First Nations protesters offer insight to Cookstown students

By Cheryl Browne, Barrie Examiner April 20, 2013 

SPRINGWATER TWP. – Almost three weeks after two Anishinaabe women began ‘occupying’ a cabin at Springwater Provincial Park, they held a native instructional class to a group of school children.

Elizabeth Brass Elson and Patricia Watts were joined Friday by Carleen Jackman and Connie Doerksen to help teach the Grades 4, 5 and 6 split class from Cookstown Central Public School about First Nations culture and the park’s recent closure.

“I know they’re not going to leave until it’s settled,” said Christian, 11, (no last names used) in Grade 6. “Everybody can use it now, but if they leave, we couldn’t enjoy it anymore.”

Christian was one of approximately 16 students who toured the park, visiting some of the 29 orphaned animals still housed there.

The native women moved in April 1, the day after the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) changed the park’s status from operational to non-operational.

The decision to change the status was a fiscal one, yet three separate groups of activists have kept the park in the spotlight. Friends of Springwater, led by Ian Taylor, has held demonstrations at the park and led a small group of walkers from Georgian Mall to the park in March.

The Springwater Citizens’ Coalition, led by Les Stewart, has joined forces with the area First Nations people and held native round dances at both the park and the MNR across Highway 26 on Nursery Road, just north of Barrie.

Brass Elson and Watts have moved into the small cabin, which is equipped with a wood stove.

Daily visitors to the park, who remember the women during the Site 41 standoff in 2009, and the mega quarry demonstration in Melancthon Township last year, bring food and conversation to their tiny ‘Occupy Springwater’ movement.

Doerksen said she was a couch activist until she saw the protest at Site 41 and felt the call to action.

“That’s when I said ‘no, enough’s enough. That’s our water’,” Doerksen said. Considered an ally, Doerksen has become vocal about the native’s occupation of the park.

“The time has come to start saving Mother Earth. Because if we don’t, there’s going to be nothing left for the next generation,” she said.

The women laid out sage, sweet grass, native tobacco and cedar on the table to teach the students about spiritual smudging.

Birch bark they’d carefully collected throughout the week would be used to help them create booklets.

Drums and shakers were brought out to teach the students native songs, and as the women addressed them in Anishinaabe dialect, they translated between phrases so the teacher, parents and children would understand the words.

“We are calling it Camp Nibi,” said Watts. “That stands for fresh water, or spring water in Anishinaabe.”

Explaining she was from the Bear Clan, Watts explained First Nations teachings. “We are stewards of the land or caretakers of the land. Nobody owns the land. We are here to take care of the (Mother) Earth.”

An olive branch was offered to those interested in saving the park from closure, by the newly-appointed Minister of Natural Resources David Orazietti.

Last week, Orazietti said he’s hoping potential partners will present a plan to help re-open Springwater Provincial Park as early as 2014.