Latest news with #Wolastoqey
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Grand chief critcizes lack of consultation on Saint John industrial park expansion
Wolastoqey Grand Chief Ron Tremblay said the lack of consultation on plans to expand an industrial park in Saint John continues a track record of Indigenous input being an afterthought. "The Peace and Friendship Treaty back in 1725 clearly stated that we never surrendered any land or resources to the Crown or the Crown dependents," Tremblay said to Information Morning Saint John. "And under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that we needed free, prior and informed consent on all the matters that go forward, be it the province or municipalities or the federal government." This week, Tremblay added to the hundreds of letters the City of Saint John has received urging council to turn down the expansion proposal. Tremblay said First Nations were never consulted and if the expansion moves forward, it will impact an area of "enriched wetland" and "disturb a biological system that is vital to every species that is reliant on" the ecosystem. In their pitch to council members when the public hearing process began, city staff said First Nation consultation falls under provincial jurisdiction. When contacted by CBC News, City of Saint John staff directed questions about First Nation engagement to the provincial Department of Indigenous Affairs. The province was not able to respond before deadline. The public hearing for the plan to create more development-ready land in the industrial park began May 12. Since then, more than 50 people have spoken out against the proposal, saying the planned expansion will have impacts on the environment and the nearby community that will last generations. "Our mandate as the traditional governance is to protect our homeland, the waterways and the air for our children, our grandchildren and the next seven generations," Tremblay said. WATCH | 'We should have been at the table,' Wolastoqey grand chief says: "So when land gets threatened like this, we are very firm on our position that we have to look at all the ecosystems." Tremblay said First Nation input often comes far too late in the game. "Unfortunately a lot of times it happens after the fact," he said. "Especially with the Grand Council, we're usually alerted well into any discussions, where we're invited at the table after the aftermath of whatever's been discussed or decided already. So that's not proper consultation." Protests growing past city limits The city and supporters of the plan say the expansion is needed because of what presenters described as an uncertain economic future for the province, including low projected growth in GDP in the coming year and Saint John's potential for tariff exposure. City staff say the area is ideal because of its access to water, electricity and other resources not available elsewhere in the city. While the fate of the industrial park expansion is still in limbo, the opposition to it has extended past the boundaries of the rural community and even the city. City staff have received letters and input from people living in other cities and provinces, including those from Fredericton and Halifax. Lorneville residents say they've also taken their fight to the provincial legislature in hopes of speaking with the premier. MP John Williamson, whose riding includes Lorneville, also wrote in opposition and attended a protest against the plan on the weekend before the public hearing started. The city also recently received a letter from the Conservation Council of New Brunswick asking council to delay the expansion until environmental impacts are better understood. The plan does have supporters. The city has received statements and letters of support from business groups such as Envision Saint John and Opportunities New Brunswick. Council needs to hear from individuals and groups — for and against — before they vote on the proposal. But so far, due to sheer numbers, only those opposed have been able to speak during the previous two meetings — both lasting late into the evening. The public hearing on the application will continue on June 3.
CBC
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Grand chief critcizes lack of consultation on Saint John industrial park expansion
Wolastoqey Grand Chief Ron Tremblay said the lack of consultation on plans to expand an industrial park in Saint John continues a track record of Indigenous input being an afterthought. "The Peace and Friendship Treaty back in 1725 clearly stated that we never surrendered any land or resources to the Crown or the Crown dependents," Tremblay said to Information Morning Saint John. "And under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that we needed free, prior and informed consent on all the matters that go forward, be it the province or municipalities or the federal government." This week, Tremblay added to the hundreds of letters the City of Saint John has received urging council to turn down the expansion proposal. Tremblay said First Nations were never consulted and if the expansion moves forward, it will impact an area of "enriched wetland" and "disturb a biological system that is vital to every species that is reliant on" the ecosystem. In their pitch to council members when the public hearing process began, city staff said First Nation consultation falls under provincial jurisdiction. When contacted by CBC News, City of Saint John staff directed questions about First Nation engagement to the provincial Department of Indigenous Affairs. The province was not able to respond before deadline. The public hearing for the plan to create more development-ready land in the industrial park began May 12. Since then, more than 50 people have spoken out against the proposal, saying the planned expansion will have impacts on the environment and the nearby community that will last generations. "Our mandate as the traditional governance is to protect our homeland, the waterways and the air for our children, our grandchildren and the next seven generations," Tremblay said. WATCH | 'We should have been at the table,' Wolastoqey grand chief says: Saint John industrial park expansion should be quashed, Indigenous chief says 8 minutes ago Duration 5:07 Wolastoqey Grand Chief Ron Tremblay said Saint John has not consulted with Indigenous groups about a proposed expansion to the Spruce Lake Industrial Park, which Tremblay says would impact a biodiverse wetland in the area. "So when land gets threatened like this, we are very firm on our position that we have to look at all the ecosystems." Tremblay said First Nation input often comes far too late in the game. "Unfortunately a lot of times it happens after the fact," he said. "Especially with the Grand Council, we're usually alerted well into any discussions, where we're invited at the table after the aftermath of whatever's been discussed or decided already. So that's not proper consultation." Protests growing past city limits The city and supporters of the plan say the expansion is needed because of what presenters described as an uncertain economic future for the province, including low projected growth in GDP in the coming year and Saint John's potential for tariff exposure. City staff say the area is ideal because of its access to water, electricity and other resources not available elsewhere in the city. While the fate of the industrial park expansion is still in limbo, the opposition to it has extended past the boundaries of the rural community and even the city. City staff have received letters and input from people living in other cities and provinces, including those from Fredericton and Halifax. Lorneville residents say they've also taken their fight to the provincial legislature in hopes of speaking with the premier. MP John Williamson, whose riding includes Lorneville, also wrote in opposition and attended a protest against the plan on the weekend before the public hearing started. The city also recently received a letter from the Conservation Council of New Brunswick asking council to delay the expansion until environmental impacts are better understood. The plan does have supporters. The city has received statements and letters of support from business groups such as Envision Saint John and Opportunities New Brunswick. Council needs to hear from individuals and groups — for and against — before they vote on the proposal. But so far, due to sheer numbers, only those opposed have been able to speak during the previous two meetings — both lasting late into the evening. The public hearing on the application will continue on June 3.
