First Nations and Non First Nations Walking Together
Our
sincere thanks to Geri Turchet and her husband who made the drive to
Manitoulin and helped us show our support for other grassroots groups
that also oppose senseless Industrial Wind developments.
The protest started at 6:00 AM this morning with the erection of a tepee and lighting of a sacred fire. It was quite cold in the early morning with a skim of snow and ice on the site which melted away as the sun came up and warmed the day. It was a glorious bright early spring day and people began arriving around 10:00 AM and after coffee, muffins, socializing and drumming and singing by members of the Wikwemikong First Nation the speeches started shortly after 12:00 and continued until 2:00 when participants organized themselves for the march into and through Little Current. The March was led by a Wikwemikong Warrior carrying the Eagle staff, accompanied by representatives of other First Nations from Manitoulin Island, the Six Nations and from as far away as Saskatchewan. This vanguard was followed by the Wikwemikong Elders and Youth who in turn were followed by the rest of the participants.
There were at least 125 people at the protest, about 50/50 First Nations and Manitoulin residents. Many more joined the protest march as it proceeded through Little Current. Others stopped and offerred their support enroute to prior committments and the First Nation Language Conference.
There were 11 speakers, of note MPP Vic Fedeli who spoke of the economic cost and job losses resulting from the Green Energy & Economy Act and its blind focus on expensive and non=productive Industrial Wind Generation developments, as well as Barbara Ashbee's sister and brother-in-law who spoke on the negative health and personal financial impacts to those living near the Industrial Wind developments. David Grey Eagle spoke of the sometimes long and difficult road and the need for perseverance in successfully opposing unjust developments. The other speakers, from the Wikwemikong First Nation, the Birch Island First Nation and the Whitefish First Nation spoke to the lack of consultation and their concerns over many of the issues, land, health, social and environmental, that these unwanted Industrial Wind developments saddle communities with.
Our Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha did not attend as he "had a previous engagement". He had also managed to avoid for a number of weeks accepting the 1167 signature petition that the Wiki Elders and Youth and MCSEA had collected and wanted him to present to the Legislature. Vic Fedelli accepted the petition and will be presenting it to the Legislature. Ray Beaudry read a letter from NDP MP Carol Martin who expressed her regret at not being able to attend and her support for renewable energy and local democracy.
The protest was blessed by an Eagle which circled overhead for some time while the speeches were being made.
It was a very well attended protest and a clear demonstration of the solidarity between such large numbers of the the First Nations and Non First Nations of Manitoulin in opposition to the McLean's Mountain Wind Generating Station being developed by Northland Power.
Short video clips can be viewed by clicking on these links:
http://youtu.be/aEfxvCls4W4
http://youtu.be/efF6M2QRCTs
http://youtu.be/ZI24L9Ys6KY
http://youtu.be/wkq80LioG8c
The protest started at 6:00 AM this morning with the erection of a tepee and lighting of a sacred fire. It was quite cold in the early morning with a skim of snow and ice on the site which melted away as the sun came up and warmed the day. It was a glorious bright early spring day and people began arriving around 10:00 AM and after coffee, muffins, socializing and drumming and singing by members of the Wikwemikong First Nation the speeches started shortly after 12:00 and continued until 2:00 when participants organized themselves for the march into and through Little Current. The March was led by a Wikwemikong Warrior carrying the Eagle staff, accompanied by representatives of other First Nations from Manitoulin Island, the Six Nations and from as far away as Saskatchewan. This vanguard was followed by the Wikwemikong Elders and Youth who in turn were followed by the rest of the participants.
There were at least 125 people at the protest, about 50/50 First Nations and Manitoulin residents. Many more joined the protest march as it proceeded through Little Current. Others stopped and offerred their support enroute to prior committments and the First Nation Language Conference.
There were 11 speakers, of note MPP Vic Fedeli who spoke of the economic cost and job losses resulting from the Green Energy & Economy Act and its blind focus on expensive and non=productive Industrial Wind Generation developments, as well as Barbara Ashbee's sister and brother-in-law who spoke on the negative health and personal financial impacts to those living near the Industrial Wind developments. David Grey Eagle spoke of the sometimes long and difficult road and the need for perseverance in successfully opposing unjust developments. The other speakers, from the Wikwemikong First Nation, the Birch Island First Nation and the Whitefish First Nation spoke to the lack of consultation and their concerns over many of the issues, land, health, social and environmental, that these unwanted Industrial Wind developments saddle communities with.
Our Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha did not attend as he "had a previous engagement". He had also managed to avoid for a number of weeks accepting the 1167 signature petition that the Wiki Elders and Youth and MCSEA had collected and wanted him to present to the Legislature. Vic Fedelli accepted the petition and will be presenting it to the Legislature. Ray Beaudry read a letter from NDP MP Carol Martin who expressed her regret at not being able to attend and her support for renewable energy and local democracy.
The protest was blessed by an Eagle which circled overhead for some time while the speeches were being made.
It was a very well attended protest and a clear demonstration of the solidarity between such large numbers of the the First Nations and Non First Nations of Manitoulin in opposition to the McLean's Mountain Wind Generating Station being developed by Northland Power.
Short video clips can be viewed by clicking on these links:
http://youtu.be/aEfxvCls4W4
http://youtu.be/efF6M2QRCTs
http://youtu.be/ZI24L9Ys6KY
http://youtu.be/wkq80LioG8c