done to the runway and the ground near the runway.
Claudio Valentini, the airport’s owner, sent an email to the township saying he had told the contractor not to plough the runway in this case, “knowing that it is soft at this time of year, and that the snow would soon melt. He informs me that you instructed him to do so in any case.”
Valentini then said that the runway has been trashed and wanted to know how the township would like to proceed.
After considerable debate, during which Councillor Olmstead argued the township should get out of the agreement with Tomvale entirely, it was finally decided that the township should deliver 7 tonnes of cold patch material to Tomvale as was agreed initially, and should pay for the contractor’s time to complete the repair.
Taking recycling in-house Council discussed a report from Public Works Manager John Ibey concerning the recycling system. Currently the township is employing the services of Frazer Hauling to bring recycled material to a depot in Napanee.
While there has been a problem over the past two summers with recycling pick up being sporadic, leaving large amounts of material lying about, it was the previous contractor, MANCO, that was responsible for the problem, and Frazer Hauling has been more reliable.
“In fact it was Frazer who bailed us out when MANCO couldn’t do the pickups,” Ibey said.
Nonetheless, in consideration of the different bin sizes the township is now using for recycling, the overall cost of hauling, and the fact that the township does not currently receive payment for any material of value, Ibey recommended that the township purchase a hoist system to be attached to one of its trucks so both sizes of bins can be taken by the truck, and hire a driver to do the hauling of recycling.
Council discussed the matter for a time. Finally, Deputy Mayor Beam asked John Ibey, “Are the savings in hauling costs going to pay for this new employee?”
Ibey said yes and the proposal was approved.
Beaver Dam committee A task force has been set up to look at the township’s responsibilities in regards to beaver dams on township lands. The issue was brought to council recently by the Fergusons, who live on Ardoch Road, and have been subject to flooding.
The budget is coming CAO/Treasurer Cheryl Robson informed council that she would have a draft budget available by next week. Council has scheduled special meetings, starting on May 8, to go over the budget and order changes if necessary.
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Feature Article - June 28, 2007Algonquin solidarity over uranium exploration
by Jeff Green
George White, the President of Frontenac Ventures Corporation, said this week that he is hoping to come to a “memorandum of understanding” with Chief Doreen Davis of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation over uranium exploration in North Frontenac.
However, Doreen Davis seems to be having none of it.
“I said to him [George White] that I’ll give everyone their day, but nobody can convince me to risk the future of the land for any amount of dollars. We will listen, the community will listen, but that does not mean we will agree to uranium exploration on a territory that is sacred, traditional land for us. Not at all.
“The minute you drill into uranium, you expose it to the air. My mind set is that I can’t comprehend how this can be safe,” Doreen Davis said in an interview with the News on Monday.
The differences between Davis and the leadership of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (AAFNA) over the approach to ongoing land claim negotiations have been well documented in this newspaper, but in this instance, the two groups seem to be on the same page.
In an interview with the News last week, and on CBC Radio this past Monday, George White characterized AAFNA as an “unofficial group” and “a group of radicals”, claiming that the Sharbot Lake group are the official Algonquin representatives in the area around the 30,000 acre mining claim site.
Chief Davis participated in a meeting on Sunday in Maberly with the AAFNA Family Heads Council, and the Sharbot Lake and Ardoch communities will both be involved in an event scheduled for this Friday at the Robertsville mine site on Hwy. 509.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder on this, and our personal issues all have to be put aside and discarded,” Davis said regarding the relationship between Ardoch and Sharbot Lake. “We are a family, and the disagreements we have politically do not change that.”
In an email to AAFNA members sent out on Monday, co-chief Randy Cota wrote, ”In a working relationship we the leadership have entered into an agreement to have Sharbot Lake First Nation to stand beside us to further the cause [of stopping the exploration] … Chief Davis and myself have agreed on this in a public meeting yesterday, 24th June 2007,at our Council meeting.”