CBC
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Carrying the music forward: New book features songs written in Wolastoqey
This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here. In April, at a school tucked away in the woods where language comes back to life, a beautiful family memory was unfolding. There was music that night at Kehkimin, a Wolastoqey language immersion school for Indigenous children. Multiple generations had gathered for the launch of Mawintuhtine, a Wolastoqey songbook months in the making. Ann Paul, a content creator for CBC, was there alongside her mother, Elder Maggie Paul, and her daughter. For the first time, all three drummed together, following along to the 20 songs compiled inside Mawintuhtine, which translates to "Let us sing together." "It was a spiritual experience that happened that evening, when we were all singing together," Ann said. "It was amazing, and I was so proud. It was a proud moment." WATCH | ' We've been singing these songs for a long time, but I never knew what I was saying': Ann's Eye: Hear the songs of Mawintuhtine, a newly launched Wolastoqey songbook 9 minutes ago Duration 2:29 Mawintuhtine is the result of the hard work of Kehkimin's curriculum team members Louis-Xavier, Lisa-Maude Aubin-Berube, Lisa Perley-Dutcher and Catherine Desjardins. Language editor Roseanne Clark helped transcribe most of the songs, and the project was also helped along by linguist Robert Leavitt. Song carriers Elder Maggie Paul and Jeremy Dutcher also assisted in the book's development, and Stephen Dutcher served as editor. Watch the video and scroll through the photos to learn more about the music of Mawintuhtine. Ann's Eye Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or on the image below to see more of her work.
CBC
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Ann's Eye: Hear the songs of Mawintuhtine, a newly launched Wolastoqey songbook
Twenty songs written in Wolastoqey are now available in a songbook, created by the staff of the language immersion school Kehkimin and other Indigenous community members.
CBC
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Animated film in Wolastoqey language aims to explore mental health in kid-friendly way
A troubled fox finds an unlikely friend in a tiny, mischievous demon in the latest piece from a Wolastoqew storyteller. Qaqsoss naka Wahantuhsis, an animated film that will premiere later this month in Miramichi N.B., is told entirely in the Wolastoqey language. Tara Audibert from Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick wrote, produced and directed the film and describes it as an exploration of trauma, mental illness and the journey of confronting personal demons in order to find healing. "It's an important story that's hard to talk about with children, but from my perspective, it's something that should be talked about," she said. The film follows Qaqsoss, a red fox, as she struggles with inner turmoil and takes refuge in a dark forest to escape a pack of wolves. There, she encounters Wahantuhsis, a tiny demon. Initially at odds with each other, the pair gradually form a bond as they journey through an underworld together. Despite working with just a third of the budget of a typical low-budget feature film, Audibert credits her team of nearly 40 artists and animators for their dedication to the project. Adrian Francis, who is Mi'kmaw from Esgenoopetitj First Nation, voices Wahantuhsis, the tiny demon character who speaks mainly through sounds – hiccups, screeching, growls and more. One of the film's most touching moments, Francis says, is when Qaqsoss and Wahantuhsis share a meal. The pair who have had a few negative interactions are finally able to drop their walls and bond over the food they share. "No matter the geographical location or what language you speak, I mean, food always tends to bring us together as human beings," said Francis. Francis showed the film to his 10-year-old son and said he was moved when his son asked, "Dad, could I be a voice actor?" "I'm so happy and proud; I told him, 'You can do whatever you want,'" said Francis. Beyond its themes, the film contributes to the preservation of the Wolastoqey language, with scripting entirely in Wolastoqey – a language with an estimated less than 100 fluent speakers. At the heart of this effort is Carole Polchies, who both translated the script and narrated the film. One of only two fluent speakers in Woodstock First Nation, she sees the project as a vital part of revitalizing the language. "We're getting older," she said. "I'm 88 going on 89 and the other speaker is 90 already. We have to start taking responsibility for our language." Polchies is a language teacher in her community. She was able to bring a handful of her students into the film, casting them as young foxes listening to the narrator's story. "Ninety-five per cent of our culture is in the language," said Polchies. "If you have your language, you've got everything." Qaqsoss naka Wahantuhsis will feature subtitles in English, French and Wolastoqey. The film premieres April 19 at the Miramichi Cineplex, screening in Wolastoqey with English subtitles.
