Benny Forest Appeal
February 7, 2015
Your help is needed to protect the Benny Forest, part of
Atikameksheng Anishnawbek traditional territory and hunting
ground of Clyde McNichol’s maternal grandfather, Joe Canard’s clan,
the location of his family graves, and current business, Camp Eagle
Nest. Logging operations and aerial spraying by large foreign
corporations licensed by the MNRF (Ministry of Natural Resources
and Forestry) have destroyed much. Toxic waste dumping and
prospecting are also grave threats. Animals and plants and medicines
are sickening and dying in large areas. Due to his belief that as
Anishinaabe person he was put here by Creator to protect the land,
Clyde is requesting protection of the forest within 20 miles of Benny
or a day’s walk from home which was the approximate size of most
clan hunting territories according to Elder and former chief Art
Petahtegoose who is jointly pursuing this claim. Moreover, at least
that much area is required today for the survival of many species of
plants, animals and medicines.
They have a strong legal case according to lawyer Cynthia
Westaway who has written to industry, government and drafted an
injunction to support our case. Neither the Crown, nor Canada has
completed the surveying that was promised around where branches
of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek people including Clyde’s were
living at the time of the 1850 Robinson Huron Treaty. Chief
Shawenakeshick who was delegated to negotiate on behalf of all the
Atikameksheng families, ensured that the Crown agreed to protect the hunting territories of all clan headmen
throughout the traditional territory, not just his own, before signing . The treaty was signed under Creator’s eyes,
says Clyde, and we Anishnawbek have upheld our side by maintaining peace and allowing Europeans to settle, but
neither the Crown nor its successor Canada has upheld its side. They failed to set aside as reservation all the
Atikameksheng Anishnawbek clan hunting territories that clearly existed in 1850. In fact they only set aside part
of one territory in 1884, that of Chief Shawankeshick’s family after repeated reminders, long after they surveyed
and set aside reserves for most other signatories. They also failed to increase any of the signatories’ share of profits
from resource extraction in the wider territory equitably when profits increased for them as they promised to do
in the treaty.
With assistance of Chief Miller of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, and the MNRF, and lawyer Julie Abouchar,
environmental, traditional knowledge, and archeological studies supporting his case were completed by university
professors last summer. No area of the Benny Forest has been protected based on this work, but chief and council
are pursuing other avenues to help with the cause.
Clyde wants this land regardless of whether it has been cut because he wants to start rebuilding the forest.
He believes it is possible to rebuild the forest and get rid of the toxins with the help of Creator and the ancestors as
well as the youth and staff of Camp Eagle Nest, university students and other supporters. But some mixed old
growth diverse areas are needed to do so and these areas are rapidly disappearing. The situation is urgent. Camp
Eagle Nest has a Living/Learning Centre, and an Arts Cooperative, with a tepee, cabin and sweat lodge at their base
camp in Benny and has organized several sweat ceremonies and other kinds of ceremonies to pray for and feed the
land. He wants to bring artists and others to the area to help lead the way in more respectful use of the land. He
wants to bring back the teachings of living gently in harmony with the land, only taking what you need, apologizing
for taking any life or disturbing any ground, and thanking Creator and the animal and plant families for supplying
what is needed to survive. In this way, he believes there will eventually be no more dependence on people or funds
from outside the clan territory as was the case before the treaty was violated. The people will be free to pursue
their preferred way of life based on their ancient teachings and original instructions from Creator.
With his wife Dr. Barbara Ronson McNichol, Executive Director of Camp Eagle Nest, he has succeeded in
bringing publicity to his cause.
CTV came out to Benny and covered the issue on May 15
(http://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=608010&binId=1.1142346&playlistPageNum=1)
and May 28, 2015.
(http://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=623706&binId=1.1142313&playlistPageNum=1).
And July 1st
http://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=648202&binId=1.1142313&playlistPageNum=1
and Camp Eagle Nest launch of Benny Cartier Arts Cooperative October 17th
http://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=721028&binId=1.1142346&playlistPageNum=1
and most recently this past Saturday at
http://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=726046&binId=1.1142346&playlistPageNum=1
Sudbury Star ran stories, Aug. 31, 2015:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/08/31/were-trying-to-save-whats-left
and last Sunday at
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/10/24/activists-considering-blockade
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Benny-Forest/388489664672582
How you can help:
We need funds to pursue a court injunction or alternate way to stop the cutting immediately and start direct
negotiations with Ontario and Canada. We need more Business Associates and donors who could help us
purchase some property on Geneva Lake and/or Cartier and improve our fundraising capacity. Artists,
investors, business associates and donors are needed to support an Arts Cooperative and Living-Learning
Centre in Benny and Cartier. We would like to engage artists and others who can help Camp Eagle Nest with its
work preserving and passing on Native culture, values, and way of life, and help keep the forest area in a more
natural state. We would be delighted if the youth at our camp can arrange to visit our family and friends around
the area to share stories and crafts and songs. We are founded on the seven grandfather teachings and would
like every opportunity for our youth to interact with others in the spirit of these teachings.
Funds can be sent by e-transfer to [email protected] in a special account set up for this purpose or
send cheques made out to “Camp Eagle Nest – Benny Forest” by mail to Camp Eagle Nest, Box 104 Cartier ON
P0M 1J0. Camp Eagle Nest is a non-profit organization based on Native culture and traditions but open to all.
It has a five member Board of Directors the majority of whom are from First Nations or Metis. Art Petahtegoose
is currently President and Chair, Clyde is Executive Director, and his wife is Executive Assistant. Consider
coming out to one of our cultural craft workshops, intergenerational camps or a ceremony for the land in
Benny. Call 705-822-6244 or 705-690-3844 for more information. Or visit www.Facebook.com/campeaglenest
or www.campeaglenest.com.