January to help save sacred old-growth forest on Algonquin traditional lands
On Sunday, 30 January 2011, people from all faiths will join Algonquin First
Nations and gather at Beaver Pond Forest, twenty minutes from downtown Ottawa,
to pray for the land. If you or
your faith group plan to pray Sunday in solidarity with the Algonquins and
others gathered, let us know and we will pass your messages on. If you are able to attend the gathering
at Beaver Pond Forest, please do so. The details are available at this link: https://the5thc.blogspot.com/2011/01/pray-for-land.html.
Please send a message to the recipients listed below before January 31, 2011.
For background information on Beaver Pond Forest, visit https://www.ottawasgreatforest.com/Site/Home.html. For additional information on Ottawa’s
South March Highlands see https://cpt.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0316-2.jpg
Sample letter:
Dear
Another portion of the last remaining old growth forest in Southern Ontario, Beaver
Pond Forest (twenty minutes from Parliament Hill), is scheduled to be clear cut
to make room for a new housing development.
KNL Developments and the city of Ottawa have been in consultation with
Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) but AOO does not represent all of the Algonquin
First Nations in the province, notably not Ottawa, Ardoch, Pasapkedjiwanong,
Kapishkawandemin and Kinounchepirini Algonquin First Nations. Therefore, consultation with Indigenous
stakeholders is not complete.
Algonquin Elder Grandfather William Commanda has asked the National Capital
Commission and all levels of government to “safeguard this ecologically
and archeologically unique site of the South March Highlands as a potential
heritage site, one of significant indigenous importance.”
Consider future generations and current relationships as you decide whether or
not to take the steps you can take to stop this.
Sincerely
Recipients:
Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Culture, mchan.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Peter Evans, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Minister for Culture, https://cpt.org/wp-content/uploads/Peter20and20Dan20with20the20banner_0-1.jpg
Chris Bentley, Ontario Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, cbentley.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Gordon O’Connor, Federal Cabinet Minister and MP for Kanata, oconng@parl.gc.ca
Norm Sterling (Member of Provincial Parliament), https://cpt.org/wp-content/uploads/Normandy20fence-1.jpg or https://cpt.org/wp-content/uploads/Normandy20fence-1.jpg
Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa: Jim.Watson@ottawa.ca
Dalton Mcguinty Premier of Ontario: dmcguinty.mpp.co <https://cpt.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0316-2.jpg>
@liberal.ola.org <https://cpt.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0316-2.jpg>
Please send a copy to the CPT Aboriginal Justice Team at ajt@cpt.org