M'Chigeeng opposes fish farm expansion into West Bay waters  

by Michael Erskine  

M'CHIGEENG-M'Chigeeng Chief Glen Hare asserts that the first he heard that plans for Cold Water Fisheries were going ahead with a cage culture operation in the upper portion of West Bay was in an advertisement in the Manitoulin Expositor requesting public input on the proposal.  

"I was talking to someone from Coldwater, I can't remember his name, earlier this year who told me the project was dead, dead in the water," he said. "Now I find that it is going ahead. We are dead set against this."

It is an assertion that Coldwater Fisheries Manager Al Wright finds difficult to credit.  

"I can't imagine anyone here telling them that. Give me a name," he said. "There is no reason anyone here would say that. The company has been following the procedure designed to meet public and environmental concerns; it is a detailed and comprehensive process, that's why it takes four years to complete."  

Mr. Wright said he felt the proper course of action for anyone with an interest in the proposal would be to write out their concerns and submit them to the MNR for consideration. That way, he said, the assessment could be dealt through the proper channels.  

"I don't think the proper way to do things is to battle it out in the paper," he said. "There is a process to follow, and we are following it."  

In a letter to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Chief Hare served notice that although the band will continue to follow the process as laid out, they believe that their permission to install the cages is a prerequisite to any approval, and Chief Hare is adamant that permission will not be forthcoming.  

"We want to notify you that using an environmental assessment as great, plodding steps to ultimate approval should not be countenanced," he said. "We oppose this venture because we know it will harm the waters, our band members' livelihood, the environment and the fish and life of these Great Lakes," writes Chief Hare.  

The project will be using three million pounds of feed each year, writes Mr. Hare, and such waste must go somewhere."  

Chief Hare cited the wisdom and teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, that each generation must plan for the next seven generations.  

"Short term gain in growing fish will harm the next six generations," he said. "That is not acceptable to our people."  

Proponents of the project point out that a considerable amount of data has now been amassed on the impact of aquaculture operations on the environment and argue that it is the science that should govern decisions, not unfounded scare tactics.  

Chief Hare said he did not care what anyone claimed as 'scientific' evidence.  

"We are not going to take the chance," he said, standing on the site of the community's new marina and pointing to a white buoy a few hundred feet off-shore. "That's the water intake for our new water plant," he said. "You can't tell me that there won't be any impact on the community. If we wanted something like this, we would have done it ourselves."  

Other issues of concern in the letter from Chief Hare include Aboriginal experiences in British Columbia, which he asserts discovered that salmon fish farms have cut into their subsistence fishing and have altered the natural salmon upon mating.

Chief Hare also cites support from the Township of Billings in his letter to the premier, but Billings Reeve Austin Hunt said the township has not formalized its response to the issue.

 "We had a presentation from the company about a year ago," he said. "We haven't heard anything about it since, as far as I am aware. Frankly, I thought it had fallen by the wayside."  

Mothers Against Drunk Driving officially launched on Manitoulin  

Red Ribbon Campaign gets local sponsor

by Jim Moodie

LITTLE CURRENT-For Cathy Senior, whose brother James suffered a horrific head injury in a drinking and driving accident on January 23, 2003, the road towards the realization of a local Mothers Against Drinking and Driving (MADD) chapter has been a long, personal and often painful one.  

But with the formal launch of the Manitoulin MADD chapter last Friday, Ms. Senior and the other volunteers associated with the group could take heart in the idea that Island roads may now become safer as a result of their efforts.

 Learning of her brother's accident a year-and-a-half ago was "excruciating, to say the least," Ms. Senior, president of the new chapter, told those attending the launch. And dealing with its aftermath-her brother has undergone seven surgeries, has permanent brain damage, and is legally blind-hasn't been any easier. "It gets overwhelming," she said.

 Still, with the creation of a MADD chapter for the Island, the pain that others might feel can now be potentially spared-by heightening awareness of the issue and preventing tragedies before they happen-or at least softened should an accident occur. "If somebody does lose a family member, they can call us and we can talk, so they are not alone," noted Ms. Senior.

Ironically, or perhaps fittingly, the launch celebration was held on a Friday evening in the upstairs hall of the Little Current-Howland Recreation Centre, where licenced events often occur. For this occasion, though, the beverages (described as 'mocktails') were, of course, nonalcoholic.  

Attending the launch was a spectrum of concerned citizens and emergency services staff, including law enforcement officials, paramedics and health care workers. The turnout was rather small, but given competition from a Manitoulin Wild hockey game and deer hunt preparations, a packed house wasn't really expected.  More important was the fact that those who did attend obviously cared deeply about the cause. The timing was also poignant in that the annual red ribbon campaign organized by MADD was simultaneously being launched.

Travelling all the way from New Brunswick to acknowledge and commend the new Island group was MADD national president Karen Dunham, whose son Jonathan suffered a similar head injury to that of Ms. Senior's brother because of a drunk driver.  

