Stop the Build in Tiny - Indigenous Encampment

Johnny Hawke from Gchimnissing Anishinabek (Beausoleil First Nation) is calling upon Tiny Township Council to follow in the steps of his community to help the Federally protected Forked Three-awned Grass.

Johnny Hawke of Christian Island who helped lead a blockade that stopped the construction of North Simcoe Landfill (Dump Site 41) to protect the Aliston Aquifier in 2009 wants Tiny Council to halt its planned construction of its Administration Building where the Forked Three-awned Grass is growing adjacent to the proposed site.

“My Community had to reconsider the proposed site of two key infrastructure plans, our Community Centre as well as a proposed Public Works Facility on a field purchased on Cedar Point Road in Tiny Township because of this Ice Age Grass.” Says Hawke.

The Species at Risk Act is a federal government commitment to provide legal protection of wildlife species and the conservation of their biological diversity. The purposes of the Act are to prevent Canadian indigenous species, subspecies, and distinct populations from becoming extirpated or extinct, to provide for the recovery of endangered or threatened species.

Hawke also cites and raises Treaty concerns in this issue and claims Tiny Township is occupying lands that his People was never compensated for and that Tiny needs to be environmental stewards of his Nations illegally occupied Territory he claims.

“We never have been properly compensated in the 1795 Penetanguishene Purchase Treaty # 5, The Lakes Simcoe Purchase of 1815, Treaty # 16 and the Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Treaty# 18 which encompass 250,000 Acres that Simcoe County unlawfully occupies. The Chippewa Tri Council submitted this outstanding injustice to Canada’s Specific Claims Branch in 1990 but Canada refused to accept this matter at that time.” explains Hawke. The Chippewa Tri Council consists the Beausoleil, Georgina Island and Rama First Nations.

In 2018 the Williams Treaty Settlement Agreement between Seven First Nations including the Chippewa Tri Councol, Ontario and Canada resolved a land issue regarding 13 Million Acres of the 1931 Williams Treaty Surrender which involved lands separate of the Preconfederation Treaties that Hawke mentions.

“In the 2018 Williams Treaty Settlement, Ontario and Canada ensure they will renew ongoing treaty relationship and foster reconciliation and understanding. Allowing a municipality to illegally occupy our Lands and be unaccountable to the Federal Species Act Risk Act violates this 2018 Agreement and is a Discriminatory action where we’re made to follow but Tiny Council is exempt.” claims Hawke.

Hawke says he is also in contact with Eco Justice Canada, an organization dedicated to helping Indigenous Communities and Canadians get issues in Court to use the Law to protect the Environment. Eco Justice Canada currently is representing 2 Indigenous Youth from Southern Ontario to fight against Ontario regarding Climate Change.

Hawke is not disclosing the specific details of he and his communities peaceful direct actions but are asking for donations to help get them started in unity with concerned Citizens of Tiny who are rallying under the banner of STOP THE BUILD.

Hawke does say we are raising funds to organize Peaceful Actions and Events to educate and make noise and to seek the help of Eco Justice and their lawyers.