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A billion-dollar development project planned for Chaudière Island has become snared in a political battle among Algonquin First Nations communities in Ontario and Quebec.
On Tuesday, chiefs from some Algonquin communities in northern Quebec won approval from the Assembly of First Nations for a resolution opposing the $1.2-billion residential, commercial and retail project on Chaudière and Albert islands.
The resolution, introduced by Wolf Lake Chief Harold St. Denis, passed with only 16 member communities voting on it — 12 in favour and four opposed — while 90 abstained. Nevertheless, according to reports from APTN, St Denis interpreted the vote as providing the AFN with “a clear mandate to oppose the project.”
Algonquins of Pikwakanagan Chief Kirby Whiteduck, left, chats with Windmill Development executive chairman, Jeff Westeinde, after a press conference at the future of site of Windmill Development’s Zibi project on the Gatineau side of the Chaudière Falls on May 21, 2015.
Attempts to contact AFN officials Tuesday evening for clarification were unsuccessful. However, Jeff Westeinde, chairman of Windmill Development Group, which is undertaking the so-called Zibi project — the Algonquin word for “river” — lamented the vote, pointing out that his company has developed “strong partnerships” with Algonquin communities in and around the nation’s capital that have signed formal letters of intent endorsing the project.
The project, Westeinde suggested, has become caught up in the “internal politics” among Algonquin communities.
Cliff Meness, a councillor for the Chaudière Algonquin band, seemed to agree, telling APTN that the resolution exposed a “little rift between the Algonquin people,” and it should have been dealt with before reaching the AFN assembly being held this week in Gatineau.
The former Domtar lands urban renewal project is called Zibi.
He questioned whether the resolution would have much affect on the project’s fate, saying, “The project is on the go already.”
The Ottawa-area Chaudière band has supported the Zibi project; the chiefs of those Algonquin communities apparently opposed to it are from the Timiskaming region of northern Quebec.
On the other hand, Chief Kirby Whiteduck of the Chaudière community has described the project as “a landmark opportunity for a new model of collaboration.”
Buyers interested in Zibi condominiums check out the models at the development plan as the Zibi sales centre opens for the grand launch on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
The resolution is anything but collaborative. It directs AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde to contact government, federal, provincial and municipal governments and request a meeting with the Quebec Algonquins, who, according to APTN, believe they have a “claim” over the project. Indeed, they want the land handed over to them as an “Algonquin-controlled entity to create a park and a commemoration site.”
In mid-November, the Ontario Municipal Board dismissed appeals against the Zibi project, determining that Windmill and the City of Ottawa followed all the proper rezoning procedures and had thoroughly consulted with First Nations communities.
Westeinde reiterated his company’s consultative efforts.
“We have reached out to all of the 11 Algonquin Anishinabe communities,” he said. “We have entered into partnerships with a number of Algonquin communities, businesses and individuals, all of whom are agents of positive change looking to play their part in the rebuilding of a new relationship between First Nation and non-First Nations.
Maureen Stark, right, chats with another protester as they gather outside the Zibi development site to protest against the development of Chaudière island for Zibi condominium project as the sales centre opened earlier last month.
“It is our vision that we can achieve Zibi in the most collaborative and beneficial way possible with the Algonquin Anishinabe people.”
Westeinde noted that some of the leaders in those communities opposed to the project “never responded to our outreach efforts. When we didn’t hear back from the political leadership, we continued our proactive outreach and engaged with people at the community level.”
Among the more prominent project opponents is architect Douglas Cardinal, who insists the islands have been a sacred site for the Anishnabe for thousands of years. He and others have campaigned to restore to their natural state.
Westeinde, however, points out they might not like it if the islands were returned to nature. Geomorphological studies show that before a hydro dam was built on the river in 1908, Chaudière Island was more often that not covered by water, he said. “It was nothing like it is today.”
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On Tuesday, chiefs from some Algonquin communities in northern Quebec won approval from the Assembly of First Nations for a resolution opposing the $1.2-billion residential, commercial and retail project on Chaudière and Albert islands.
The resolution, introduced by Wolf Lake Chief Harold St. Denis, passed with only 16 member communities voting on it — 12 in favour and four opposed — while 90 abstained. Nevertheless, according to reports from APTN, St Denis interpreted the vote as providing the AFN with “a clear mandate to oppose the project.”
Algonquins of Pikwakanagan Chief Kirby Whiteduck, left, chats with Windmill Development executive chairman, Jeff Westeinde, after a press conference at the future of site of Windmill Development’s Zibi project on the Gatineau side of the Chaudière Falls on May 21, 2015.
Attempts to contact AFN officials Tuesday evening for clarification were unsuccessful. However, Jeff Westeinde, chairman of Windmill Development Group, which is undertaking the so-called Zibi project — the Algonquin word for “river” — lamented the vote, pointing out that his company has developed “strong partnerships” with Algonquin communities in and around the nation’s capital that have signed formal letters of intent endorsing the project.
The project, Westeinde suggested, has become caught up in the “internal politics” among Algonquin communities.
Cliff Meness, a councillor for the Chaudière Algonquin band, seemed to agree, telling APTN that the resolution exposed a “little rift between the Algonquin people,” and it should have been dealt with before reaching the AFN assembly being held this week in Gatineau.
The former Domtar lands urban renewal project is called Zibi.
He questioned whether the resolution would have much affect on the project’s fate, saying, “The project is on the go already.”
The Ottawa-area Chaudière band has supported the Zibi project; the chiefs of those Algonquin communities apparently opposed to it are from the Timiskaming region of northern Quebec.
On the other hand, Chief Kirby Whiteduck of the Chaudière community has described the project as “a landmark opportunity for a new model of collaboration.”
Buyers interested in Zibi condominiums check out the models at the development plan as the Zibi sales centre opens for the grand launch on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
The resolution is anything but collaborative. It directs AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde to contact government, federal, provincial and municipal governments and request a meeting with the Quebec Algonquins, who, according to APTN, believe they have a “claim” over the project. Indeed, they want the land handed over to them as an “Algonquin-controlled entity to create a park and a commemoration site.”
In mid-November, the Ontario Municipal Board dismissed appeals against the Zibi project, determining that Windmill and the City of Ottawa followed all the proper rezoning procedures and had thoroughly consulted with First Nations communities.
Westeinde reiterated his company’s consultative efforts.
“We have reached out to all of the 11 Algonquin Anishinabe communities,” he said. “We have entered into partnerships with a number of Algonquin communities, businesses and individuals, all of whom are agents of positive change looking to play their part in the rebuilding of a new relationship between First Nation and non-First Nations.
Maureen Stark, right, chats with another protester as they gather outside the Zibi development site to protest against the development of Chaudière island for Zibi condominium project as the sales centre opened earlier last month.
“It is our vision that we can achieve Zibi in the most collaborative and beneficial way possible with the Algonquin Anishinabe people.”
Westeinde noted that some of the leaders in those communities opposed to the project “never responded to our outreach efforts. When we didn’t hear back from the political leadership, we continued our proactive outreach and engaged with people at the community level.”
Among the more prominent project opponents is architect Douglas Cardinal, who insists the islands have been a sacred site for the Anishnabe for thousands of years. He and others have campaigned to restore to their natural state.
Westeinde, however, points out they might not like it if the islands were returned to nature. Geomorphological studies show that before a hydro dam was built on the river in 1908, Chaudière Island was more often that not covered by water, he said. “It was nothing like it is today.”
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