Zibi project splits aboriginal panel
The success of the redevelopment of Chaudière and Albert islands is a complex issue that hinges on a strong First Nations voice, a panel heard Saturday afternoon.
It was one of the few areas of agreement in the panel discussion, titled Unceded Ottawa: The Algonquin and the Outaouais, dealing mainly with the massive Zibi residential development proposed for the former Domtar lands off Booth Street between Ottawa and Gatineau.
The panel was held inside a long-disused Albert Island warehouse that had been spruced up as part of Ottawa’s Arboretum arts and music festival.
A concert was held the night before, making the discussion, which drew about 150 people, only the second public gathering on the island in more than 200 years — apart from industrial operations — since the days it was considered a sacred gathering place by the region’s aboriginal communities. It is one of the islands next to the Chaudière Falls, territory the Algonquins say was never surrendered.
The public conversation was to enlighten people to the history and relationship of the Algonquins on both sides of the Ottawa River to the Outaouais region.
Panel member Chief Kirby Whiteduck, of the Pikwàkanagàn First Nation at Golden Lake, Ont., strongly supports the economic benefits and environmentally friendly approach of Windmill Development Group’s $1.2-billion Zibi project. Among other things, Windmill has promised to hire Algonquin tradespeople whenever possible.
But Peter Stockdale, who is not a First Nations member, said Whiteduck is “out of step with the Algonquin community.”
“The main concern ... is that this is unceded Algonquin territory and now five communities and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec Labrador have come out opposing it,” said Stockdale, speaking for the group Freeing Chaudière Falls and Its Islands.
While Stockdale says he and his group support First Nations job creation, they would rather see the Zibi project moved to LeBreton Flats and the islands turned in to a “central park” between Ottawa and Gatineau.
Such suggestions irked panellist Josée Bourgeois, who is on the Memengweshii Council, which is an advisory board to Windmill.
“Change comes with fear and people are afraid of change,” said Bourgeois, who wondered who else will pay to clean up the contaminated industrial land.
“Zibi is a big answer to a problem and I can only speak for myself, but I believe it is a solution for my kids, my family’s kids … and our younger and older generation of tradespeople and all other aspects of labour.”
Panellist Albert Dumont, a poet and writer from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabe at Maniwaki, stressed the need to protect the space from development, as a spiritual sanctuary “for people to heal.”
“We don’t need to give up a sacred site to have jobs,” he said, drawing applause. “If we make a mistake here, we can’t go back and change it.”
But Bourgeois said those opposed to Zibi need an economic reality check, and the way to care for future generations is to provide opportunity.
“There are communities that are in dire straits and are in need of something revolutionary like this,” Bourgeois said. “I’m sorry, people, but we are in a day and age where everybody’s financial sustainability is on the line.”
Shady Hafez, a law student and youngest voice on the panel, has roots in Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and Syria. While he says he is still pondering his stance on the Zibi project, he’s clear the consultation process has not been thorough.
However, Julie Westeinde, a First Nations engagement facilitator to Zibi, said the consultation process has been ongoing and open for the past two years and the key to moving forward is ensuring First Nations communities communicate with one another.
“The beauty of this project is the impact it can bring to the Algonquin people working together with the rest of the community, and it’s one step at a time and complex.”
Five Algonquin communities in Quebec oppose the development, which is named after the Algonquin word for river, and a handful of individuals, mostly non-Algonquin, have presented their objections to the Ontario Municipal Board, which is studying requests for zoning changes required by the development.
Among appellants at the OMB is well-known First Nations architect Douglas Cardinal, who argues the land should be turned over for public use, with a focus on indigenous community and culture.
The City of Ottawa is asking that its appeal against rezoning of the former Domtar lands be dismissed.