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Metis Council:
(L) Pat McCarthur, Ashley Burgess (nee Baumbach) w/ daughter Ava, Lindy
Indoe, Jason Indoe, Goldie Millhausen, Tammy; Front (L) Brian Armstrong
& Archie Indoe |
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March 25, 2009, marked the signing of an historic agreement
between the Historic Saugeen Metis and the nuclear power entity,
Bruce Power.
"The Metis have been here in the Saugeen region since the early
1800s," said Metis President, Pat McArthur. "Many of our descendants
are still here and, one of our ancestors was with the explorer
Champlain."
The historical agreement signed by Bruce Power representative, Brian
Armstrong and Archie Indoe. Vice-President and Chair of the Energy
Consulting Committee, is the first such agreement signed by the
Metis people and a nuclear company.
"We are particularly pleased to be able to conclude this agreement
and to reaffirm the positive relationships we have had with the
Metis people," said Armstrong. "our relationship has been built on
trust and we value it greatly. We recognize that Metis citizens have
certain rights granted to them under the Constitution and that they
have right to be consulted and that the Crown recognizes those
rights."
Julie Aboucher, Legal Counsel with Williams and Shier Environmental
Lawyers, said that she saw a real commitment between Bruce Power and
the Saugeen Metis. "The purpose of the agreement," she explained,
"is to allow input in the on-going process and to be involved in the
environmental assessment (EA) and the potential impact of the
project (Deep Geological Repository [DGR])." She added that, "The
Metis have special rights recognized in the Constitution and these
rights are why we are here today."
Saugeen Shores Mayor, Mike Smith, told the special guests that he
had been raised in Southampton and had gone to school with many of
the Metis Council. "We grew up knowing about the Metis history in a
general way," he said. "We now realize their history is an important
part of our history and this is a great day for all of us." (next column)
26/03/2009 10:38 AM
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(L) Brian Armstrong signs on behalf of Bruce Power
and Archie Indoe, Vice-President of the Historic Historic Saugeen Metis
President, Pat McArthur, welcomes guests to
historic signing
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