Chief Davis had been made aware of the mining claims several months ago and Shabot Obaadjiwan members attended a meeting of North Frontenac residents in early April to hear concerns about the uranium exploration. She brought the matter to the attention of Brian Crane, the Ontario negotiator at the Algonquin Land Claim table, and she says, “I was told that nothing is happening, but it turns out that a lot is happening.”
The fact that the exploration is taking place in proximity to the Mississippi River, which had been identified on the land claim map as a sacred land that should not be considered for economic development, is particularly upsetting to Davis. “The Mississippi River plays a such a central role for us; it is a special river. For that to be overlooked, it’s very troubling for us. We are the stewards of the land. One of my largest roles is to protect the river.”
Frontenac Ventures Corporation has vacated their base at the Robertsville mine, where they have leased office space, in anticipation of protests that are scheduled for this week.
George White told the CBC that he will be attempting to negotiate a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the Shabot Obaadjiwan before returning to the Robertsville mine.
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Feature Article - August 30, 2007 Judge orders Algonquin communities out“By Algonquin law, we must remain” Paula Sherman, co-chief of the Ardoch Algonquins
by Jeff Green
Late Monday afternoon the other shoe fell.
Judge Gordon Thomson, of the Kingston Superior Court, delivered an interim injunction that allies closely with the position taken by Frontenac Ventures Corporation.
The company has been pressing the court to act in response to an occupation by members of the Ardoch Algonquin and Shabot Obadjiwaan First Nations on property that Frontenac Ventures has leased at the Robertsville mine on Hwy. 509 in North Frontenac.
The occupation began on June 29.
Until that date the property had been the base of operations for Frontenac Ventures as they carried out exploration of uranium deposits on a 30,000-acre parcel of private and public lands in North and Central Frontenac.
This weeks interim injunction is intended to allow Frontenac Ventures to continue their exploration until a full hearing can be held on a motion for an interlocutory injunction. That hearing is scheduled to start on September 20.
The interim injunction stands in stark contrast to an earlier “terms of adjournment” ruling that Judge Thomson released on August 15. At that time he ordered only that all materials brought into the encampment; including all trailers, tents, and flags, be removed, and that the company stay away from the site as well.
Not only did the Sharbot and Ardoch Algonquns refuse to leave at that time, they went so far as to inform the court that they will no longer participate in the injunction proceedings, instead asking that the province enter into direct negotiations over their demand for a moratorium on uranium exploration in what they assert is Algonquin territory.
When Ardoch Algonquin Lawyer Chris Reid explained this position to Judge Thomson at a hastily convened hearing on Thursday, August 23, the Judge seemed to take this information in stride. In response to the company’s request that he impose a new ruling, all he said was, “I may make a change, and I may not.”
Frustrated at the turn of events, and the fact that the interests of his clients did not seem to be advancing through the judge’s actions, Neil Smitheman told the court, “Frontenac Ventures is being sacrificed on the altar of collective guilt and political expediency.”
Judge Thomson Thomson must have been listening to Smitheman, since the 11-point interim injunction released this week gives the company everything they had been asking for and more. The injunction clearly states that the Algonquins and their supporters must leave, “Any representative of the AAFN, Shabot, or anyone supporting their position or associated with them in any way must leave the subject property.”
It also grants Frontenac Ventures “immediate, unfettered and unobstructed access to the subject property …”, including “all of the exploration property.”
Further points stipulate that the Algonquins or their supporters are not to interfere or impede Frontenac Ventures in any way.
Finally, the injunction deals with the activities of the OPP under the ruling.
It says that “any police service or police officer be and hereby is authorized to arrest and remove,” anyone who is blocking the execution of the order. The concluding phrase grants the police a bit of discretion however, in the following language: “such a police service or peace officer retains his or her discretion to decide whether to arrest or remove any persons pursuant to any court order concerning this file.”
The final sentence of the order says, “any confrontation in any form simply should not happen.”
