| Sacred Stones Or Cottages Lots? | 27 September 05 |
 In the coming weeks, a pristine piece of the Canadian Shield, at Silver Falls on the Winnipeg River is to be parceled out and turned into lots for cottages. It is part of a plan by the Manitoba government, first promised in 2002, to open 1,000 new, affordable cottage lots.When Caroline Bruyère was last taken by her family to the site of the sacred turtle on the banks of the Winnipeg River, she was a small girl. Now an elder of the Sagkeeng First Nation and a grandmother, she returned last week for the first time in 50 years. Her journey last week to Silver Falls, two hours northeast of Winnipeg, was part protest, part spiritual odyssey. For the occasion, she put on a ceremonial sky-blue dress adorned with brightly coloured ribbons, sweetgrass and other talismans. As Ms. Bruyère stood on the hump of the turtle, she said: "We're smack in the middle of where they say they will build. Most likely they will just blow our turtle up." Gaile Whelan Enns, Manitoba Wildlands director indicated, "Manitoba is not doing land use planning despite commitments to plan first. This sacred site and riparian forest must be protected." View the full September 26, 2005 Globe & Mail article (DOC) View the September 22, 2005 Winnipeg Free Press article (DOC) View the September 16, 2005 Manitoba Wildlands news item and Maps Source: Globe & Mail |
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