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B.C.’s First Nations leadership council supports Akikodjiwan
October 1, 2015
In a strongly worded letter, the First Nations Leadership Council of B.C. has pledged its support for Akikodjiwan, the Algonquin vision for stewardship of three sacred islands and a dammed waterfall in the Ottawa River.
Released on September 21, the letter calls on the National Capital Commission and the municipalities of Gatineau and Ottawa, which are supporting commercial condo development by Dream Windmill on this sacred site, to “immediately establish a working group” with the four Algonquin First Nations from Quebec who have proposed an Algonquin Nation Cultural Park and Historic Commemoration Site.
The letter also says:
“The development of this territory without the free, prior and informed consent of the Algonquin First Nations is in direct contravention of the United Nations Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), of which Canada is a signatory, and specifically Articles 11,12 ,25,and 32 which provide Indigenous peoples the rights to and protections of their cultural traditions, customs and lands. It is also inconsistent with the Supreme Court of Canada Tsilhqot’in, which confirms that First Nations’ consent is required where there are impacts on Aboriginal title.”
“…the FNLC fully supports the Algonquin First Nations in calling for their sacred area Akikodjiwan to be protected in perpetuity and recognized within the National Capital Region as an Algonquin Nation Cultural Park and Historic Commemoration Site, under an Algonquin-controlled institution to be established by the legitimate Algonquin First Nations.”
Read the full text of the letter (PDF will load).