Sunday September September 28 Jeff Monague of Beausoleil First Nation, archaeologist Jamie Hunter, and a Huron-Wendat representative to lead tour of Midhurst

Guided walk will underscore concerns about aboriginal culture and heritage in planned Midhurst mega-development

From Climate Action Now – Barrie

What: A guided walk through an area within the Midhurst Secondary Plan, focusing on how the proposed development may impact significant aspects of aboriginal and euro-canadian culture and history, including sites of pre-contact habitation.

Who: Members of Climate Action Now-Barrie; First Nations members, including Jeff Monague of Beausoleil First Nation and Georgian College who will talk about Anishenaabek medicines, language, people and treaty issues,  Gordon Maher of the Huron-Wendat Nation, who will be reading a public statement. Also Jamie Hunter, former Director of the Huronia Museum and local archaeologist.

The walk will be leisurely, no longer than 2km. We expect it will go from 3-5:30.

Where: Anne St. N., and Carson Rd.

When: Sunday, September 28^th, 2014, 3:00pm-5:30pm

Background Info:

• The Midhurst Secondary Plan allows for construction that will grow Midhurst from a town of 3,500 to a small city of approximately 30,000.
• The proposed construction is outside boundaries for development established by the Places to Grow Act, 2009.
• Then Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli (now Minister of Energy) implemented a ‘special rule,’ allowing development to proceed, effectively undermining the Liberal’s well publicised plan for smart development.
• Development has proceeded via the Class Environmental Assessment process, meant for routine developments with predictable impacts–this, even though this proposed development would affect pre-contact archaeological sites, is outside the Places to Grow Act, will impact the Minesing Wetlands and Little Lake, bulldozes over prime farmland, and increases the community’s size nearly 1000 %.
• Archaeological assessments in the planned development area began as early as April 2008, prior to the adoption of the MSP by Springwater Township (in November 2008)
• Two sites, including one First Nation site deemed to be a significant archaeological resource, were recommended for protection in 2010. The status of a third potential site is unknown.
• There are concerns about adequate consultation with affected First Nations and aboriginal communities, as well as with other cultural and heritage stakeholders

More information, and to rsvp Climate Action Now- Barrie