Beaver Pond Blockade

Community gathering held in Beaver Pond Forest to stop cutting (Ottawa)

Community gathering held in Beaver Pond Forest to stop cutting

Ottawa, ON (Feb 8, 2011) - This morning at sunrise a group of concerned community members gathered in front of the machines that have been destroying the Beaver Pond Forest in Kanata for the past week. After years of trying to work with the mayor and council, looking into legal avenues, signing petitions, writing letters, holding rallies, and even trying to buy the land, residents have been forced to confront the destruction directly. *Note: after about two hours, and being threatened by police with trespassing charges, the community members voluntarily left the site.

The Beaver Pond Forest is the gateway to the South March Highlands, the last of Ottawa's old growth forest. This community gathering space is a biodiverse and significant ecosystem that is home to 679 species, 20 of which are species at risk. Furthermore, archaeological artefacts have been found nearby showing evidence of pre-contact civilization.

The Beaver Pond Forest has been identified as sacred by Grandfather William Commanda and other Algonquin Elders, and several Algonquin communities have stated that there must be meaningful consultation and accommodation with them about any development of the area.

The local community and Algonquin communities are asking for a comprehensive archaeological assessment in the Spring and meaningful consultation before further cutting. Instead, KNL/Urbandale commenced cutting on January 31, 2011, despite the requests of the Algonquins of Ontario (AoO), other self-identified Algonquin communities, and concerned Ottawa citizens. To protest the cutting, two Algonquin warriors chained themselves to trees in the construction site to protect the Forest last Tuesday February 1, 2011.

Thousands of people are demanding that Mayor Watson or Provincial Minister of Culture and Tourism Michael Chan exert their power to halt the cutting. Chan could issue a Ministerial order to halt the cutting, but so far has not responded to requests to do so.

According to Julie Comber, "the concerned community members in the Beaver Pond Forest this morning feel that all levels of government have failed us. So we are protecting the Forest we love as best we can. Those who walk in this forest understand it is special, that there is wonderful energy here." They want the clear-cutting to stop immediately so that a meaningful consultation about the Beaver Pond Forest and the entire South March Highlands can take place that includes all stakeholders.

"This issue is important to thousands of people," stated Bob Lovelace, one of the two warriors who chained himself to a tree last Tuesday, "why can't the City of Ottawa and the Province stop and think more carefully about this?" The community believes that a positive resolution could be found if all stakeholders are brought to the table.

Contact:
Steve Hulaj --613-878-1135
Julie Comber --613-263-5362
Daniel Cayley-Daoust: 613-875-5401 (French-speaking)

Background info:
www.ottawasgreatforest.com
www.southmarchhighlands.ca
www.ipsmo.org
www.twitter.com/#search?q=%23BeaverPond
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46087029890

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Beaver Pond
• South March Highlands
• Kanata
• Ottawa
• JIm Watson
• Michael Chan
• KNL
• Urbandale
• Deforestation

[imN0Ttheone]

What this looks like is another case of indians trying to extort money again

[bchris896]

@imN0Ttheone This kind of ignorance really gives me a headache. How about you read in to what is going on before you type.

[hanksnow82]

@sensfan22 You're a coward who contributes nothing to society and in all likelihood never will . Your views on private property smack of communisim and as such your future looks bleak . I would not quote unnamed studies on the future of the planet if i was you as i can see academics is not your long suit . It would seem i hit the nail on the head when i pronounced you a loser at the on set of this dicussion and a loser you shall always be .

[bchris896]

@hanksnow82 I can see that your views on private property smacks of class treason. Keep having fun being the ruling class's bitch. "[I] can see academics is not your long suit"... anyone who knows me will be chuckling about the irony of this statement. Your attitude is unfortunate, just try not to get in the way while we try and save Ottawa and you from this capitalist bullshit... And yes I am a communist, thanks for the check-in Senator McCarthy.

[hanksnow82]

@bchris896 Hey loser care to tell us about what you do for a living that you can take time off to trespass on private property ?

[bchris896]

@hanksnow82 What do you do where you can't? I don't know what kind of come back it is for you to suggest that you have no agency in your life. As well there is no such thing as trespassing and there is no such thing as private property. Property is theft. A heist on the people arranged by the government to steal the land from ALL of us. Supported by Canada's most notorious street gang, the pigs in blue. So you think I'm a loser, well you are a spineless pushover. Grow a pair you capitalist pussy

[AirAdvocates]

The privilege to qualify to live in the green belt managed by NCC. Help me help you we are all about the environment. Cleaning the air we breathe, just look at what’s been standing in our way on airadvocates on youtube there are some cool stop motion videos. NCC General Meeting air-medics.ca/newadventures/ web site. Look what they been standing in the way of.

[imN0Ttheone]

Good to see them back working at the site again . Somebody has to pay taxes for all these lazy protesters and worthless indians .

[GoldenFinchFellow]

@OguiDaFrogga Right on! What a strong movement! hundreds at the closing of the sacred fire were then back stabbed the next day ignoring the AOO and still denying the 5 Algonquin chiefs consultation, hundreds show up in a days notice at city hall mid freezing winter when cutting started and 2 Algonquin warriors block the machines. Now these brave people stopped them again! in middle of cold winter! The builders are lucky its winter but still this doesn't stop concerned citizens from standing up!

[OguiDaFrogga]

Hey man, don't waste your energy on Urbandaleists who only have balls in the virtual realm, it's just a trap to make you react and it's how these ppl entertain themselves while they get paid for "contributing to society" (or destroying everything). These people weren't taught better & are like those suffering from mental illnesses that have yet to reach the first step to recovery - admitting that they're not well. So have compassion, but don't let the bs talk get to you. Awesome work!

[GoldenFinchFellow]

Thank you for standing up against the machine!

[imN0Ttheone]

@bchris896 There is no ignorance on my part and i base what what i said on previous experiences with the Algonquins aka domestic terrorists aka indians . Tell these people you have $ 100,000 for them and all their ecological concerns for the area will go away instantly .

[Slymon1995]

YES!!!! THIS IS WHAT WE NEED! For all of you ignorant people commenting defending the rich construction company, get the facts before you post. w000000t!