Protestors vow to defy Gatineau injunction, won’t leave area where 6,000 year-old fire pit discovered
A small group of protestors who have set up camp at a work site where archaeologists found artifacts dating back thousands of years are vowing to defy an injunction threatened by the city of Gatineau, Que., which is in the midst of a massive redevelopment project.
(Residential school survivor Audrey Redman says she won’t move from camp if police show up to enforce expected injunction. APTN/photo)
By Jorge Barrera
APTN National News
GATINEAU, Que.–A small group of protestors who have set up camp at a work site where archaeologists found artifacts dating back thousands of years are vowing to defy an injunction threatened by the city of Gatineau, Que., which is in the midst of a massive redevelopment project.
The protestors have set up two teepees on the work site which is surrounded by pieces of large concrete storm sewer pipes near the place where the Gatineau River flows into the Ottawa River. Archeologist found arrowheads and axes dated at about 3,500 years old. One fire pit was dated by archeologist to be about 6,000 years old, Gatineau city officials said. The area is believed to have been used as a seasonal gathering place.
The protest, however, doesn’t have the support of the Kitigan Zibi First Nation band council which includes the area as part of its claimed traditional territory.
Audrey Redman, who is a residential school survivor from Standing Buffalo in Saskatchewan, said the protestors want the city to expand the archeological dig far beyond the site already examined. Redman, who attended residential schools for seven years, said she plans to hold her ground if Gatineau police move in to enforce the expected injunction.
“They are calling us occupiers, they are calling us squatters, but this is unceded land, so who are the real squatters,” said Redman.
Gowlings, the law firm retained by Gatineau, delivered a letter to the protestors Tuesday giving them 24 hours to vacate the area or face an injunction. The group faces a deadline to vacate the area by 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Gatineau officials told APTN National News the injunction wouldn’t necessarily trigger police action immediately. Officials said they wanted to settle the issue peacefully.
The city issued an “action plan” this week Gatineau Mayor Maxime Pedneaud-Jobin said “satisfies the concerns of the group of occupants.”
The city said it plans to expand the archeological digs by an additional 40 square meters. The city also plans to hand over all discovered artifacts to the Quebec government for preservation. The city also now plans to incorporate the existence of the Indigenous presence in the area into a planned park.
The city is trying to reroute a nearby street and install a new storm sewer. City officials said the existing pipes have eroded and the street is in danger of caving-in.
Officials also said Pedneaud-Jobin has been in contact with Kitigan Zibi Chief Gilbert Whiteduck. They said Whiteduck is supportive of the city’s plan.
Whiteduck could not be reached for comment.
One of the main spokesperson for the group is Roger Fleury, who claims to be chief of off-reserve Algonquin. Fleury could not be immediately reached for comment.
Gatineau officials have been receiving advice from the Quebec government on how to handle the situation. The city has also been in contact with Aboriginal Affairs’ regional director general in Quebec. The city has been advised not to negotiate with the group who do not represent an “official” First Nation group.
The city is in the midst of a $43 million waterfront redevelopment project in the area. The National Capital Commission is also contributing $10 million toward the redevelopment and transferring $6 million worth of lands to the city.
@JorgeBarrera
