By Leveller Staff
Two rallies were held in early November to oppose Windmill/Dream Development Group’s plan to build condos on the Algonquin sacred site at Chaudière Falls and the surrounding islands.
“There has been no proper consultation with the people and leadership of the Anishnabe Nation,” stated a Nov. 12 press release issued by the Anishnabe people of the Ottawa River Watershed, who also held a press conference at Victoria Island the following day.
“Our future is to teach the immigrant culture how to love as we love,” said Anishnabe architect Douglas Cardinal. “How to love our waters, our streams, how to love the earth.”
“Our land is not for sale, you don’t sell your Mother,” said Cardinal, citing the words of the late Elder William Commanda. “I made a commitment to William Commanda on the pipe that I would carry out his vision.”
Commanda’s vision included the development of a healing and peace building centre at the sacred site, with the lands to be held in trust by Algonquin Elders, according to asinabka.com. The vision also calls for freeing the Chaudière Falls.
“The Chaudière Falls and the surrounding islands are sacred to all Nations of Original People of Turtle Island,” according to the press release. “This has been documented in our histories and cultivated by Elders in many of the events we host on the islands, throughout the Watershed and beyond.”
The press conference preceded a demonstration calling for the protection of the sacred site.
“Our sacred place has been disfigured,” proclaimed Albert Dumont, spiritual advisor, traditional teacher, and poet from Kitigan Zibi, highlighting the spiritual significance of the site for the Anishnabe.
“Sacred places are very important to our people, they define us and explain who we are,” said Harry Snowboy, a ceremonial leader from the James Bay region. “They define to our nations the sacredness that is in this world.”
A few days earlier on Nov. 7, opponents to the Zibi development held an information picket outside of the condo sales office on Eddy Street in Gatineau, as Windmill/Dream initiated sales on the disputed land. Community and labour activists initiated the picket to “warn prospective buyers not to waste their money on a project that faces years of litigation by Algonquin First Nations and the threat of regular anti-development actions by community-based opponents,” according to freethefalls.ca.
The Anishnabe are also opposed to the recently commenced hydro development at the sacred site. An Oct. 30 press release issued by four Algonquin First Nations called for support to protect the sacred waterfalls area.
“…we have just learned that the City of Ottawa’s Hydro Ottawa Inc. and its subsidiary Energy Ottawa has started construction on a new 29 megawatt hydroelectricity plant to replace the two existing generator stations at our sacred water falls, AKIKODJ IWAN KICHIZIBI (the Chaudière Falls, Ottawa River),” according to the press release. “We strongly object to this project proceeding without our Algonquin First Nations first being consulted about this project.”
The Algonquin First Nations are seeking endorsement for a list of demands they say are in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations and for letters of support to be sent to local, provincial, and federal leaders, including Prime Minister Trudeau.
“There is no way they are going to build anything on these islands, because we can’t let them do that,” said Cardinal. “When you have love in your heart you have no fear.”
A letter from the four Algonquin First Nations requesting support in protecting the area is available here.
This article first appeared in the Leveller Vol. 8 No. 3 (Nov/Dec 2015).