"I'm really pleased to be here, and I bring greetings from MADD Canada's national office, as well as from the St. John's chapter to which I belong," Ms. Dunham told the launch attendants. She recapped the history of the organization, noting that it was started in California "by two mothers who lost their daughters" due to a drinking and driving incident.  

In Canada, there are now MADD chapters in every province, Ms. Dunham said. The nearest chapters to Manitoulin are in North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.

 The national president praised the Manitoulin MADD chapter board members and supporters, noting that "MADD gets it strength from volunteers," and she pledged to "continue to fight for changes at both the provincial and federal levels."  

Ms. Dunham cited four prongs that the organization feels it must focus on. "We need to have more public awareness, more enforcement powers for police officers, a good legislative agenda, and swift judicial action from the court system," she said.

 She also shared her own painful story, prefacing it with a reminder that the red ribbon campaign is now in full swing, and Islanders along with motorists across the country can honour victims of drinking and driving and remind others to drive safe and sober by attaching a red ribbon to the antennae of their vehicles.  

"Little did I know, when I first put a red ribbon on my aerial in 1997, how big a part this would play in my life," Ms. Dunham said. Two years later, in 1999, her son Jonathan along with his friend Michael were "heading home on a motorcycle when they were hit by a repeat drunk driving offender. The force was so severe that both their helmets came off, and they flew as high as the streetlights. My son's skull was cracked like an eggshell."

 While Jonathan is alive, he incurred irreparable brain damage and will never be the same again. "It's been a constant struggle for us as a family," Ms. Dunham said. "It's a rollercoaster that never stops."  

Ms. Dunham's son was 19 when the accident occurred. Ms. Senior's brother James was 20 when he suffered a near-identical injury.  

Both women have shared their stories numerous times, speaking to school groups as well as the media, and will continue to do so. "The first time was the toughest," noted Ms. Senior.  

Constable Al Boyd, community services officer with the OPP as well as a MADD board member, commended Ms. Senior for her efforts. "She's done a lot of legwork and investigation, and finally this is kicked off the ground and doing extremely well."

 Constable Boyd noted that "about eight years ago, Manitoulin had the unfortunate distinction of having the highest per capita drinking and driving rate." He said that part of this has to do with the Island being a tourist area. "People will say that (drinking and driving) is something that they wouldn't do at home, but that it's accepted here. Well, it isn't accepted here," he said.

 Several other police officers were present. "That's because we see the carnage that happens as a result of drinking and driving," said Constable Boyd. "And there's nothing worse an officer has to do than knock on a door (to tell someone a family member has died)."  

Wiky exploring local energy sources Wind, crude oil, natural gas

 by Michael Erskine  

WIKWEMIKONG-Energy concerns are at the top of every community's list these days, but Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve intends to meet those issues head on in the next few years.  

A proposal to construct a wind farm on band land north of the community has already been formulated, and towers to gather the wind energy data needed to support the business plan for the project will be going up shortly, according to Chief Robert Corbiere.  

"Chief and council are 100 percent behind this," he said. "We have total band support. Once the towers are up" he adds, "we will be supplying the entire Island with power."  

The two-fold goal of the project, noted Chief Corbiere is to provide band members with both lower cost electricity and to generate revenues for the band.

 The time frame for the project will be six to 18 months, but attempts will be made to "fast-track" the wind study. At the same time, he cautions, the process must proceed very carefully, due to "the magnitude, costs and benefits of the Wind Farm Project."  

Wind power may lie in the band's near future, but Chief Corbiere is also considering looking into the gas and oil reserves known to lie deep beneath the Island's surface.

"It has been known for many years that Wikwemikong has pockets of gas and oil," wrote Chief Corbiere in a letter to band members. "But what is not known is how much. Band council also approved to have New York Gas and Oil Company analyze the quality of Wikwemikong oil deposits."  

At the very least, surmises Chief Corbiere, the quantity and quality should be sufficient to for local home heating use.

 It is not anticipated that the oil and gas reserves will be accessed in the near future, he qualified, saying that actual exploitation would likely lie years down the road, but by knowing the potential and value of the reserves, the band can make solid plans in the future.

Chief Corbiere also called upon band members to switch over to the reserve's telephone company, Wikwemikong FirstTel, whose rates he said are the same or slightly lower than its competitors.  

"I am asking you to take the time and talk to the representatives of FirstTel and switch over your telephone service," he writes. "This is what you can do for our beautiful reserve and our community members in the long run will benefit."

De-baj Theatre welcomes support for Manitowaning site  

by Saulis Tribinevicius  

MANITOWANING-A new Debajehmujig Theatre Group facility in Manitowaning will incorporate history, environmental sustainability and community uses, attendants of a public meeting were told last week.

 The meeting at the Assigniack municipal building on November 9 invited the public to participate in a discussion regarding the proposed construction of a theatre training and production facility. Present on behalf of the theatre group were Ron Berti, the artistic producer, and Marjorie Trudeau, board president. Dennis Castellan, architect, was also on hand to explain the design.

