Aboriginal Justice delegation - Algonquin Territory: February 2008
Report of CPT’s
Aboriginal Justice Delegation to Algonquin Territory (Sharbot Lake, Ontario, Canada)
February 24 - March 1, 2008
The goals for this delegation, as stated by delegation leader Allan Slater, were as follows: 1) to learn from people; 2) to act as a non-violent team on behalf of the people; 3) To report back to our communities.
During our week in Sharbot Lake staying at the United Church manse, we heard from many different people regarding the issue of the exploratory uranium drilling at Robertsville Mine. People we visited included representatives of the Ardoch Algonquin Nation, the Shabot Obaadjiwan Nation, the MELT team of the OPP stationed in this area, many non-aboriginal settlers in the area, a minister of a local United Church, and a settler woman in the community who favours the exploration for uranium.. A complete listing of persons with whom the delegation had formal meetings is contained in Appendix A.
The complete and accurate timeline of events since June 2007 was sometimes hard to keep track of. A lot has happened. Especially difficult was getting an accurate picture of what has happened and will be happening in the legal and judicial arena of this issue. Bob Lovelace (Ardoch former chief) has been sent to jail, other leaders have circumvented jail time by agreeing to no further action on the issue, and some still await sentencing at this time. Those awaiting court sentencing include First Nations leaders, some non-aboriginal settlers, and may even include members of OPP MELT (Ontario Provincial Police Major Events Liason Team).
It became apparent that there are many different motivations for those who are against exploratory uranium drilling. The motivations fall into two main categories:
Uranium drilling as an environmental issue – there are huge health risks associated with disturbance of this area, as well as the inevitable waste that would be created. In addition, there are very few, if any, environmental standards or safeguards that exploratory or mining companies are required to adhere to.
Uranium drilling as a land rights issue – The Canadian constitution gives provinces control of their mineral resources. But that same constitution requires that provinces consult with First Nations before allowing any exploration for minerals that disturbs land that has been traditionally occupied by First Nations people. This has not happened. Through the wide permissions of the Ontario Mining Act (which is directly in conflict with the federal requirement of ‘Duty to Consult’ First Nations), Frontenac Ventures received rights to drill the land without any permission or advance notice to the First Nations or settlers living in the area.
Because of the high probability of arrest, the delegation did not spend any time at the original blockade site. It was somewhat of a disappointment to not be as directly involved in the action to protect the land, but it seems that the presence of CPT is still very encouraging and supportive to people in the area.
The delegation chose to end the week with a public witness of solidarity in Kingston, ON on Saturday, March 1st, to keep an awareness of the issues alive. Over 15 members and guests of the CPT-Ontario meeting that day in Sharbot Lake joined the solidarity action, as did over a dozen local activists. We started and ended with a symbolic ceremony that illustrated the “shackling” of Bob Lovelace, along with aboriginal rights, justice, human dignity, etc. We processed to a drum beat along Princess Street in Kingston and also stopped in front of the MP’s (Member of Parliament) and MPP’s (Member of Provincial Parliament) office. 500 flyers were dispersed.
The overall situation, however dire, did not seem at all without hopeful options. Many settlers have formed organized efforts to put pressure on city councils (recently successful in Ottawa) to demand of Premier McGuinty a moratorium on uranium mining in Ontario. In addition, a class action law suit notice has been served on the provincial government. Other settlers are forming other strategies, including possible letter writing campaigns, rallies, and/or community theatre to support the cause and keep awareness high. While the Ardoch Algonquin nation currently has its hands almost completely tied by the February 15th court ruling, the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation continues to entertain options for forward movement, including filing a counter-suit against Ontario.
The delegation team, in addition to appointments to hear many voices on the issues, also held group processing meetings, worship, check-ins, and public witness planning meetings. The amount of time spent together also allowed for unofficial, relevant conversations to take place involving differing instincts and perspectives within the group.
Members of the CPT’s delegation were Nermin Bahcetepe (Toronto, Ontario), Randy Bond (Beulah, Michigan), Paula Marie Deubel (Sterling Heights, Michigan), Kelley Haldeman (Bellbrook, Ohio) Rebecca Johnson (Toronto, Ontario), Allan Slater (Lakeside, Ontario), and Margaret Sumadh (Toronto, Ontario).
– report submitted by Kelley Haldeman
APPENDIX A
Listing of persons/representatives who met with the delegation (in no specific order)
Hughie and Elizabeth Proudfoot, (and briefly with Earl Rikoski (sp?)) local new settler retirees
Harold Perry, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (AAFN) elder and former chief
Marvin McDonald, Diane Hampson, Major Events Liaison Team (MELT), of OPP
Patsy Henry, United Church of Canada (UCC) pastor at Sharbot Lake
John Kittle, Sheila Kittle, CCAMU
Harriet Riddell, local non-aboriginal resident (living next to site of blockade) in favour of mining
Bob Johnson, surprise visitor! and local settler
Chief Doreen Davis and War Chief Earl Badour, Shabot Obaadjiwan FN
Mireille Lapointe, AAFN member and presenter for Undoing Racism Workshop
Donna Dillman, former hunger striker in opposition to uranium exploration and mining
3 delegates attended a local settler meeting of 15+ persons opposed to mining
Aboriginal Justice Delegation to Algonquin Territory (Sharbot Lake, Ontario, Canada)
February 24 - March 1, 2008
The goals for this delegation, as stated by delegation leader Allan Slater, were as follows: 1) to learn from people; 2) to act as a non-violent team on behalf of the people; 3) To report back to our communities.
