Anishinabek want consultation over artifact find

Northern Superior region leaders are upset thousands of Aboriginal artifacts are being excavated and shipped to Lakehead University without consultation with local First Nations.
“I was the first First Nation (person) that even knew about it,” said Red Rock Chief Pierre Pelletier, explaining he first found out about the excavation in late July. “I phoned (Fort William) Chief (Peter) Collins, all the chiefs around the region – none of them even heard about it.”
Pelletier said he drove out to the excavation site to talk to the archaeologists on the afternoon of the day he first heard about it.
“Nobody knew about it until we made it public,” Pelletier said. “It will be two years ago this May and nobody knew anything about it until about four weeks ago when I heard through the grape vine and exposed it to the paper.”
Pelletier said his community in conjunction with the Union of Ontario Indians has since placed a community member on the site for the past two weeks to do research on the excavation.
“In another couple of weeks I’m going to bring him in and get all of his information and data,” Pelletier said. “We’re going to be asking for some parts of the artifacts to put them on display here in our community.”
Pelletier is asking why the discovery was being “hushed up.”
“Now that it’s in the open, people are wondering why it is being hushed up,” Pelletier said. “You’re talking 9,000 years of history here.”
The artifacts, which were discovered near Thunder Bay, have been called one of the most significant archeological finds in northern Ontario.
“It has become common knowledge in Canada – especially in Ontario – that First Nations have a significant connection to our history and these artifacts represent the history of our people and our relationship to this land,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee.
“I find it funny that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture has been developing standards and guidelines for consultant archaeologists and at the same time ignore their legal duty to consult when they actually find something.”
Although the artifacts may not belong to the specific Indigenous people that reside in the Lake Superior region today, Madahbee said it is important that the area First Nations of today are consulted and engaged in the process.
The Ministry of Transportation stated in an e-mail the archaeological firm that undertook the previous stage of archaeological investigations sent letters this past January to seven First Nation and Metis communities and organizations: Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre, Red Sky Métis Independent Nation, Red Rock Indian Band, Nokiiwin Tribal Council Inc., Métis Nation of Ontario, Fort William First Nation and the Anishinabek Nation’s head office and Thunder Bay office.
“The letter advised that initial archaeological investigations had been carried out,” said Patricia DeCal, environmental planner for the Ministry of Transportation in Thunder Bay, in her Aug. 26 e-mail.
“These studies resulted in recommendations for an excavation study. The letter indicated that when the initial investigations report was completed, it would be provided. The firm spoke personally with the regional councillor for the Métis Nation of Ontario about the possibility of Métis students participating/volunteering in the excavations.”
DeCal said a summary of the archaeological recommendations was provided in a follow-up e-mail sent to the First Nation and Metis communities and organizations this past April.
“Local First Nation members have been visiting the archaeological site over the past few weeks,” DeCal said. “The project archaeologist has provided brief tours and updated members on the progress to date. No concerns were expressed and individuals were generally supportive of the work being undertaken. The ministry and its consultants are more than willing to discuss and accommodate First Nations interests in this project.”
The Anishinabek Nation brought up a recent issue when artifacts up to 6,000 years old, including ancestral human remains and burial goods, were repatriated and buried June 21, 2005 at Kitigan Zibi First Nation near Maniwaki, Que. after they were originally dug up.
DeCal said the MTO and the archaeologists working on its behalf recognize the importance and sensitivity of Aboriginal burial and heritage sites.
“All artifacts excavated at this site have been stone tools, estimated to be between 7,000 and 9,000 years old,” DeCal said.
The Anishinabek Nation also emphasized Justice Sidney Linden’s recommendations that the provincial government should promote respect and understanding of the duty to consult and accommodate within relevant provincial agencies and Ontario municipalities in Volume 2 of the Report of the Ipperwash Inquiry released in 2007.
Seven specific recommendations relating to heritage and burial sites were made in the Report of the Ipperwash Inquiry, including recommendation number 22: the provincial government should work with First Nations and Aboriginal organizations to develop policies that acknowledge the uniqueness of Aboriginal burial and heritage sites ensure that First Nations are aware of decisions affecting Aboriginal burial and heritage sites, and promote First Nations participation in decision-making.
These rules and policies should eventually be incorporated into provincial legislation, regulations, and other government policies as appropriate.
“MTO supports the recommendations made by Justice Sidney Linden in his 2007 Ipperwash Inquiry Report and works diligently towards meeting these recommendations with all Ministry projects,” DeCal said. “This project is no exception and as noted previously, First Nations contacts were initiated before the excavation commenced, to ensure that if First Nations had any concerns, these could be addressed.”