_____________________ Batchewana First Nation ~ MNR Charges

 

   Last January 22, 2009 an Information Session was held at the Rankin Arena on charges laid October 2, 2008 by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The Batchewana First Nation is facing two separate charges:

1.    LOGGING

Against Chief Dean Sayers, Phillip Swanson-Palmer, Clinton Robinson-Fisher, Gilles Robinson-Vankoughnet ~ unlawfully harvest forest resources in a crown forest without the authority of a forest resource licence ~ Townships of Palmer, Fisher Vankoughnet

 2.    GARGANTUA – LAKE SUPERIOR PROVINCIAL PARK

Against Batchewana First Nations of Ojibways and Chief Dean Sayers ~ unlawfully remove/damage crown property To Wit: gate – appendix A for further charges: (11 charges) placement of arch culvert, four plastic pipes, road, clearing of land, filling of shore land, remove trees, unlawfully obstructing an officer.

   Our Day in Court is welcomed by the Batchewana First Nation. At the January 23, 2009, Elder’s Workshop, our Elders reminded us of our close relationship to our land and to stand up for our rights, for the present and future generations. The 1850 Robinson Huron Treaty did not limit the harvesting rights of our people and the pre-Treaty 1849 Commission Hearing reported that our original lands from the West boundary of Puckuswawsene – Otter Head, all islands, back to the height of the land to east boundary of Squash Point.

   The Batchewana First Nation established a Logging and Gargantua Legal Team to coordinate activities and report to Council. The Team consists of legal counsel Jennifer Tremblay-Hall, Stacey Tijerina, William Henderson, Legal Historian James Morrison, and BFN staff from the Natural Resources Department; Danny Sayers Jr. coordinator, Shauna Weston (intern) and from Research – 1859 Pennefather Treaty Carol Nadjiwon and Loss of Fishing Erin Robinson.

 

Treaty-making is founded on our sovereignty, our relationship and laws given to us by the Creator. Indigenous nations also have a nation-to-nation relationship with other nations.

 

We the original peoples of this land know the Creator put us here.

The Creator gave us laws that govern all our relationships to live in harmony with nature and mankind.

The laws of the Creator defined our rights and responsibilities.

The Creator gave us our spiritual beliefs, our languages, our culture, and a place on Mother Earth who provided us with all our needs.

We have maintained our freedom, our languages and our traditions since time immemorial.

We continue to exercise the rights and fulfill the responsibilities and obligations given to us by the Creator for the land upon which we are placed.

The Creator has given us the right to govern ourselves and the right to self-determination.

The rights and responsibilities given us by the Creator cannot be altered or taken away by any other nation.

            -Adopted by the Joint Council of Chiefs and Elders, December 1980.