During our week in Sharbot Lake staying at the United Church manse, we heard from many different people regarding the issue of the exploratory uranium drilling at Robertsville Mine. People we visited included representatives of the Ardoch Algonquin Nation, the Shabot Obaadjiwan Nation, the MELT team of the OPP stationed in this area, many non-aboriginal settlers in the area, a minister of a local United Church, and a settler woman in the community who favours the exploration for uranium.. A complete listing of persons with whom the delegation had formal meetings is contained in Appendix A.
The complete and accurate timeline of events since June 2007 was sometimes hard to keep track of. A lot has happened. Especially difficult was getting an accurate picture of what has happened and will be happening in the legal and judicial arena of this issue. Bob Lovelace (Ardoch former chief) has been sent to jail, other leaders have circumvented jail time by agreeing to no further action on the issue, and some still await sentencing at this time. Those awaiting court sentencing include First Nations leaders, some non-aboriginal settlers, and may even include members of OPP MELT (Ontario Provincial Police Major Events Liason Team).
It became apparent that there are many different motivations for those who are against exploratory uranium drilling. The motivations fall into two main categories:
Uranium drilling as an environmental issue – there are huge health risks associated with disturbance of this area, as well as the inevitable waste that would be created. In addition, there are very few, if any, environmental standards or safeguards that exploratory or mining companies are required to adhere to.
Uranium drilling as a land rights issue – The Canadian constitution gives provinces control of their mineral resources. But that same constitution requires that provinces consult with First Nations before allowing any exploration for minerals that disturbs land that has been traditionally occupied by First Nations people. This has not happened. Through the wide permissions of the Ontario Mining Act (which is directly in conflict with the federal requirement of ‘Duty to Consult’ First Nations), Frontenac Ventures received rights to drill the land without any permission or advance notice to the First Nations or settlers living in the area.
Because of the high probability of arrest, the delegation did not spend any time at the original blockade site. It was somewhat of a disappointment to not be as directly involved in the action to protect the land, but it seems that the presence of CPT is still very encouraging and supportive to people in the area.
The delegation chose to end the week with a public witness of solidarity in Kingston, ON on Saturday, March 1st, to keep an awareness of the issues alive. Over 15 members and guests of the CPT-Ontario meeting that day in Sharbot Lake joined the solidarity action, as did over a dozen local activists. We started and ended with a symbolic ceremony that illustrated the “shackling” of Bob Lovelace, along with aboriginal rights, justice, human dignity, etc. We processed to a drum beat along Princess Street in Kingston and also stopped in front of the MP’s (Member of Parliament) and MPP’s (Member of Provincial Parliament) office. 500 flyers were dispersed.
The overall situation, however dire, did not seem at all without hopeful options. Many settlers have formed organized efforts to put pressure on city councils (recently successful in Ottawa) to demand of Premier McGuinty a moratorium on uranium mining in Ontario. In addition, a class action law suit notice has been served on the provincial government. Other settlers are forming other strategies, including possible letter writing campaigns, rallies, and/or community theatre to support the cause and keep awareness high. While the Ardoch Algonquin nation currently has its hands almost completely tied by the February 15th court ruling, the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation continues to entertain options for forward movement, including filing a counter-suit against Ontario.
The delegation team, in addition to appointments to hear many voices on the issues, also held group processing meetings, worship, check-ins, and public witness planning meetings. The amount of time spent together also allowed for unofficial, relevant conversations to take place involving differing instincts and perspectives within the group.
Members of the CPT’s delegation were Nermin Bahcetepe (Toronto, Ontario), Randy Bond (Beulah, Michigan), Paula Marie Deubel (Sterling Heights, Michigan), Kelley Haldeman (Bellbrook, Ohio) Rebecca Johnson (Toronto, Ontario), Allan Slater (Lakeside, Ontario), and Margaret Sumadh (Toronto, Ontario).
– report submitted by Kelley Haldeman
APPENDIX A
Listing of persons/representatives who met with the delegation (in no specific order)
Hughie and Elizabeth Proudfoot, (and briefly with Earl Rikoski (sp?)) local new settler retirees
Harold Perry, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (AAFN) elder and former chief
Marvin McDonald, Diane Hampson, Major Events Liaison Team (MELT), of OPP
Patsy Henry, United Church of Canada (UCC) pastor at Sharbot Lake
John Kittle, Sheila Kittle, CCAMU
Harriet Riddell, local non-aboriginal resident (living next to site of blockade) in favour of mining
Bob Johnson, surprise visitor! and local settler
Chief Doreen Davis and War Chief Earl Badour, Shabot Obaadjiwan FN
Mireille Lapointe, AAFN member and presenter for Undoing Racism Workshop
Donna Dillman, former hunger striker in opposition to uranium exploration and mining
3 delegates attended a local settler meeting of 15+ persons opposed to mining