This latest ruling was welcome news to George White, the President of Frontenac Ventures Corporation
“We are very pleased with what Judge Thomson has done,” he said, and he added that the company is looking forward to recommencing its exploration program.
OPP: coming out of the shadows
The Ontario Provincial Police have maintained a quiet presence in and around the Robertsville encampment since the start of the occupation.and t he day after Judge Thomson released his interim injunction, two OPP officers attended a meeting with the Algonquin leadership and membership, and members of the non-aboriginal community who support the encampment.
After particiapting in a tobacco ceremony, OPP Officer MacPherson accepted the Eagle Feather and said, “We have been here from the start to keep the peace, and that has not changed. A new court ruling has been released, but we have not had time to analyse it yet.. I commit to you that if we are placed in a different position as the result of the court order, we will communicate that change to you.”
He also stated that the OPP is ultimately bound to follow the dictates of the legal system, as understood by their own legal Counsel.
The actions of the OPP over the past two months have been heavily influenced by some high profile events in recent Ontario history, including the Ipperwash tragedy and the Ipperwash report.
Members of the OPP Aboriginal Relations Team (ART) have been “integrated officers”, living with the Algonquin communities on site and providing instant two-way communication with OPP officers on the other side.
Don Lickers, one of the ART members on site, participated in the meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Algonquin and non-aboriginal participants in the meeting all expressed their appreciation for the role the OPP have been playing, but remained nervous about what may happen in the near future.
OPP officials reitereated that they are ultimately subject to the law as expressed by the courts, and in response Co-Chief Paula Sherman of the Ardoch Algonquins talked of the communities’ obligations under Algonquin law.
“As [Algonquin Elder] Bob Lovelace has said, Canadian Law and Algonquin Law are mostly harmonious, but in some cases they come into conflict. I am bound by Algonquin Law to protect the land against this danger … The OPP is not our enemy here, the diamond drill is the enemy,” she said, referring to the core test holes that Frontenac Ventures intends to drill if and when they get back onto the exploration lands.
As of this writing, a Sherrif is expected at any time from the Kingston Court to officially post Judge Thomson’s order on the gate of the Robertsville Mine. The occupants will then have 48 hours to comply. Judge Thomson said he is prepared to deal with the matter again at short norice.
There has been no indication that the leadership of the two Algonquin Communities is wavering. If anything, their resolve seems to be hardening.
(Look to this site for updates)
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Feature Article - August 30, 2007Injunction formally served to Arodch and Sahbot Obaadjiwaan Algonquins
by Jeff Green
Two representatives from the Kingston Sheriff’s office arrived at the site of the occupation at the Robertsville mine at about 3:00 Friday afternoon accompanied by two OPP officers.
They were greeted by members of the Ardoch and Shabot Obaadjiwaan Algonquin First Nations who have been encamped behind the gate at the privately owned mine since June 29th, and a crowd of non-Algonquin supporters outside the gate.
As the Sheriff’s representative read out the 7 page order (which is described in “Robertsville mine occupation” below) the crowd drowned out his voice with cheers, drumming and singing.
With the order being filed, the OPP now have authorization to force the people in the encampment out.
OPP spokesperson Paige Whiting told the News that the OPP is considering the ruling now that it has been formally served, but at this time is maintaining the same profile as it has from the start of the occupation two months ago.
On Tuesday, a senior officer assured the leadership from both Algonquin Communities he will meet with them again before there is any change to the OPP operational guidelines at the site.
Although the ruling authorises the OPP to carry out arrests, it also grants them discretion and calls on them to avoid confronation.
The Ardoch Algonquins have their annual Pow Wow scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Blue Skies Festival site, which is close to the Robertsville mine.
(We will report on any change to the OPP protocol when it occurs)
Rallying
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Feature Article - July 19, 2007Rallying ends and lawyering begins in uranium exploration saga
by Jeff Green
The
second, and for the foreseeable future, final rally and march along
Highway 7 protesting plans by Frontenac Ventures Corporation to explore
for uranium in parts of North and Central Frontenac took place last
Friday, July 13.
