Activists to return to MP McKenna's office July 18 re 'Zibi' / sacred site demands

Respond to Algonquin Chief's demands, stop transfer of Crown land

by Stop Windmill

Sacred site activists to find out MP McKenna's position on 'Zibi' this coming Monday

Media Advisory - For immediate release - July 15, 2016

EVENT DETAILS:

WHAT: Rally demanding federal government stop 'Zibi' condo development at sacred Chaudiere Falls site in Ottawa
WHERE: 107 Catherine St - Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna's office
WHEN: Monday July 18, 12noon-1:00pm
WHO: Organized by the Stop Windmill group, with community supporters
WHY: "It's 2016!" - Algonquin chiefs' demands of the government to protect the sacred site and stop the development are being ignored, in violation of the constitution and the UNDRIP.

OTTAWA - On June 27 activists doorstepped federal MP and Minister Catherine McKenna's office, setting a July 18 deadline for demands the federal government honour Algonquin chiefs' demands and stop the transfer of Crown land at the sacred Chaudiere Falls to the 'Zibi' condo developers, Windmill Inc.

This coming Monday, July 18 at noon, McKenna's office will again be targetted to find out position she will take on this contentious issue that pits a 'green' $1.2billion condo/commercial development against efforts to honour Indigenous rights and protect the traditional Algonquin sacred site.

The two demands issued to McKenna on June 27 were:

1. Respond positively to a letter from Algonquin Chiefs they wrote in December of 2015; and
2. Intervene to stop the transfer of Crown land to Windmill.

At the rally on Monday, the Stop Windmill group will be announcing plans for a campaign this fall to pressure the Liberals to accept Algonquin demands with respect to the land.

CONTACT:
stopwindmill@gmail.com,
http://www.StopWindmill.ca

BACKGROUND INFO - links and attachments:

* Video from June 27 rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07lBDd6Ju3o

* Open letter to McKenna delivered on June 27:
http://www.mediacoop.ca/sites/mediacoop.ca/files2/mc/stop_windmill_open_...

* Handbill for July 18 rally:
http://ottawa.mediacoop.ca/sites/mediacoop.ca/files2/mc/handbill2mckenna.pdf

* IMAGE / PHOTOS (attached):
Map of land holdings on islands slated for development, and photos of letter posted June 27 to outside wall of McKenna's office, attached (for any re-use, please credit: StopWindmill.ca)

* NDP Romeo Saganash question on Zibi / Algonquin rights in House of Commons June 17:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk2awcAkwz0
https://openparliament.ca/debates/2016/6/17/romeo-saganash-1/

* Catherine McKenna speech at Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly this past week at Niagara Falls:
http://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/cpac-special/episodes/48380948/
- her twitter has some photos of her with First Nation leaders
https://twitter.com/cathmckenna

* Algonquin chief Harry St. Denis of Wolf Lake First Nation speaks at AFN assembly this past week in Niagara, on Aboriginal Land Title and Governance (9min):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj8Zvv5Giyc

* An interview from a few months ago with Chief St. Denis speaking directly about the Chaudiere Falls sacred site / Zibi issue (CKCU FM, 17min):
http://ottawa.mediacoop.ca/audio/algonquin-chief-harry-st-denis-chaudier...

* Chief St. Denis had brought forward resolutions to protect the sacred site that were passed in November by the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, and in December by the full Assembly of First Nations
http://new-wordpress.algonquinnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/AFNQL...
http://new-wordpress.algonquinnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/AFN-R...

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