Kii-Ga-Do-Waak Nookimisuk hosts Spring Turtle Ceremony

By Leslie Knibbs

NORTH SHORE, LAKE HURON – In their continuing efforts to put a stop to the proposed quarry planned by Darien Aggregates Inc. on the North Shore, Knowledge Keepers, environmentalists, and loyal supporters attended the Spring Turtle Ceremony on April 27, nearby organizer Rhonda Kirby’s home near the future site.

“The ceremony, performed by Grandmother Isabelle Meawasige, was held to draw attention to the plight of a dense population of federally endangered Blanding’s turtles at risk of losing their unique wetland home to a massive quarry development on the North Shore. The proposed quarry will have devastating and lasting impacts upon a unique wetland complex, the Serpent River Watershed, and numerous plant and animal species,” according to Kirby.

In addition to Grandmother Meawasige (Kii-Ga-Do-Waak Nookimisuk), Caroline Recollet from TEK Elders, Firekeeper Blain Commanda, as well as Tracy Louttit and Jenifer Brousseau (Ten Thousand Turtles Education and Outreach Project), were in attendance. Special guest Katie Krelove, campaigner for Wilderness Committee Ontario and regular ally and supporter, made the trip north to join the event.

Jenifer Brousseau, a host of APTN’s Wild Archaeology, first expressed her concerns with the quarry in 2023.

“What concerns me most about this quarry is the potentially detrimental effects of its location in proximity to uranium tailings, seepage into the Serpent River watershed, which in turn flows into Lake Huron. Along with my concerns, in our community gatherings, we want to bring awareness [to] protecting endangered species in the area, not only turtles but other animals such as the myotis bat and the whippoorwill.  It is Anishinabek law and responsibility to be a guardian of the land and waters, and to consider seven generations after ourselves. Many colonial decisions of the past were made without forethought, thinking with colonized economic gain. We have to learn from past mistakes and choose differently. Over 65 years later, we are cleaning the mess from the acid plant that was once in [Serpent River First Nation], burning holes in our moccasins, our pow wow grounds eventually needed to be relocated. We are also still dealing with the repercussions of touching the serpent’s eggs (mining uranium) and the sickness that doing so brought to the lives of the people in the area,” said Brousseau. “It has been said that the wetlands are the kidneys of Mother Earth. As we deal with forestry and glyphosate in areas we once picked and utilized plants for food and medicine, we are now needing to be extra mindful of continuing our inherent ways of being; we are needing to become extra mindful of where we harvest foods and medicines. We don’t need an additional battle to preserve our way of life and traditional ways of being in the Robinson Huron Treaty territory…The minimal consultation with the Indigenous people of the area is apparent as we share information in our Land and Water Defenders Gatherings. Not enough community members even know the location of this proposed quarry, and are in shock once they learn. We will continue to share with neighbouring communities the realities of the impact Darien will have on the location they have chosen to extract in the wetlands. We will continue to educate the upcoming generations as well. This is their future. What kind of legacy do we want to leave for them?”

On the day of the Spring Ceremony, the weather was perfect, according to Janice Gamble, a writer and a familiar face at gatherings in support of the efforts to put a stop to the proposed quarry.

“We enjoyed lovely weather after a long, cold springtime. Partridge could be heard drumming nearby during the ceremony. No rain in sight, we looked up to see a rainbow above us.”

Local residents Alan and Maymar Gemmell, who were in attendance, are encouraging other First Nations to attend.

“Drumming adds meaningful support to save the area from the quarry. We are united in our fight. Those in surrounding communities need to be aware of what we are fighting for – not knowing is inexcusable.”

Grandmother Isabelle Meawasige spoke eloquently of the Spring Ceremony.

“In our circle of prayer, we talked of the rainbow people making the promise that if Earth Mother was ever in danger, they would return and reform the Rainbow Family and give their might to protect, First Mother, Mother of us all. We looked up into the sky and there, in magnificent display, was a Rainbow, surely a mighty sign. The sight of that Rainbow was surely a sign the spirits heard our prayers.”

Following the ceremony during the feast, those attending were treated to the video launch for the Ten Thousand Turtles Project from Jenifer Brousseau. The Ten Thousand Turtles Project invites everyone to their first annual “Ten Thousand Turtles Nesting Trek” to be held on Saturday, June 7, from 10 am to 3 pm at 1339 Pronto Road in Algoma Mills, Ont.

“The trek will hike into the heart of Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory to educate and create awareness on conservation of the wetlands and preservation of endangered species.”

The hike is not suitable for small children as it is seven kilometres long and a steady incline. It’s recommended that those going on the hike bring refreshments and snacks. For more information on the trek, contact Rhonda Kirby at rhondakirby@live.com.