Indigenous land defenders block dam project
Peaceful protest in Burleigh Falls expected to last until treaty rights recognized
A peaceful protest over the lack of consultation Parks Canada had with Indigenous community members of Burleigh Falls about a dam being rebuilt is expected to last until there is recognition of their treaty rights.
Adrian Webb, who was born and raised and still resides in Burleigh Falls, says the protest is not about the dam being rebuilt. It’s about how Parks Canada consulted with Curve Lake First Nation and left Kawartha Nishnawbe First Nation out without any regard to their land or harvesting areas of Burleigh Falls.
“In just two days they did all this,” he said, pointing to the flattened, uprooted area that he says was desecrated. Even though Parks Canada has begun the work, Webb said as of Wednesday workers for Parks Canada will not be permitted into the area.
Webb says the OPP has been monitoring the area but have not spoken with protesters.
“This is Island 31, it has nothing to do with Curve Lake First Nation,” Webb said. “We don’t have to leave, and we won’t,” he added. Webb has defended the land before and says it is definitely history repeating itself.
Parks Canada says proper consultations were done, even going as far as recently holding a virtual community information session where the plans were laid out in great detail on the construction of the dam.
The Trent-Severn Waterway had originally planned to rehabilitate the dam as part of the rebuilding of the waterway’s infrastructure, but after no contractor could be found that could do the work through a tender in the summer of 2019, a decision was made to fully replace the Burleigh Falls Dam.
Construction of the $40-million project is scheduled for completion in the late summer of 2024, according to Parks Canada.
“Parks Canada has a duty to consult with the Williams Treaties First Nations where harvesting and treaty rights may be affected and engages regularly with these communities through a steering committee. The agency is consulting with Curve Lake First Nation and the other Williams Treaties First Nations on the Burleigh Falls dam replacement project.”
Jack Hoggarth, whose ancestors lived in Burleigh Falls long before the bridge or dam was built, is part of the protest.
“Parks Canada admitted they did not know Kawartha Nishnawbe existed, and that’s a huge concern to me,” he says.
Webb says there is a land claim with Canada that was filed in 2019. He also says he is fully aware he holds membership with Curve Lake First Nation, but it has nothing to do with proper consultation of this project.
“This is our land, not Curve Lake,” Webb said.