Open Letter to the Memengweshi Council re: their Windmill Development Partnership
The mandate of the Memengweshi Council is “to ensure the integrity and appropriateness of the Zibi development” but so many other Algonquin, First Nations, and National Capital Region citizens oppose it. Developers can claim to be as environmental as they want but the most assured way to be environmentally true to a small patch of violated First Nations land (Chaudière Islands) is to allow nature to replenish itself, as was the 30 year visionary goal of your own Kitigan Zibi Elder, William Commanda.
In 1998, Mark Gollum reports in the Ottawa Citizen that Ottawa Councillor, Richard Cannings, Regional Chair, Bob Charelli, and Chairman of the (Ottawa River Navigable Water Way Corporation’s) Waterways project, Robin Ritchie, declared their collective enthusiasm “to opening the falls up to the public” as a “visionary move”.
This vision was preceded by French architect-urban planner Jacques Gréber’s Master Plan of 1950. Following orders received from the Canadian government, his plan was to prevent Ottawa from “rapidly depleting and endangering its natural assets” for which the “the most effective improvement will be the central park at the Chaudière Falls…the main feature of Ottawa’s natural setting”. His plan also declares “such beauty is a gift from nature’’. In 1885, American journalist James W. Buel wrote about Chaudière Falls “a more entrancing sight can hardly be found in any part of North America.” But you support poured concrete over the opportunity to bring nature back for everyone to be inspired by.
As quoted from an Ottawa Citizen article of Oct. 2014, City Councillor, Diane Holmes says regardless of the green initiative the Windmill Development will not meet “the hope and dreams of the native peoples” because your dream of a business partnership does not represent the dreams of other native peoples. You, Memengweshi Council members of only 4 individuals clearly state you do “not speak for the Nation.” Please clarify who you are speaking for and what Anishinabe practices the Council adheres to. Traditional practices ensure all decisions impacting generations of peoples will be decided by consensus. Traditional Anishinabeg adhere to the philosophy that all decisions are to be achieved with consideration to the seven generations that came before us and the seven generations that come after us.
Kitigan Zibi member, construction worker and spiritual leader in his own right, Albert Dumont wrote in the Anishinabek News on June 10, “allowing development around the Chaudière Falls will be a mistake our descendants will condemn all of us for a couple of generations from now”. “When the voice of ‘money’ is louder and more powerful than ever before, a developer makes plans to construct condos 12-storeys high on a sacred space. Holes will need to be drilled into the shale rock before the foundations of the many high-rises can be poured. The earth will scream in agony and I believe our ancestors will too.”
Your Kitigan Zibi chief, Gilbert Whiteduck (now resigned), is quoted by Elizabeth Payne as saying “elders did not approve Windmill Developments’ use of the Algonquin word [Zibi] and proper protocols were not used to seek that approval”. He informed Jeff Westeinde of Windmill that the proposed condo, office and retail development “is not something I would be prepared to support.”
I would expect the Memengweshi Council, as you say, “Inspired by ancestral Algonquin-Anishinabe practices”, has advised Windmill executives of this decision-making heritage? If not, as you claim to represent only yourselves, who has Windmill Development Group, the Cities of Ottawa and Gatineau, and the National Capital Commission (NCC) consulted with and what was the feedback of their consultations? Could you advise the Anishinabeg public of that?
As this sacred site is in unceded territory for which there is no previous deed of sale, how does the Memengweshi Council traditionally support the sale of federally stolen land to private industry?
Chairperson of the two voting member council, Odjick, claims that “Never before has a private developer been as inclusive, collaborative and respectful”. Yet there are twelve federally recognized Algonquin First Nations and an extra nine non- status Algonquin communities in Ontario alone.
Odjick also states in her open letter “to criticize this project…is to miss an opportunity for our people to rise above and advance”. Clearly only certain employees of certain businesses will financially benefit because many of “your people” and other indigenous peoples and their allies are speaking publicly against this sacrilege! Article 12 (1) of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples clearly states Indigenous peoples have the right to their religious and cultural sites. Under what authority do you and your business partners have the right to sell those rights?
PLEASE rethink your position on this once-in-a-life time opportunity to do what is morally, ethically, culturally and eternally right. You would be celebrated heroes, if you did.
Sab Godin
Anishinaabekwe-Algonkin