A mixed crowd of Algonquin, other First Nation, and non-aboriginal people joined together in much the same manner as they had 5 days earlier, this time marching down Road 38 to end the rally at the Sharbot Lake High School. The Ontario Provincial Police closed down Highway 7 between Mountain Grove and Sharbot Lake for a time, and then closed Highway 38 from Parham to Sharbot Lake.
The rally was colourful and peaceful, and was attended by William Commanda of the Kitigan
Zibi Anishinabeg (near Maniwaki, Quebec), the most revered of Algonquin
elders and the keeper of three wampum belts of historic importance.
Although he underwent surgery earlier this week, Commanda insisted on
attending the rally. He is an outspoken opponent of uranium mining
because of its impacts in his home region of Maniwaki, and is known
internationally as an advocate for understanding between cultures.
Although he is now in his mid-nineties, he still hosts the annual
Spirit of All Nations Gathering.
While the rally went off without a hitch, there have been complaints from local business owners and others that disruptions to traffic flows on the highways are a detriment to their businesses during the crucial summer tourist season.
Perhaps in recognition of these concerns, Ardoch Algonquin representative Bob Lovelace said later that no more rallies are planned on Highway 7, and the newly named group of local anti-uranium activists that has been involved in the rallies as well, Concerned Citizens Against Mining Uranium (CCAMU), said that future rallies would be held “at different locations throughout our community, not the corner of Hwy #509 and #7.”
Enter the lawyers
What can only be described as an extraordinary meeting was hastily arranged at the Snow Road hall. It was originally going to be a simple meeting between lawyers representing the Ardoch and Shabot Obaadjiwaan First Nations and Frontenac Ventures Corporation, but quickly became a public event.
During the two-hour meeting, the Snow Road hall resembled a courtroom at certain points, a lecture hall on Algonquin history at others, and a battleground between pro and anti-uranium mining forces at other times.
And it was topped off with a parable about turtle soup.
Neil Smitheman, the lawyer for Frontenac Ventures Corporation, described Frontenac Ventures’ intentions for the meeting.
“My client wants to initiate a consultation process,” Smitheman said, as Frontenac Ventures President George White prepared to make a power presentation on the company’s plans for this year.
He was interrupted by Chris Reid, the lawyer for the Ardoch and Shabot Obaadjiwann First Nations, who argued that all of the Frontenac Ventures mining claims are located on the traditional lands of his clients and they have yet to be consulted as to their intentions regarding mineral exploration. “Let me be clear. My clients have not agreed with the Crown that their land will be open to mineral exploration. We need to begin consultation with the Crown first. Consultation could lead to exploration, but we are not prepared to make any accommodation in that regard at this time. The Crown cannot delegate the responsibility to consult to another party. You have purported mineral claims which we do not recognise.”
Reid then pointed out that he has made repeated attempts to communicate with the Province of Ontario, through the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, to initiate a process, but “they have not even acknowledged my emails.”
The province was represented at the meeting, after a fashion, by Tony Scarr and Pam Sangster from the Ministry of Mines and Northern Development.
When they were asked if they were willing to enter into a consultation process on behalf of the province, Tony Scarr responded by saying they were attending the meeting at the invitation of Frontenac Ventures Corporation to help explain the mining act as it pertains to their exploration plans, not in any legal position as a representative of the government of Ontario. He did say that the ministry is available to meet with the Algonquins, and that he would bring information back to the ministry.
Neil Smitheman said that “time is something that Frontenac Ventures simply cannot afford,” and added that if the company is prevented from pursuing their exploration program they will “take legal action against someone.”
Chris Reid then asked Neil Smitheman “At any time when the mining claims were being registered, did the Ministry of Mines and Northern Development inform your client that the claims are located on Algonquin territory?”
“They did not,” Smitheman responded.