 In January of 2001, Debajehmujig began renting two buildings in the Manitowaning town centre referred to as the Mastin Block. The buildings were previously owned by the Mastin family and had functioned as grocery and department stores in the past.

 Mr. Berti explained that the proposed renovation will incorporate the past history of the heritage building. Previous meetings were held to gain public input into the design and use of the building, and the resulting architectural design was presented at this meeting by architect Mr. Castellan.

 Previous meetings, it was noted, discussed ideas such as public access, energy efficiency, historical integrity of the building and affordability. The result has been the creation of a building plan based on the idea of sustainable design.

 Sustainable design involves environmental considerations as well as planning into how public space is accessible and utilised. Mr. Berti invited public discussion and indicated that "this is not a behind the scenes production but an opening up of the process to the public." He noted that a proposed 'blackbox' studio-a main, open concept performance space that does not have set seating or stage-can be "used for dance, music, concerts, any type of gathering or presentation, as it is a flexible space."  

Mr. Castellan also indicated that, "every project has a responsibility to the public realm of a community." This philosophy matches well with the design of the building which includes a front entrance that opens up onto the main street. An imprint of neighbouring Wikwemikong's Holy Cross Mission, involving the placement of stone into the street surface, is planned. The stone imprint is to symbolize the continuity of history between the new site and the existing performance site at Holy Cross Mission.

The project is designed to be as inviting as possible with a stone wall running the length of the building to connect the entrance to the rear area that accesses the Assiginack museum. While there will be production activities such as carpentry and costume making occuring in the building, the proposed design is to allow for public use without disturbing these activities.  

A resource library with Internet connection to support various arts is planned, as well as an elders' room and a window into the costume room that would allow for public interaction. Mr. Berti mentioned that for the public, "going on the Internet is good for some purposes, but the value of books and other materials is important for a richer experience." 

 A courtyard at the back would also be accessible to allow people to appreciate some of the technologies used in the design of the building. A wetland is one of the proposed courtyard aspects, designed to process waste from the composting toilets. Also, envisioned by elder Eddie King, is a living wall of native plant species.

Living beside the current Mastin block, resident Nimki Lavell indicated that he was "very pleased to see a design process that is going to integrate the elements of the community and the greening of the design."

 Mr. Berti explained that "interesting public spaces that are educational can be spread out to surrounding areas." If residents and building owners are interested, fundraising would be done to allow for surrounding buildings to be added to the design concept.  

David Smith, a Manitowaning businessman, said that the project is "a tremendously exciting proposal for Manitowaning." And as indicated by Mr. Berti, there are other benefits from the project. While the facility would accommodate public performances and other public uses, the plan is also to operate as a year-round training facility for intern students. A total of 24 students and 15 staff would use the facility for theatre training.

 According to Mr. Berti, there are two main principles of the training: each student is a resource, and there is no job description. The program is "an alternative pathway for Aboriginal students who are not going to mainstream institutions," he said. There is no age limit for students and hopes are to provide an enriched daycare partnership for mothers who become interns.

 There will be a need for food, accommodation for students and artists, as well as general services. Mr. Berti noted, "year-round programming will need ideas and possibilities for emerging opportunities." The intern program is designed for independent study that moves students along their own paths, so the structure is thus non-hierarchical and encourages people to develop their own solutions. No marks are given.

 Mr. Berti explained that the Debajehmujig Theatre Group has developed international recognition as an institution that does things in an unique manner. "Northern Ontario pulls a lot of things from the south and it takes courage to be yourself," he said.

 Artists who have visited and worked with Debajehmujig have found the experience very productive and rewarding as the environment is much different from the urban experience. The uniqueness of Debajehmujig comes from "not adapting European practice without thinking. As people from Manitoulin Island, our environment is a large part of who we are and literally impacts creative work," said Mr. Berti.  

Leslie Fields, reeve of Assiginack, felt that the project was "breathing new life into a town with a lot of history and it is another step in the revitalization of the town." The completion of the basic structure is planned for next October or November.  

The construction of the project is going to be done in a process that will give access to subcontractors and local workers who normally do not have access to or have difficulty in tendering large projects. The project will be publicly tendered. As there is an initiative to use local materials, there is a need for the provision of these.

 Fundraising campaigns will commence soon-not so much to secure funding, but to get an idea of the local support for the project. Funding has been secured from the federal Canadian Heritage Fund and revenue will be generated from the selling of cultural media now that a facility for the production of such materials will be in place. Also, "rich people on Bay St. will give us the real cash," joked Mr. Berti, as he mentioned that patronage and performances are other sources of revenue.

 It is believed that the ideas presented during the public meetings and the open process of the design and construction process will allow public participation and benefit as well as being a springboard for partnering in other local projects and initiatives. There are still possibilities of further events and activities as the project continues.