A Peaceful Awareness Walk against Nuclear Waste within Treaty 3 Territories and Waterways is underway.
It’s being spearheaded by Ojibway Nation of Saugeen First Nation member Darlene Necan over fears of a proposed underground nuclear repository in the Ignace area.
Necan started the walk in Ignace and is now in Savant Lake and she will be walking to Sioux Lookout and Dryden before holding a peaceful ceremony at the potential site.
Necan says everyone is entitled to their own opinion but she questions why choose this area and not somewhere else in Canada.
“We’ve got a lot of water and that’s what I kind of fear. Because water is life. If nobody had water we would be all gone. Animals and everybody. We need our water.”
Necan is most upset that her community was never consulted from past leadership, stressing members never gave their consent.
She notes she did visit the mobile information unit in Igance and found the facts interesting but also very scary.
“I did ask the mobile unit to come to Savant Lake and walk the other Nishnawbik through this nuclear thing because there’s a lot of them that are very unaware of this. Especially Saugeen members because they are totally lost on this.”
Necan says she’s most upset with the lack of communication, stressing both sides need to be on the same page.
“I’m not against employment, whatever jobs that are going to be here. Time will tell as we go how this is going to pan out. We got to work together some how. Us natives of the land to those guys.”
Necan adds “The word just ‘nuclear’ kind of makes me paranoid. OK I understand the modern changes and whatever. But I don’t fully understand the whole concept of it. So I need more teaching on it and more understanding but I understand by my heart that this is not good.”
Necan says she’s received great support during her journey.
To hear the full interview with Darlene Necan, visit the Audio link below.