After the two lawyers seemed to agree that the meeting constituted a dialogue rather than a consultation, Frontenac Ventures Corporation proceeded to outline their exploration plans for this summer. They plan to drill up to 200 test holes this summer in locations where test holes have been drilled in the past. Greg Luster from the company explained that the exploration process as planned by the company does not pose an environmental threat. The company also offered $10,000 to the Algonquins at this time, plus 2% of the money they spend on the project this summer, and talked of the economic benefits that would accrue if a mine happened to come into being.
A grilling session took place, with members of the public and Algonquin representatives expressing their disdain for anything related to uranium production.
“You talk about economic benefits,” said Mireille Lapointe from Westport, “but people don’t move near uranium mines, people move away from uranium mines.”
Chief Doreen Davis of the Sahbot Obaadjiwaan described the exploration as “a roll of the dice that I cannot take for my people.”
Finally, Bob Lovelace talked of the historic relation between Algonquin peoples and the land. “The land is our language,” he said, “we cannot survive if it is taken from us.” Further he described the Algonquins as the “single most endangered species in he Ottawa Valley.”
“Do you think there is a compromise possible here?” Neil Smitheman asked of Lovelace.
“No one supports this operation right now,” Lovelace responded. He then ended his presentation by telling an Algonquin story about two canoeists and a turtle. One man wants to make soup from the turtle but the other says, “I’ve never seen a turtle like that, I think we should leave it alone”. The first man insists on making soup from the turtle and he ends up developing an insatiable thirst, and is eventually drawn into the river, where he perishes. “I think we should leave that turtle alone,” Lovelace concluded.
As the meeting ended, Frontenac Ventures agreed not to commence drilling without notifying the Algonquins, but the Algonquins did not agree to Frontenac Ventures’ request that they abandon their camp at the Robertsville mine. Tony Scarr agreed to bring an Algonquin request that a “protocol for consultation” be developed between the Algonquins and the province to his superiors at the Ministry of Mines and Northern Development.
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Feature Article - July 26, 2007FrontenacVentures initiates lawsuits against Algonquins at mine site
by Jeff Green
Frontenac Ventures Corporation has initiated legal proceedings against the Shabot Obaadjiwaan First Nation, the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, and the leadership of the two communities: Doreen Davis, Paula Sherman, Randy Cota, Bob Lovelace, and Harold Perry.
The Ardoch and Sharbot Lake communities have occupied the Robertsville mine for the past four weeks. Frontenac Ventures has leased space at the mine site as a base camp for exploring a 30,000-acre swath of land for uranium content in the hopes of finding an “economic deposit”, in the words of company President George White.
Company lawyer Neil Smitheman said the lawsuit names the First Nations and their leadership because they have been blocking the company from pursuing its business interests. “We need to have this dealt with fast,” Smitheman said. Frontenac Ventures is scheduled to complete a deal, described by Gorge White as a “reverse takeover” with Sylvio Ventures of Vancouver on July 31. The deal could lead to the company achieving a listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange later this year. There is no word on how the occupation of the Robertsville mine will affect these dealings.
The suit is scheduled to be heard in Kingston Court on July 30, at which time Frontenac Ventures will be seeking a court injunction to remove the Shabot Obaadjiwaan and Ardoch Algonquins from the Robertsville mine. The federal and provincial governments and the Ontario Provincial Police were served papers as well, although they were not named in the lawsuit.
“They were served,” Smitheman said, “because they will be expected to act if there is a court injunction.”
Smitheman said that the July 30 court date was the first available date in Kingston.
For their part, the Algonquin leadership refused to acknowledge the legal papers when they were served on Monday July 23.
In other news in this ongoing situation, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay said last week that he will not intervene in the matter, leaving it to the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines to deal with.
An anti-uranium information picket is planned for Saturday, July 28,in the Town of Perth along Highway 7. Cars will be slowed in both directions to allow for information to be passed, but the road will not be closed.
